archaeology final

Settlement patterns

The arrangement of human settlements across a landscape, indicating social structure, economy, and resource use.

Primary refuse

Trash discarded at the place of activity.

Secondary refuse

Trash moved from its original location to a designated disposal area.

Tertiary refuse

Refuse that has been further disturbed by natural or human processes.

Provisional refuse

Temporarily stored waste.

De facto refuse

Items left behind unexpectedly, such as in cases of rapid abandonment.

Multiscalar methods

Analyzing settlement data at different scales such as household, site, and region to understand patterns.

Household archaeology

Study of household remains to understand daily life.

Core/Periphery

A model explaining economic and social interactions between central and surrounding areas.

Central Place Theory

A geographical theory explaining the distribution of settlements.

Meals vs. Diet

A meal is a single instance of eating; diet is the broader pattern of food consumption.

Zooarchaeology

Analysis of animal remains to study past human-animal interactions.

Modes of Exchange

Different methods of trading goods and services, including reciprocity, barter, and market systems.

Potlatch

Ceremonial gift-giving among Indigenous groups.

Agricultural adaptation

Ways in which societies modified their environments to support farming practices.

Göbekli Tepe

One of the earliest ritual sites, dating back to 11,600-8,200 BP.

Sedentism

The practice of living in one place for an extended period, often associated with agriculture.

Social inequality

The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Meaning in Archaeology

The study of ideology and symbolism reflected in material culture.

Early Complex Societies

Civilizations with advanced social structures, often involving urban planning and administration.

Diversity

The variety of human and cultural variation that exists within societies.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, often leading to misinterpretation of other cultures.