Chapter 7 ANTH Archeology

Term: Relative dating

Definition: Determines which objects or sites are older or younger based on relationships; does not provide specific calendar years.

Term: Absolute dating

Definition: Provides a specific date or a range of dates in years for artifacts or sites.

Term: Chronological sequencing

Definition: Ordering objects or sites in time relative to each other; includes the law of superposition and seriation.

Term: Law of superposition

Definition: In undisturbed layers of soil or rock, the deeper layers are older than those above.

Term: Seriation

Definition: Ordering artifacts based on changes in style or frequency over time.

Term: Dating by association (cross dating)

Definition: Determining the age of an artifact or layer by its association with another object of known age.

Term: Calibrated relative dating

Definition: Combines relative and absolute dating methods; example: obsidian hydration.

Term: Terminus post quem (TPQ)

Definition: “Date after which”; the earliest possible date a layer or artifact could have been deposited.

Term: Terminus ante quem (TAQ)

Definition: “Date before which”; the latest possible date a layer or artifact could have been deposited.

Term: Dendrochronology

Definition: Tree-ring dating; an absolute dating method providing precise calendar years.

Term: Radiocarbon dating (C-14)

Definition: Absolute dating method measuring carbon-14 in organic material; effective up to ~50,000 years.

Term: Argon dating

Definition: Absolute dating of volcanic sediments; works best for very old sites (~200,000+ years).

Term: Miocene epoch

Definition: Geological epoch when the last common ancestor of humans, chimps, and gorillas likely existed.

Term: Pliocene epoch

Definition: Geological epoch when the first hominins appeared in the fossil record.

Term: Paleoindian (North America)

Definition: Earliest period of human occupation in North America.

Term: Archaic (North America)

Definition: Period after Paleoindian; more diverse subsistence strategies before widespread domestication.

Term: Paleolithic

Definition: Old Stone Age; early human stone tool cultures.

Term: Mesolithic

Definition: Middle Stone Age; transitional period with microlith tools.

Term: Neolithic

Definition: New Stone Age; marked by agriculture, domestication, and pottery.

Term: Homo erectus

Definition: First hominin to leave Africa, use fire, and develop sophisticated tools (~900 cc brain).

Term: Australopithecus

Definition: Early hominin genus (~4 mya), small-bodied, first associated with stone tools (~2.5 mya).

Term: Homo sapiens

Definition: Anatomically modern humans, appearing around 150,000 years ago.

Term: Sedentism

Definition: Increasingly permanent human habitation, often associated with domestication.

Term: Domestication

Definition: Humans managing and selectively breeding plants or animals for food or resources.

Term: Fiber-tempered pottery

Definition: Early pottery made from clay mixed with fibers like Spanish moss to strengthen it.

Term: Cave art (Upper Paleolithic)

Definition: Paintings created by early humans; possibly symbolic, shamanistic, or informational.

Term: Shanidar Cave “flower burial”

Definition: Possible Neanderthal burial with flowers; evidence of ritual or symbolic behavior.

Term: Civilization traits

Definition: Monumental architecture, cities, writing, agriculture, state-level political organization, social stratification.

Term: Colonization of Australia

Definition: Humans arrived ~65,000 years ago, indicating use of seaworthy watercraft.

Term: Colonization of the Americas

Definition: Timing is debated; represents humans expanding into new continents.