ARH100 Term 1

Stratigraphy

the accumulation of strata that result from a combination of geological and anthropogenic depos­its

Law of Superposition

in any undisturbed depositional sequence, each layer is younger than the layer beneath it.

Archaeological Survey

a systematic examination of a landscape to locate and record archaeological sites and artifacts.

Attribute

a particular characteristic of an artifact

Ex. shape, size, colour, use, etc...

Typology

the classification of artifacts based on their characteristics and functions, helping to understand cultural and temporal contexts.

Radiocarbon Dating

a method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes.

Advanced Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

is a technique used to measure the abundance of isotopes in a sample, providing precise dating for archaeological and geological materials. This technique is particularly useful for dating ancient organic materials, as it requires smaller sample sizes than traditional radiocarbon dating.

Calibration

the process of adjusting radiocarbon dates to account for variations in atmospheric carbon levels over time, enhancing the accuracy of age estimates. This process ensures that radiocarbon dating results reflect true chronological ages by correlating measurements with known age samples.

V. Gordon Childe

an influential archaeologist known for his theories on the origins of agriculture and urbanization, emphasizing the role of economic and social factors in cultural development. He coined the term “neolithic revolution” to emphasize the transition from hunter-gatherers to farming societies, which he argued led to significant societal changes.

Processual Archaeology

a theoretical approach that emphasizes the scientific method and systematic data collection in archaeological research, focusing on understanding cultural processes and changes over time.

Post-Processual Archaeology

a theoretical framework that critiques Processual Archaeology by emphasizing the subjective interpretation of cultural practices, individual agency, and the importance of context in understanding the past.

Cultural Resource Management

the practice of managing and preserving archaeological and historical sites, often in relation to development projects, ensuring compliance with legal regulations and protecting cultural heritage.

Hadar

an important archaeological site in Ethiopia known for its significant hominid (Australopithecus afarensis) fossil discoveries, including the famous "Lucy" skeleton.

Lokalalei

an archaeological site in Kenya known for its rich assemblage of stone tools and evidence of early hominin activity. It dates back to the early Pleistocene, providing insights into the behavioral patterns and technological advancements of early human ancestors.

Oldowan

the earliest known stone tool industry, characterized by simple tools made by early hominins, dating back to around 2.6 million years ago. Choppers and cores to flakes

Acheulean

stone tool industry known for its bifacial hand axes and cleavers, dating from around 1.76 million years ago to 100,000 years ago. It represents a significant advancement in tool technology compared to the Oldowan.

Hominin Radiation

the evolutionary process that led to the diversification of early human ancestors and their adaptations to various environments, resulting in multiple species emerging during the late Miocene to Pleistocene epochs. This period saw the emergence of several genera, including Homo and Australopithecus. 4 million to 2 million years ago.

Homo Erectus

an extinct species of hominin that lived from about 1.9 million years ago to about 110,000 years ago, known for its use of fire, advanced tools, and possibly the first to exhibit human-like body proportions. They are considered a key species in human evolution, showing significant advancements in tool technology and social behavior.

East African Rift Valley

a tectonic plate boundary in East Africa that has played a crucial role in human evolution, providing a diverse range of environments and archaeological sites for early hominins. There is a lot of erosion and volcanic activity that has shaped the landscape, facilitating the discovery of important fossil and tool evidence.

Olduvai Gorge

a significant archaeological site in Tanzania, known for its rich fossil beds and evidence of early hominin activity. It has provided crucial insights into the behavior and evolution of early human ancestors, particularly during the Pleistocene epoch. This site has yielded important fossils, including those of Homo habilis and tools associated with early stone tool technology.

FLK North

The site in Olduvai Gorge where the remains of an elephant were found together with stone tools.

DK

The site at Olduvai Gorge where a stone circle was found, suggesting evidence of a temporary structure built on a home-base site.

Dmanisi

a key archaeological site dating to about 1.8 million years ago. It is famous for well-preserved Homo erectus fossils, Oldowan tools, and evidence of early human migration out of Africa.

Jebel Irhoud

an archaeological site known for yielding the oldest known Homo sapiens fossils, dating to about 300,000 years ago. The site provides important insights into early human anatomy and behavior in Africa

Blombos Cave

A site in South Africa where pieces of ochre (red pigment) with incised decorations were found in a Middle Stone Age level dated to 77,000 years ago.

Umm el Tlel

notable for evidence of Neanderthal hunting, including a Levallois point embedded in a horse bone, showcasing advanced tool use and hunting strategies

Kebara Cave

A site in Israel where excavations have produced important evidence about the nature of Neanderthal occupation of caves, as well as one of the most complete skeletons of a Neanderthal

Levallois Method

a stone tool-making technique used by early humans and Neanderthals. It involves preparing a stone core to produce very large flakes of specific shapes and sizes, showing advanced planning and skill in tool production

The Aurignacian

a cultural period of the Upper Paleolithic, dating to around 43,000–26,000 years ago. It is associated with modern humans in Europe and is known for advanced stone tools, bladelets, no human burials, bone and antler artifacts, and early cave art

Hohle Fels

an archaeological site dating to about 40,000 years ago. It is famous for early Upper Paleolithic artifacts, including the Venus figurine and flutes, some of the oldest known examples of art and music

Nauwalabila I

The site that offers the earliest secure evidence of human occupation of Australia, dating to between 60,000 and 53,000 years ago.

