Archaeology midterm

archaeology is best defined as…

the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the recovery, excavation, and analysis of physical material remains

what does CRM mean for archaeologists who practice in the industry?

Cultural Resource Management

for archaeologists, culture is best defined as…

a recurring, distinct assemblage of physical artifacts, structures, and monuments found within a specific region and time period that represents the material remains of a past human society

3 basic concepts in archaeological research are…

context, the archaeological record, and dating (relative and absolute)

what is an artifact?

an object made, shaped, or modified by a human being

intangible heritage is best defined as…

the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills—along with associated instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces

which elements of archaeology were present before the 19th century?

early antiquarianism, historical text matching, and primitive field exploration

what is the theory of historical particularism (Franz Boas)

each culture has a unique historical trajectory and must be understood on its own terms

what is the unilinear theory of cultural evolutions (Taylor and Morgan)

all human societies and cultures develop along a single, universal path from simple to complex stages, with Western European and Euro-American culture viewed as the highest peak of civilization

What is Indigenous archaeology?

a collaborative approach to archaeological research and heritage management carried out with, by, and for Indigenous peoples

in archaeology, the “three-ages” systems refers to

the stone age, bronze age and iron age

the 4-fields approach to archaeology/anthropology is..

using cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology and linguistic anthropology

what are the four major types of archaeology

academic archaeology, applied archaeology, indigenous archaeology, amateur archaeology

what is a key characteristic of post-processual archaeology?

rejection of objective science, emphasizing instead that all archaeological interpretations are subjective and influenced by the researcher's own cultural, social, and political background

what is the first stage of an archaeological project?

background research and the development of a research design

what is an ecofact?

an unmodified natural object found at an archaeological site that has cultural relevance

what circumstances might affect the preservation of material remains?

the composition of the objects themselves and the environmental conditions of their burial or storage

what is the main method used to study the layers of sediment in the soil of a site?

analyzing the vertical layers intact at the site, or analyzing the composition of a gathered sample

the two most common types of cultural materials recovered from prehistoric and archaeological sites are…

stone and pottery

what is experimental archaeology?

a scientific research method that attempts to generate and test archaeological hypotheses by replicating or approximating ancient tools, structures, and behaviors

the disturbance to archaeological sites caused by plants and animals is called…

bioturbation

lithic debitage and detritus are best defined as…

waste material, flakes, and debris produced during the manufacture of stone tools.

the detailed notes taken by excavators describing what is found at each level as they excavate are commonly called…

stratigraphic logs, field notes, or excavation records (often recorded on context sheets).