Formation Processes in Archaeology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the formation processes found in the archaeological record, including definitions of the archaeological record, taphonomy, cultural and non-cultural processes, material types, preservation factors, and a specific hominin model.

Archaeological Record

The global sum total of all artifacts, ecofacts, features, and architectural remains, plus the formation processes that have impacted them, up to the present day.

Taphonomy

The study of how or why something has come to be buried.

Cultural Formation Processes

Processes that involve human activity altering the archaeological record, such as burial, reuse, or intentional destruction.

Non-Cultural Formation Processes

Processes that involve natural forces altering the archaeological record, such as erosion, decay, or animal activity.

Organics (Archaeological Context)

Materials derived from living organisms (e.g., wood, bone, textiles) whose preservation depends heavily on specific burial conditions.

Inorganics (Archaeological Context)

Materials not derived from living organisms (e.g., stone, metal, ceramics) which generally preserve better than organic materials.

Conditions of Burial

Environmental factors like moisture, temperature, oxygen levels, and soil chemistry that critically determine the preservation of archaeological materials, especially organics.

Home-base/food-sharing model (Isaac)

A model proposing that sharing of meat at base camps was a fundamental part of early hominin life.