Major 1 Ultimate Study Guide

Stratigraphy

The geological study and analysis of rock and soil strata used to ascertain chronological sequences in archaeology.

Law of Superposition

A principle stating that in undisturbed layers, deeper layers are older than those above.

Typology

The systematic classification of artifacts based on their shapes, features, and chronological material evolution.

Microliths

Miniature, geometric stone blades and tools characteristic of the Mesolithic period.

Khyber & Bolan Passes

Mountain corridors in northern Himalayas that served as gateways for migration and trade into India.

Zooarchaeology

Sub-discipline focused on identifying and analyzing animal remains to understand ancient subsistence and hunting.

Archaeobotany

Study of ancient plant remains and seeds to investigate origins of agriculture and past environments.

Ethnoarchaeology

Study of modern traditional communities to reconstruct and interpret past human behaviors.

Megalithic Burials

Funerary structures made of large stones, characteristic of Iron Age in South India.

Second Urbanization

Socioeconomic resurgence during Iron Age marked by growth of fortified towns and complex urban organizations.

Artifacts

Movable objects made or used by humans, such as tools, pottery, and coins.

Ecofacts

Natural remains that provide data on past environments, such as unworked bones and fossilized seeds.

Features

Non-portable physical manifestations of human activity that require context to understand, like hearths and walls.

Sites

Geographic locations preserving evidence of past human occupation or activity.

Relative Dating

Establishes chronological priority of artifacts or layers without exact calendar ages.

Absolute Dating

Determines specific calendar ages of artifacts or layers, such as through radiocarbon dating.

Radiocarbon Dating

A method measuring radioactive decay of carbon to date organic remains.

Thermoluminescence Dating

Determines the radiation dose accumulated in inorganic materials, used for dating ceramics.

Dendrochronology

Dating method based on counting growth rings in trees to date wooden materials.

History

Field that complements archaeology by uncovering evidence from prehistory and testing historical claims.

Anthropology & Sociology

Disciplines that inform archaeological interpretations of social organization and ritual practices.

Geology & Geography

Fields that detail the earth's composition and spatial dynamics impacting human settlement.

Zooarchaeology

Study of animal remains to reconstruct ancient human-animal interactions and subsistence strategies.

Archaeobotany

Study of plant remains to understand agriculture and past environmental conditions.

Lower Palaeolithic

Period characterized by crude stone tools and nomadic hunter-gatherer societies.

Middle Palaeolithic

Period known for flake-tool industries and specialized hunting adaptations.

Upper Palaeolithic

Period marked by advanced tools and emerging symbolic expression like rock art.

Mesolithic

Period dominated by microliths and broad-spectrum foraging practices.

Neolithic

Period marked by systematic agriculture, leading to permanent settlements.

Chalcolithic

Period characterized by the introduction of copper metallurgy alongside stone tools.

Iron Age

Period marked by widespread iron use and development of urbanization processes.

Prehistory

Span of human existence before written records, analyzed through material culture.

Fossils

Preserved remains or imprints of ancient organisms that provide insight into past ecosystems.

Numismatics

Study of coins, tokens, and currency including their classification and historical significance.

Experimental Archaeology

Method where modern researchers recreate ancient technologies to understand historical processes.

Heritage Preservation

Conservation of cultural heritage to maintain historical and cultural continuity.

Public Education

Use of archaeology to inform the public about history through exhibitions and museums.

Legal and Land Restitution

Use of archaeological evidence to support indigenous claims to land and cultural heritage.

Environmental Insights

Analysis of past human adaptation to climate changes to inform modern sustainability.