Archeology Exam

Processual archaeology

emphasizes a scientific, objective approach to studying the past by identifying general patterns and laws governing cultural change

Post Processual Archeology

Focusing on the subjective interpretations of material culture and the importance of social context, including gender identity, and power dynamics, in understanding past societies.

Cultural Resource Manangement CRM

involves the identification, assessment, preservation, and management of cultural or archeological resources, which include historic sites, buildings, structures, landscapes and artifacts.

Reconnaissance

Methods used in archeology to find and record sites

Ground Reconnaissance

Spotting anomalies visually, LiDAR, theodolite (a precision optical instrument for measuring angles between designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes)

Arial Reconnaissance

satellite/ drones

Artifact

An object made or used by humans

Ecofact

a natural object that has been used or modified by humans

Material Culture

The aspect of culture manifested by the physical objects and architecture of a society

Provenience

The location where an artifact was found or its place of origin

Feature

A non portable physical component of a site that was created by humans

Remedial Conservation

Stabilizing waterlogged artifacts by drying them

Preventative Conservation

Storing artifacts in controlled environments to slow or stop deterioration

Freezing

Freezing organic artifacts like wood or textiles to prevent decay

Archaeological Context

the overall relationship between an artifact and its surrounding environment including its location, the materials around it (matrix) and its association with other artifacts.

Archaeological Association

The relationship between an artifact and the other objects found directly near it, essentially indicating what other items were present at the same time and potentially used together

Closed Site

An excavated archeological site that has been reburied and protected after excavation

Open Site

A site that remains exposed and accessible after digging, allowing for continued study or public access.

Grid System

A method of dividing a site into smaller, regular spaced squares, using a network of perpendicular lines, to precisely record and document the location of artifacts and features during archaeological surveys and excavations

Shovel Tests

Small hole dug in the ground to quickly assess whats underground

Stratigraphy

order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological timeline

Law of Superstition

Oldest at the bottom, youngest at the top

Absolute Dating

Calendars and historical chronologies

Relative Dating

Stratigraphy (ordering archeological layers) Typological sequences (comparing objects)

In Situ

In original place

Attributes of Artifacts

Typology, style, changes in style

Half Life of a Radioactive Isotope

Amount of time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay. Used in carbon dating. Only relative for up to 60,000 ish years.

Seriation

Comparing assemblages of objects. Association of finds, battleship curves, tombstone designs

BCE

Before Common Era

CE

Common Era

BP

Before Present

BC

Before Christ

AD

Anno Domini (in the year of our lord)