archeology 1

index fossil concept

Strata containing similar fossil assemblages will tend to be of similar age

Law of Superposition

oldest layer of sedimentary rock at the bottom

assemblage

different artifacts associated with each other

curation

proper packaging

emic

insiders perspective of a culture

etic

outsider perspective on culture

geographic information system

stores geographic data to look at spatial relationships

in situ

in its original place

lithic

analyzing stone tools

palynology

human uses of plants in past

functional type

class of artifacts that formed same function

morphological type

class of artifacts that look similar

temporal type

class of artifacts from similar times

pedestrian survey

recording surface features

side scan sonar

images objects on sea floor

ground penetrating radar

remote sensing where radar pulses and measure time of response to estimate depth of features

lidar

A remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances to earth

magnetometer

remote sensing that measures magnetic fields of objects underground

soil resistivity survey

remove sensing that measures resistance in soil

total station

measures angle and distance

plan

birds eye view

profile

from the side

section

slice

matrix sorting

filter soil thru screen to not miss small artifacts

water screening

water runs soil thru mesh

flotation

plant materials float

caching

large amount of items deposited at single moment

loess

fine particles

meander scar

remnant of water channel

oxbow lake

meander cut off to make u shaped lake

seriation

relative dating that assumes people replace earlier styles

dendochronology

tree ring dating

radiocarbon 14

measures decay of carbon 14 (usually bones)

accelerator mass spectrometry

counts c14

half life c14

5730

reservoir effect

samples from water can have older c14

trapped charge dating

electronic spin resonance for teeth

fission track

track by decaying uranium in volcanic minerals

thermoluminescence

light emitted by ceramic that had been excited before

optically stimulated luminesence

measures time since sediment was last exposed to sunlight

Dosimeter

device buried for a year to record gamma radiation of sediments

Topper Site Case Study

american site with artifacts 15k-50k years old

argon argon

measures ratio of argon isotopes produced from radioactive decay of potassium in volcanic ash

Potassium-Argon

measures ratio of radioactive potassium to radioactive argon

archeomagnetism

dating clays based on past changes in Earth's magnetic field

paleomagnetism

study of when earths magnetic fields switch

F.U.N.

flourine uranium nitrogen

Piltdown Man

fake "missing link" skull found to have different age bones

artifact cleaning basics

keep artifacts separated by provenience; ceramics/ glass cleaned with water, metal= dry brush

Smithsonian number

A unique catalog number given to each site; it consists of a number (the state's position alphabetically), a letter abbreviation for the county, and the site's sequential number within the county.

Vessel Reconstruction-why

gives clues to function of artifact

butchering marks

cut marks on bones that help determine if animal was butchered by humans/ how it was butchered determines preferred cuts and economic factors

economic status

presence or absence of a species sometimes indicates economic status (wild vs purchased foods)

bayle cabin

muskrat, crab, fish, chicken, pigs, and small plot vegetables that supplemented diets of slaves

taboos

some foods forbidden by religion or considered unhealthy

non-food usage

medicine, tools, ornaments/clothing/personal hygiene, game pieces, structures, fuel

plant impressions

impressions of plants sometimes found in ceramics or hardened clay

what pollen samples tell us

types of crops/vegetation/ground cover that were likely present

phytoliths

Tiny silica particles contained in plants. Sometimes these fragments can be recovered from archaeological sites even after the plants themselves have decayed.

starch grains

from rhizomes of cattails identified on european grinding stones- ground into flour and dates back 30,000 yrs

lipids

fatty acids from food that leave a residue that can be absorbed by ceramics, producing a chemical footprint 4

truck patch

place where produce was sold from a farm

Archaeobotany

the study of plant remains found at archaeological sites to understand past human-plant relationships and how people interacted with their environment

Anomaly

Something that differs from the expected pattern; in archaeology, an unusual feature detected in surveys or excavations.

Archaeology

The study of past human life and culture through material remains.

Attribute

A characteristic or trait of an artifact (e.g., shape, material, decoration).

Chronology

The arrangement of events or artifacts in sequential order.

Faunal Remains

Animal bones or other remains found in archaeological sites.

Floral Remains

Plant remains (e.g., seeds, wood, pollen) found at archaeological sites.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation that can be tested against evidence.

Landscape Archaeology

Study of how humans interacted with and altered their environment over time.

Macrobotanical Remains

Plant remains visible to the naked eye (e.g., seeds, nuts, charcoal).

Microbotanical Remains

Plant remains only visible under a microscope (e.g., pollen, phytoliths, starch grains).

Plow Zone

The upper disturbed soil layer caused by plowing or cultivation.

Paleobotany

Study of fossilized plants.

Paleoethnobotany

Study of how ancient peoples used plants for food, tools, medicine, etc.

Type

A class of artifacts grouped together based on shared characteristics.

Metal Detector Survey

Field method using detectors to locate buried metal objects.

Water Survey - Shoreline

Archaeological survey along shorelines for exposed or submerged remains.

Remote Sensing

Non-invasive methods to detect buried features without excavation.

Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanning

Remote sensing that detects differences in heat radiation.

Drone / Aerial Photography (Crop Marks)

Detects buried features through variations in plant growth or soil marks.

Judgmental Survey

Non-random sampling based on archaeologist's prior knowledge.

Simple Random Sample

Sampling strategy where every location has equal chance of being tested.

Stratified Random Sample

Divides the area into zones; random samples taken within each zone.

Compass and Tape

Basic method of mapping using compass bearings and measured distances.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Uses satellites to determine precise locations.

Archaeological Excavation Unit

A measured square/rectangle where excavation is carried out.

Arbitrary Levels

Excavation in fixed depth levels (e.g., 10 cm), not following soil changes.

Natural Levels

Excavation layers that follow natural changes in soil/sediment.

Munsell Soil System

Standardized color chart used to record soil colors.

Why Record Everything

Ensures data accuracy, allows for replication, preserves context.

Hand vs. Mechanical Excavation

Hand = precise, slow (trowel, shovel). Mechanical = faster, less precise (backhoe).

Tools Used

Trowels, shovels, brushes, screens, etc.

How Site Conditions Affect Excavation

Soil type, moisture, disturbance, and environment affect methods and preservation.

Natural vs. Cultural Transforms

Natural = environment alters site; Cultural = human activity alters site.

Cultural Deposition - Discard

Throwing away items after use.

Cultural Deposition - Loss

Items dropped/left unintentionally.

Cultural Deposition - Ritual Interment

Burial of artifacts with ceremonial purpose.

Cultural Transforms (Examples)

Construction, farming, looting.