Arky 303 intro

Anthropology

The study of all aspects of humankind, including cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological dimensions.

Cultural Anthropology

The subfield of anthropology that describes and analyzes the culture of human groups in the present, focusing on aspects like economy, social organization, and political systems.

Biological Anthropology

The subfield of anthropology that studies human evolution, genetic relationships, cultural variation, diet, and diseases.

Linguistic Anthropology

The study of different languages, their grammar, syntax, lexicon, history, and how they change.

Archaeology

The study of past societies through careful recovery and detailed analysis of material remains.

Artifact

A portable object manufactured, modified, or used by humans.

Ecofacts

Archaeological finds of cultural significance not made by humans, such as bones and plant remains.

Feature

Any physical structure made or altered by humans that is not portable, such as walls or pits.

Context

The position and associations of an artifact or find in space and time, important for interpretation.

In situ

An artifact or feature found in its natural or original position.

Culture Area

A geographic region where culture and environment are similar, influencing the adaptation of human groups.

Prehistory

The span of time before written records.

A.D.

Abbreviation for Anno Domini, meaning 'in the year of our Lord,' used to denote years after the traditional birth year of Jesus.

B.C.

Abbreviation for Before Christ, referring to years before the traditional birth year of Jesus.

B.P.

Before Present; used in age determination, with 'Present' defined as the year 1950.

C.E.

Common Era, used in place of A.D. in academic contexts.

Excavation

The process of digging up and recording archaeological sites, focusing on the context and location of finds.

Ethnography

A branch of anthropology that studies and describes modern human cultures.

Midden

A deposit of occupation debris, rubbish, or other by-products of human activity found close to a living area.

Sherd

A piece of broken pottery or ceramic from an archaeological context.

Social Complexity

The shift from egalitarian to hierarchical social organization observed in archaeological contexts.

Sedentism

The shift from a nomadic lifestyle to a sedentary lifestyle, often associated with agriculture.

Domestication

The process by which wild plants and animals are cultivated and bred for human use.

Physiographic Relief

The physical features of the Earth's surface, including hills, mountains, plateaus, and lowlands, influencing human behavior.

Culture Area

A useful term in archaeology used to analyze similarities and differences in material cultures in various regions.