Weeks 4-5

Site File

Site File

information about sites based on a set of standardized forms filled out by archaeologists

US format for site #

site #, county abbreviation, site #

Archaeological Survey

methods of examining an area to determine if archaeological deposits are present

Pedestrian Survey

walking along and scanning the surface for artifacts

Shovel Testing

sifting dirt through screens to separate artifacts

Probing

explores beneath the ground surface for archaeological deposits

Geomagnetic Surveying

passive remote sensing that uses a magnetometer to indicate the presence of archaeological deposits in the soil

Soil Resistivity Surveying

sends active electric current through the ground and measures the change of resistivity

LiDAR

Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges to the Earth

Sounding

deep test pit

Trenches

long test pit

Excavation Units

larger unites of horizontal control

Balk

space between test pits left unexcavated to retain stratigraphy

Standard Excavation Strategies

step trenching, vertical face trenching, isolated pit approach, block approach

Burial Excavation Strategy

pedestalling

Digging Methods

troweling, shovel scraping and screening, picking, mechanical excavation

Stratigraphy

developed from geology; law of superposition

Law of Superposition

lower first; refers to deposition sequence

Test Excavations

-preliminary site examination usually involving small excavations to preview site

-small, vertical test pits or series of trenches across the site

-shovel testing

-size and # of test pits depends on types of information being sought

Vertical Excavations

takes form of squares/rectangles positioned across a site to expose stratigraphy

Horizontal Excavations

expose large open areas of ground, one layer at a time

-natural levels and arbitrary levels

Natural Levels

site’s strata; usually separable from other levels by change in texture, color, rock, or organic content

Arbitrary Levels

basic vertical subdivisions of excavation square

Screening and Flotation

excavated soils are usually sifted through screens and washed with water to find small objects, bone fragments, and plant remains

Dry Seiving

to search through loose soil

Water Screening

screening with water to ensure complete recovery of all artifacts and fragments

Flotation

to recover burned plants and bone fragments

Two Kinds of Surveying (to discover archaeological sites)

1. Survey of Landscape

2. Subsurface Survey

Landscape Survey

through fieldwork to look for artifacts and sites

Subsurface Survey

coring, remote sensing, and chemical prospecting

Statistical Sampling in Surface Survey

-statistical population

-sample universe

-when actually getting the sample: percent of the population that is included and random selection of sites

Statistical Population

set of counts, measurements, or characteristics; defined set of observations of interest

Sample Universe

region that contains statistical population that will be samples

Full-Coverage Survey

researches complex settlement and changes through time

-surface archaeological record is visible and addresses relations between sites

Before Excavation:

location, longitude, latitude, and elevation is determined then grid is marked out on a surface of site

Instrumental Surveying

technique used by land surveyors and cartographers to make maps and plans

Contour Map

shows topography; elevation of ground measured from sea level or known fixed point

Total Station

measures both horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously using an infrared laser to produce contour maps and locate artifacts/architecture in 3 dimensions

GPS

series of satellites broadcasting information for determining exact locations on Earth’s surface

Remote Sensing

photographic and geophysical technique relying on electromagnetic energy to detect and measure the characteristics of an archaeological target

Remote Sensing (from above)

air photographs provide information on site locations - different soil conditions might result in distinctive patterns showing the outlines of houses or whole villages

-oblique and vertical photographs

Oblique Photograph

better for pictorial effect and perspective

Vertical Photograph

better for making maps and plans

Geography Information System (GIS)

computer programs that store, retrieve, analyze, and display cartographic data; can be used to project where remains may be

Three Components of GIS

1. a computer graphics program used to draw a map

2. external databases linked to objects on a map

3. analytical tools that geographically ubterpret or analyze stored data

Predictive Modeling

using GIS to predict where remains might be; cheaper than fieldwork

Göbekli Tepe

SE Turkey (Upper Mesopotamia), identified 1963, rediscovered in 1994

Layer III: defined by circular structures and T pillars

Layer II: defined by rectangular structures

Enclosures deliberately filled

Potentially site of work feats and cult center

Significance: depicts transition from hunter/gatherer to agriculture (Neolithic Revolution)

Neolithic Revolution

transition transition from hunter/gatherer to agriculture; driven by climate change (Youngar Dryas)