Geoarchaeology & Site Formation Processes

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to geoarchaeology and site formation processes for exam preparation.

What is geoarchaeology?

Geoarchaeology is a field of study that uses Earth Sciences to answer archaeological questions, applying geoscience concepts and methods to archaeological research.

What is the law of superposition?

The law of superposition states that in any undisturbed pile of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the layers above and younger than the layers below.

What can violate the law of superposition?

Factors such as human disturbances and natural processes can violate the law of superposition.

What is geomorphology?

Geomorphology is the geological study of landforms and landscapes, including soils, rivers, hills, sand dunes, glacial deposits, and marshes.

What differentiates systemic from archaeological contexts?

Systemic context refers to ongoing human behavioral systems involving artifacts, while archaeological context refers to artifacts once they are in the ground and affected by further processes.

What are some formation processes in a systemic context?

Formation processes in a systemic context include cultural depositional processes, reclamation processes, and cultural disturbance processes.

What is an example of a cultural depositional process?

Examples of cultural depositional processes include discard, loss, caching, and ritual interment.

What is the function of a marker bed in stratigraphy?

A marker bed is an easily identified geologic layer whose age is confirmed at various locations, used to date archaeological and geological sediments.

What is floralturbation?

Floralturbation is a natural formation process where trees and plants affect the distribution of artifacts within an archaeological site.

What is faunalturbation?

Faunalturbation is a natural formation process where animals influence the distribution of materials within an archaeological site.

How does cryoturbation affect artifacts?

Cryoturbation is a process where freeze/thaw activity in soil pushes larger artifacts to the surface of a site.

What is graviturbation?

Graviturbation is a natural formation process in which artifacts are moved downslope through gravity, sometimes assisted by precipitation runoff.