Lake Mungo

archaeological site where human remains, were found. These remains, dating to around 40,000 years ago, provide evidence of early human presence and burial practices in Australia

Beringia

A land bridge that connected Asia and North America during periods of low sea level. The first inhabitants of the New World likely crossed into North America across this land bridge

Ice-Free Corridor

A potential migration route for populations expanding out of Beringia, running between the Cordilleran and Laurentide glaciers.

Coastal Migration

The route some archaeologists say was used by the earliest people in the Americas to move out of Beringia instead of moving through an ice-free corridor (retreat of ice sheets)

Clovis First

a theory that suggests the Clovis culture, known for distinctive stone tools, was the first group to inhabit the Americas, around 13,000 years ago. This theory was once widely accepted but has been challenged by evidence of pre-Clovis sites.

Clovis Culture

characterized by distinctive fluted stone tools, particularly spear points. It is one of the earliest known cultures in North America, associated with big-game hunting, such as mammoths and mastodons.

Megafaunal Extinction

the disappearance of large animal species, such as mammoths and mastodons, around 10,000 years ago. This event is believed to have been caused by a combination of climate change and overhunting by early humans

Monte Verde

site in Chile where evidence of human occupation 15,000 years ago supports the argument that Clovis culture does not represent the first occupation of the Americas.

Pedra Furuda

an archaeological site with evidence of human occupation dating back around 20,000 years. It is notable for ancient stone tools and artifacts, suggesting early human presence in the Americas well before the Clovis culture

Pedra Pintada

a site that demonstrates there were groups contemporary with the Clovis culture that were living in South America in a rain forest environment

Kharaneh IV

a prehistoric site dating to around 20,000 years ago. It is known for its large concentration of flint tools and animal remains, providing evidence of early human settlement and seasonal hunting activities during the Late Paleolithic

Natufian Culture

a pre-agricultural society in the Levant. It is known for its semi-sedentary lifestyle, the use of sickles for harvesting wild grains, and the development of early settlements, laying the groundwork for agriculture

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A

dating from around 10,500 to 8,800 years ago, marks the early phase of the Neolithic in the Levant. It is characterized by the development of permanent settlements, the domestication of plants and animals, and the use of stone tools, without pottery

Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

dating from around 8,800 to 6,500 years ago, it is marked by the expansion of farming, the construction of larger, more complex settlements, and the development of communal buildings. Pottery is still absent, but significant advancements in agriculture and architecture are evident

Pastoralism

a subsistence strategy centered around the herding and raising of livestock, such as sheep, goats, and cattle. It developed in various regions as a way to adapt to environments where farming was less feasible, and it played a key role in the development of early human societies

Hopewell Culture

a Native American culture in the Eastern United States. Known for their mound-building, extensive trade networks, and sophisticated artwork, these people left behind large ceremonial centers and burial mounds

Guila Naquitz

A site in Oaxaca, Mexico, that has produced the earliest evidence of domesticated plants in Mesoamerica. Radiocarbon dating was used.

Maize Agriculture in Ontario

Late Woodland: isotope analysis of human skeletal remains provides strong evidence that maize did not come to play a major role in the diet until around 1,000 years ago. there was a considerable length of time between the first planting of maize in eastern North America and the adoption of this plant as an essential food source

Rachis

The part of a cereal plant that holds the seed to the stalk and keeps the seed on the plant until it is harvested.

Tough Rachis

the strong, fibrous stem of a plant that holds its seeds. For agriculturalists, it is desirable to have this type of plant so that the seed remains on the plant until it is harvested

Brittle Rachis

a plant stem that easily breaks or shatters, allowing seeds to fall off naturally

Paleoethnobotany

the study of past cultures by an examination of human populations’ interactions with the plant world

Flotation

an archaeological technique used to recover small artifacts, seeds, and plant remains from soil samples. The process involves mixing the soil with water, allowing lighter materials to float to the surface, making it easier to separate them for analysis.

Microbotanicals

the preserved microscopic remains of plant material.

Pollen Grains

microscopic structures produced by plants for reproduction. They are often preserved in soil or sediment and can be analyzed by archaeologists to identify ancient plant species, providing insights into past environments, climates, and agricultural practices

Phytoliths

silica structures that build up along plant cell walls. can be used to reconstruct the ecological setting of a site

Starch Grains

tiny, microscopic particles found in plant foods like roots, tubers, and seeds. Archaeologists analyze preserved these particles in tools or cooking vessels to identify ancient diets and the types of plants used by past societies