Pofatu Database facts for kids
The Pofatu Database is a special online collection of information for archaeologists. Archaeologists are like detectives who study old objects and places to learn about human history. This database helps them understand where ancient rocks and tools came from.
The Pofatu Database holds detailed information about the chemicals found in different rock materials. This is called "geochemical information." By looking at these chemical fingerprints, archaeologists can figure out the original source of rocks used by people long ago. For example, they can discover where a stone tool found at an ancient village was first mined.
In the spring of 2020, the database had more than 7,700 samples. These samples came from many different places around the Pacific Ocean.
What's in the Database?
The samples in the Pofatu Database come from two main types of locations:
- Archaeological sites: These are places where ancient people lived or left behind objects.
- Geological sites: These are natural places where rocks are found, like mountains or quarries.
Archaeologists use the geological samples as a reference. They compare the chemical makeup of rocks found at ancient human sites with rocks from natural geological sites. This comparison helps them pinpoint the exact origin of the ancient materials.
More Details in Pofatu
Besides the chemical information, the database also stores other important facts about each sample:
- Provenience: This tells you the exact location where a sample was found.
- Context: This describes what other objects or features were found near the sample.
- Analytical methods: This explains how the samples were tested and studied in the lab.
- Bibliography: This lists any books, articles, or reports related to the samples.
The database also includes information about the scientific equipment used to analyze the rocks. It explains the testing steps and the special materials used to make sure the results are accurate.
How Pofatu Works
The Pofatu Database is an open-access resource. This means anyone can use it for free! It is supported by research groups from several countries, including Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
The database uses a system called GitHub to store its information. GitHub is a popular platform for sharing and working on computer code and data. The files in Pofatu are in common formats that are easy to open and use. This makes it simple for scientists to access the data and even re-check the findings if they want to. You can view the data using the Pofatu web application.
