ANTH 197 FINAL EXAM JMU BLANTON

Three Key Dimensions of Archaeology

Time, Space, Culture

curve of the knowns

a graph that compares the radiocarbon-derived age of an artifact with its known age, often based on historical records or other dating methods

materialization

idea that something social exists prior to the artifact

what is the devries effect

de Vries showed that baffling anomalies in the carbon-14 dates, observed by Willard Frank Libby for Egyptological samples, were in fact systematic anomalies on a global scale, represented in the carbon-14 dates of tree rings.

dysphoric rituals refer to

rituals that evoke strong negative emotions, such as fear, pain, or trauma, in participants.

what is the kennewick man

an 8,500-year-old skeleton discovered in 1996, was the subject of a long legal and scientific battle over his identity and the right to his remains

what is nagpra

formatted from the slack farm case, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, is a federal law that governs the return of native american human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, etc

The Slack Farm case and why it is important

, a highly publicized instance of grave looting at an ancient Native American site in Union County, Kentucky, in 1987, was significant because it exposed the extent of archaeological looting and spurred legislative and ethical changes in the field. The incident led to the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

Symbolling-Learning-Communication-Planning-Cooperation

interconnected aspects of human behavior and culture that are studied in archaeology to understand past societies and their complexities. 

intra site

indicators are monuments and complexity

How have advances in DNA/genetic analysis revolutionized archaeology?

enabling researchers to directly study the genetic history of past populations, providing insights into migration patterns, population dynamics, and the relationships between different groups

What kinds of evidence might be observed on a skeleton that is the product of disease,
injury, and/or lifestyle?

changes in bone density, shape, and size, as well as the presence of healed or unhealed fractures, specific dental wear patterns, and other unique skeletal characteristics

agency

the ability of individuals and groups to act and make choices within a given historical context, influencing their environment and social structures

monumentality

intentional creation of large, often public structures or landscapes that go beyond simple functional needs, signifying power, social organization, or other symbolic meanings

intersite

indicators are hierarchaeological settlement patterns

what is a society

group of ppl linked thru a sustained interaction, share a common culture

chiefdoms

relatively large societies organized under strict hierarchy of status

states

highly structured bureaucratic organizations, power and control rests thru minority

bands

oldest form of organization, Least complex, hunter gatherer foragers

tribes

alliance of bands, more members, rank in tribes is usually determined by age and needs

burials are significant bc

they provide a hard, material record of a behavior that is deeply spiritual and meaningful

for humans what is a culturally meaningful process

death

where do we come from

NOT MONKEYS

thanatology

study of death and practices associated w it

the level of oxygen in someone determines

what they may have been drinking

the level of strontium shows what someone determines what

they have been eating

individuals age under 25 can be determined by

bone fusion, skull sutures, pubic synthesis, rib end morphology, clavicle medical fusion

find age of child by

teeth

final 3-5 yrs of someone life is

ribs

final 10-15 yrs of someone life is

femur

what is the best way to determine sex from a body

the pelvis since a females is wider than a males

the best bone for determining stature is the

femur

what is bioanthro focused on

concerned w living human populations and living primate relatives

bioanthropology

study of human evolution/biology.

seuss effect

• A change in the carbon isotope ratio in the atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which release "old" carbon (with no ^14C).

excavating sites is done by

using units and blocks like shovels, trowels, screens, and sometimes heavy equipment

provenience records

Detailed documentation of the exact location where each artifact or feature is found, including horizontal (grid square and vertical depth data)

Why is documentation vital?

Context is everything — data without it is meaningless.

Pedestrian method, -

Archaeologists walk systematically over a landscape (usually in transects) to visually identify surface artifacts, features, or site indicators.

• Document-aided,

• Uses historical records, maps, oral histories, and written documents to predict or locate archaeological sites.

Subsurface sampling.-

Testing beneath the surface using tools like shovel test pits (STPs), augers, or coring devices.

research design

determines methods of finding arch sites

applied archaeology

•  The practical use of archaeological methods and findings to address real-world problems and public concerns.

ethnoarchaeology

The study of living people and their material culture to better understand how past humans may have lived and used objects.

garbology helps archaeology by

Shows how material culture reflects behavior, supports traditional interpretations.

oetzi the ice man

• Oldest naturally preserved human body found in ice.Offers a detailed view of Copper Age life in Europe.His tools, clothing, and tattoos reveal information about diet, health, violence (he was likely murdered), and social status. His well-preserved DNA helps understand early European genetics and diseases.

• Bog bodies, -

• Naturally preserved in peat bogs; many retain skin, hair, and internal organs. Provide evidence of ritual sacrifices or executions 

• Spirit Cave Mummy, -

• Oldest known naturally mummified human remains in North America. Offers critical information on early Native American ancestry and migration.

• La Belle shipwreck.-

• French explorer La Salle’s ship, central to early colonial efforts in North America. Exceptionally preserved due to mud and water conditions.

weaknesses of arch evidence is

• Biased by preservation, looting, context loss.

strengths of archaeologist evidence

• Durable over long timespans.

• Can reveal diet, trade, social structure.

