Archaeological Theories and MethodsAccording to Lord George Gordon Byron (1821), "The best prophet of the future is the past." For as long as humans have existed, we have been curious about our ancestors and their conduct. While historians can provide plausible deductions about the past, archaeologists can precisely date and analyze actual objects used by our prehistoric precursors. Numerous archaeological theories have been developed to interpret artifacts and biofacts. Besides that, archaeologists use various methods to find and inspect relics. Without the complex methods and theories that have been developed over time, the concept of human history would be much more nebulous. One theory that stands out is behavioral archaeology. When combined with methods like LiDAR, behavioral archeology can be very beneficial. Behavioral archeology theory and LiDAR are extremely valuable to archaeology. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As defined in Michael Brian Schiffer's book "Behavioral Archaeology" (1976), behavioral archeology theory is a thought process shaped by focusing on how an object was handled. During this practice, archaeologists ignore any possible motivations or feelings behind interacting with an artifact. Since it was developed in the 1970s, behavioral archeology theory is still relatively new (Schiffer, 1976, p. 1). Archaeologists use the theory of behavioral archeology to determine how our ancestors related to objects. Due to the nature of behavioral archaeology, this approach can provide evidence for scientific fields outside of archeology (such as sociology or psychology) (Schiffer, 1972). Behavioral archeology states that all human behavior is an interconnection between people, artifacts, and externals (phenomena independent of people, such as sunlight). While fixating on the artifact can provide much-needed objectivity, behavioral archeology may not always be the best choice. There are cases where context and intent are important when evaluating an artifact or biofact. For example, without understanding how it is used to communicate in different ways, a cell phone may not seem significant to human nature. However, when you understand how important phone calls, text messages and social media are to the modern man, the influence is clearer. When Michael Brian Schiffer conceived of behavioral archaeology, he opened a door for archaeologists. Michael Brian Schiffer founded behavioral archaeology. He has a very informative personal website covering his biography and experience (2015). According to the site, Schiffer grew up on a farm and initially started college as a chemistry major. However, during his second year at the University of California at Los Angeles, Schiffer decided to focus on anthropology. By his senior year, Schiffer knew he wanted to work in the field of archaeology. Over the years, Schiffer developed a love for modern artifacts such as postage stamps, old radios and calculators. Schiffer undertook his first archaeological expedition in 1968 to Vernon, Arizona. Schiffer's experiences with his fellow graduate students and a faculty member largely helped shape his ideas of behavioral archeology (2015). Behavioral archeology has introduced new notions to the field of archaeology, such as defining all behavior as a human-artefact interaction. Although officially retired in 2014,Schiffer continues to be an expert in archeology and has developed numerous theories in the field. Aside from his contributions to behavioral archaeology, Schiffer is known for his contributions to cultural resource management studies and technological change. Having an archaeologist who thinks outside the box is helpful, but methods like LiDAR allow these archaeologists to carry out their plans. LiDAR stands for light detection and measurement (formerly a portmanteau of “light” and “radar”) (Horton,2016). To put it simply, LiDAR is a pulsed laser that measures the distance from the sky (a plane or helicopter) to the Earth or a structure. During the 1930s, searchlights and light pulses were used to study the structure of the atmosphere (“US Department of Commerce, & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,” 2012). Once the laser and Global Positioning System (GPS) were invented in the late 1980s, the LiDAR system as we know it was established. A LiDAR laser can flash up to 400,000 pulses per second. While LiDAR is typically used for coastal mapping, hydrodynamic mapping, or other meteorological applications, it is also relevant to archaeology. For example, in 2009, archaeologists Arlen and Diane Chase used LiDAR to map kilometers of unexplored territory in the ancient Mayan city of Caracol (Gugliotta, 2015). Thanks to the topographic map created by LiDAR, archaeologists discovered features that were not evident in their years of work on foot. Between 2012 and 2015, archaeologist Damian Evans used LiDAR attached to a helicopter and was able to locate structures, roads, canals and quarries around Siem Reap, Cambodia (Horton, 2016). LiDAR is a cost-effective technique for delineating archaeological sites and can help researchers decide where to begin an excavation site. Although LiDAR is quite accurate, it has its drawbacks. LiDAR does not penetrate large vegetation or shrubs well, so any areas with lush foliage can be difficult to survey (Giffard, 2015). That said, some hard-to-reach regions are not accessible at all without LiDAR. If scientists can overcome the vegetation limits, LiDAR will be even more useful. The effort of the group that contributed to the invention of LiDAR in modern archeology was irreplaceable. As it involves many inventions working in tandem, LiDAR is the culmination of numerous scientists. Although bats have been using sonar for thousands of years, humans only began experimenting with radar in the early 1900s. In 1904, Christian Huelsmeyer invented a “Telemobileoscope” that used radio pulses to measure the distance between objects ( Gregersen, 2016). When the first true laser was built in 1960 by Theodore H. Maiman, LiDAR was one step closer to its realization (Weart, 2013). While it's difficult to know who did it first, mounting the laser or sensor system on the bottom of an aircraft has greatly improved LiDAR technology. The 1969 Apollo 11 landing opened huge groundwork for the future of LiDAR when a laser rangefinder on Earth was able to hit a target mounted on the moon (Gregersen, 2016). LiDAR has become such a household name that it was added to Webster's Dictionary in 1985 ("A Brief History of LIDAR," 2017). Despite being common in meteorological sciences, LiDAR was not implemented in archeology until 2009. After finding a location of at least 13 square km, archaeologist Chris Fischer searched for a survey method that was more efficient than walking on a rough terrain. (Hopkins, 2014). With LiDAR, Fischer and his crew were able to map the entire area in about 45 minutes. Since.