Archaeology - Final Exam

Butchery

human modification and processing of animal carcasses for consumption

Conservation

preserving the archaeological record

Core

rock from which flakes have been removed during the process of stone tool making

Curator

responsible for the care, management, interpretation, and exhibition of archaeological collections

Diagnostic

an artifact or feature that is distinctive enough to help identify a specific time period, culture, or technological style

Disarticulated

skeletal remains that are no longer in their natural anatomical position

Experimental Archaeology

method of research that recreates past technologies, tools, and activities

Fauna

animal remains found at a site, such as bones, teeth, shells, or antlers

Flake

small detached piece of stone removed from a larger piece during stone tool making

Historical Archaeology

branch of archaeology that studies cultures and societies with written records, typically from the last few hundred years

Knapping

the intentional removal of a series of flakes from a core

Lithic

artifact made of stone; stone tools and other chipped stone artifacts

Looting

illegal excavation or removal of artifacts from archaeological sites, often for personal gain or sale on the black market

Microwear Analysis

study of microscopic wear patterns on tools and artifacts to understand how they were used

MNI

smallest number of individual animals or humans that could account for the remains found at an archeological site

Monticello

NAGPRA 1990

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act; native american remains or artifacts must be returned to lineal descendants and indian tribes

NHPA 1966

National Historic Preservation Act; preserve historical and archaeological sites

NISP

Number of Identified Specimens; individual identifiable animal bones or fragments found

Patrick Henry

Preservation Virginia

Profile

side of an artifact

Pseudoarchaeology

claims, practices, or interpretations of the past presented as archaeology but lack the rigorous scientific methodology, evidence, or scholarly credibility

Repatriation

return of cultural artifacts, human remains, and sacred objects to their rightful cultural descendants or communities

Refitting

reassembling broken pieces of stone tolls or artifacts to determine how they were originally shaped

Scotchtown

Sherd

broken piece of ceramic or pottery

Taxonomy

classification and categorization of artifacts, species, or cultural items based on shared characteristics

Thin-Section Analysis

study of pottery, stone, and soil samples

Antiquities Act of 1906

ARPA

Articulated

Biface