ANT 003 Set 1: Core Definition & Evidence Types

Archaeology

The study of past human societies through their material remains, including artifacts, buildings, bones, food remains, and landscapes.

Archalogical site

A location where evidence of human activity is found.

Deep Time

The immense span of time involved in Earth’s history and human evolution, extending far beyond written history.

Artifacts

Portable objects made, used, or modified by humans. Provide evidence of human choices, technology, and behavior.

Stratigraphy

The study of layers of soil, sediment, and archaeology deposits. Used to establish relative age.

In Situ

A Latin phase meaning “in its original place”.

Coring

A non-invasive technique for extracting a continuous, minimally distributed cylinder of soil, sediment, or rock from a site.

Auger

A tool used to drill into soil and extract a narrow sample, often used to investigate soil layers or locate archaeological deposits.

Ecofacts

Natural remains that provide evidence about past human activities or environments but were not manufactured by humans.

Features

Any large unmoveable object or structure modified or manufactured by humans.

Lithics

Stone tools or stone materials used in tool production.

Faunal Remains

Animal remains recovered from archaeological sites, including bones, teeth, shells, and other preserved animal materials.

Osseous Material

Materials made from animal bones, antler, ivory, horn, or shell.

Mesh Size

The size of the opening in a sieve used to screen excavated soil.

Flotation

A technique for recovering tiny archaeology materials, especially plant remains, from soil.

Cultural Resource Management (CRM)

The identification, evaluation, and the protection of archaeological and other culture resources, often response to construction or development.

Academic Archeology

Research conducted primarily through universities, museums, and research institutions, often emphasizing scholarship, teaching, and the publication.

Indigenous archaeology

Research that recognizes indigenous people’s knowledge, rights, perspective, and authority concerning the heritage.

Amateur archaeology

Archaeological interest or British patient by people who are not professional archaeologists.

Pseudo-archeology

Involves presenting theories about ancient history that lack support and do not follow scientific archaeological practices.

Looters/Pothunters

People who remove artifacts from archaeological sites for personal gain, collecting, or sale without appropriate authorization.

Shovel Test Unit

A small test evacuation, often a shovel sized hole, used to check either archeological materials are present beneath the surface.

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)

A remote sent in method that census radar pluses into the ground and record reflections from parade features or changes in subsurfaces materials.