 How and why did archaeology become what it is today?

• Archaeology evolved from treasure hunting and speculation into a science through shifts in theory and method. Its development was shaped by the desire to understand past human behavior using evidence from material culture.
  

• It became more systematic and scientific in the 20th century with the advent of processual archaeology.
  

paradigm

 a framework of assumptions and practices.

Stratigraphy

the study of rock layers and the sequence of events they reflect

Anthropology

The study of humans

Archaeology

the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Material Culture

The tangible outputs of living culture.

Scientific Method

A way of finding meaning in evidence. Most commonly used in Processual modern paradigm.

Modern Paradigms of Archaeology

Processual, Post-Processual, and Processual-Plus

Past Paradigms of Archaeology

Speculative, Descriptive, and Cultural

Speculative Approach

Biblically framed, 17th-18th century, early period

Descriptive Approach

Basic or little data collection, "butterfly collecting". Popular in the 18th - 19th century.

Culture History Approach

Orders culture chronologically, but still lacks extensive descriptions. Based off of assemblages. 19th - 20th century.

Processual Paradigm

"The new archaeology", scientific approach with universal laws. Utilizes the "rational actor assumption".

Post-Processual Paradigm

Reaction to processualism, agent centered with a political agenda attached. Mainly targets stakeholders.

Processual-Plus

Utilizes both processual and post-processual ideologies.

Feature

Non-portable evidence found at a site. Examples include graves, foundations, fire places, etc.

Site

Any archeological location that contains evidence of human activity.

Settlement Patterns

How different locations/areas share patterns amongst each other. The three characteristics are:

1) Size

2) Duration

3) Relationships

Surveying

Preliminary overview of a new project area for a site.

Crop Marks

Disturbance of soil due to crops, initially discovered with remote sensing/satellite imagery. Often times there is nitrogen depletion or nutrient depletion in the soil that causes crops to grow less or more.

Shovel Tests

A sample survey method used in regions where rapid soil buildup obscures buried archaeological remains. Digging shallow systematic pits across survey unit.

Remote Sensing

Allows us to collect data without physically touching it. Some examples are satellite imagery, infrared (LIDAR), etc.

Magnetometry

Uses the earth's magnetic field to measure stuff inside the ground. Simply says an object is there. Though, very susceptible to electronics and metals, which can cause disturbances.

GPR

Ground penetrating radar. Measures the reflection rate of radio signals, and allows a way of passing through objects (pavement). Returns data in layers, but a very slow process.

Provenience

Precise location of any discovery in relation to other objects.

Grid system

• A rectangular or square network of equally sized units laid over a site to organize excavation and mapping.

Datum

Southwest corner of a site, denoting it's location, depth, and length.

In Situ

"In place". Example is the discovery of a spear with dead animal remains.

Trowel

The most basic tool used in Archaeology: A small shovel.

Natural Level vs Arbitrary Level

In regards to excavation, it's purposeful digging vs random.

Stratum/Strata

Discrete layers in a profile within the ground. Contains information regarding Law of Superposition

Stratigraphy

the study of rock layers and the sequence of events they reflect

Profile

The cross section that is exposed in an excavation

Site Formation Processes

Erosion, animals, humans, weather...

Law of Super Position

Artifacts found in more recent layers within a profile are considered newer.

Taphonomy/Typology

How organisms decay and become fossilized, especially in regards to sites and layers

Absolute Date

A TRUE date expressed in specific units of scientific measurement, such as days, years, centuries, or millennia; absolute determinations attempting to pinpoint a discrete, known interval in time.

Ex: Radio carbon dating

Relative Date

Age of an artifact compared to another artifact. Sequential ordering.

Seriation

Arrangement of artifacts according to popularity and attribute.

Ex: Grave Stone hw assignment, materials and shape.

Dendrochronology

The process of counting tree rings to determine the age of a tree

Cross-Dating

Relative dating method that estimates the age of artifacts and features based on their similarities with comparable materials from dated contexts

Tree-Ring Calibration

Using tree rings to correct radio carbon dating, utilizes the "Curve of Known", shows a calibration curve

Radio-Carbon Dating

A form of ABSOLUTE dating that uses C14 as a nuclear clock to provide a "death date" to formerly living things. It was first discovered by Richard Libby, who worked on the "Manhattan Project"

Half-Life

Length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay (5730 Years, Logarithmically), useful until about 50,000 years prior.

Confidence Interval

Determined by the quality of a sample, it's the confidence in regards to the death date of an object via radio carbon dating. Since C14 levels are non-constant, there will be some type of interval that a date could lie within.

De Vries Effect

Fluctuations in the calibration curve produced by variations in the atmosphere's carbon-14 content; these can cause radiocarbon dates to calibrate to more than one calendar age. (100 years)

AMS Dating

Different than traditional carbon dating (30G samples, slow, not exact), AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometer) counts the number of 12C, 13C, and 14C in the atmosphere to find a death date. Small samples with great precision.

Terminus Post Quem (TPQ)

"Limit after which". Denotes earliest time an event may have happened or an artifact discovered.