archaeology 1407 exam 2

geoarchaeology

studies the natural processes at a site by using geological principles and techniques to answer archaeological questions

geomorphology

study of physical features on the surface

stratigraphy

study of sedimentary layers

sediment pedology

study of soils

sediment

solid, organic, and inorganic particles made from weathered bedrock from either natural or human processes

clastic sediment

sediment formed from fragmented rock and mineral debris produced by weathering and erosion (solid particles); transported via water, wind, and gravity

chemical sediment

sediment formed by precipitation of minerals from solutions

pyroclastic sediment

sediment formed from volcanic processes (ash, dust, etc)

carbonaceous sediment

sediment from plant or animal (organic) tissue

alluvial transport

formed by flowing fresh water; good preservation

eolian transport

wind

colluvial transport

gravity-powered deposition; high energy; ex: mudslides

meandering stream

low-energy rivers or oxbow lakes and etc

braided stream

high-energy stream with suspended load

loess

A wind-formed deposit made of fine particles of clay and silt

end moiraine

forms at the end of a glacier

weathering

the breaking down of rocks and other materials on the earth's surface.

soil

formed by the weathering of existing sediment

pedology

study of soils

soil profile

vertical sequence of distinctive horizontal horizons created by in place weathering of stable sediments

paleosol

buried soils

erosion

removal of older sediments and soils by geomorphic processes

deposition

process in which sediment is laid down in new locations

law of superposition

geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the layer below it

bioturbation

disturbance of sedimentary deposits by living organisms

cryoturbation

natural formation process in which freeze/thaw activity in a soil selectively pushes larger artifacts to the surface of a site

graviturbation

natural formation process in which artifacts are moved downslope through gravity, sometimes assisted by precipitation runoff

argilliturbation

natural formation process in which wet/dry cycles in clay-rich soils push artifacts upward as the sediment swells and then moves them down as cracks form during dry cycles

conformable contact

no significant breaks in deposition; no erosion

facies

simultaneous but distinct sediment deposits

erosional unconformity

unconformity where the rock "lost to time" has been eroded away

geochronology

study of the ages of geologic events

proxy records

ecologically sensitive floral, faunal, geologic, and isotopic remains from dated contexts and climatic interpretations

dendrochronology

process of counting tree rings to determine the age of a tree

palynology

the study of pollen grains and spores

phytolith

a fossilized particle of plant tissue

diatom

microscopic algae cell

flotation analysis

use of fluid suspension to recover tiny burned plant remains and bone fragments from archaeological sites

paleoecology

reconstructing past environments

ethnobotany

study of how various cultures use plants

zooarchaeology

study of animal remains of archaeological sites

artifact industry

artifact class defined by material and technology

pot sherd

broken fragment of pottery

core

parent piece in lithic technology

flake

fragment, bit, chip in lithic technology

debitage

the by-products or waste materials left over from the manufacture of stone tools

blade

made from blade core

biface

flaked on both sides; used to make projectile points and knifes

scraper

steep-edged tool used for scraping; can be unifacial or bifacial

projectile point

sharp tip; arrows, darts, or spears

mano and metate

ground stone tools used for grinding food, plants, and processing hides

pestle and mortar

used to grind substances into a powder

annealing

heat (metal or glass) and allow it to cool slowly, in order to remove internal stresses and toughen it

flintknapping

controlled fracturing of material to make tools

conchoidal fracturing

production of smooth, clamshell-shaped fractures

use-wear analysis

examining the wear patterns on the surface of tools to determine their use

residue analysis

microscopic analysis of the residues of plant and animal foods, especially starches, on pottery or tools

expedient tools

tools that are made on the spot; minimally modified; short use-life

formal tools

tools that are time-intensive, planned, and reworked

geochemical analysis

involves taking samples of soil at intervals from the surface of a site and its surroundings and measuring their elemental content

X-ray fluorescence

a technique for identifying the chemical makeup of a raw material by photon interaction with atoms, causing energy signature

neuron activation analysis

a method of analysis that determines composition of elements in a sample by placing it in a nuclear reactor; costly and destructive

ICPMS

ionizes sample with laser to see isotopes; costly

ceramics vs pottery

ceramics: anything made from fired clay; pottery: a specialized form/ rarely found in whole form

residual clay

clay that remains where it was formed

sedimentary clay

clay that has been transported from its original site by water, wind or glacier; less pure, more plastic

temper

addition of other materials to ceramics

grog

fired clay that has been crushed into granules which may be added to a clay body to increase strength, control drying and reduce shrinkage

coiling technique

concentric coils built up

throwing technique

use of a potter's wheel

slip

water + clay painted on

glaze

special slip that provides smooth/glossy surface when fired

lip

rim of pottery

kiln

an oven used for making pottery; either a pit or constructed

basketry

hand-woven plant fibers

cordage

string

MNI

minimum number of individuals

NISP

number of individual specimens

paleodemographic analysis

looks at structure of ancient population (can see plant type distribution, richer people taller, arthritis, fractures)

coprolite

fossilized feces

mitochondrial DNA

DNA found in the mitochondria that is inherited only through mothers

haplogroup

a lineage marked by one or more specific genetic mutations

wood milling

processing whole logs via sawing for use in construction

ozette site

place where a mudslide caped an entire village and preserved it; PNW

ore

naturally occurring rock that contains metal, usually in the form of an oxide

oxide

metal and oxygen

refining

purifying a metal via smelting

smelting

heating an ore to extract a base metal

alloy

combo of elements to add greater strength, appearance, or resistance to change/oxidation

flux

materials that lower the melting temperatures and/or create a reducing environment; purging

slag

glass-like byproduct of smelting

furnace

permanent structure that can facilitate very high temperature and good oxygen control

cold shaping

hammering of a soft metal into a desired form

casting

pouring molten metals/alloys into a mold

lost wax casting

a method of casting metal by a process in which a wax mold covered with clay and fired, leaves a hollow form for metal molds to be made

diffusion

the process by which neighboring cultural elements are incorporated into one's own group

acculturation

the borrowing of culture from a dominant society by a subordinate society

ethnogenesis

creation of a new culture; usually the result of violence

exchange

various ways that goods are passed between and within cultures

internal exchange

reciprocity, redistribution, and market exchange