Starting a Project

research quesiton

a specific, open-ended question that guides the investigation into the human past through the study of material remains and cultural practices

CRM based projects

research mandated by law and conducted to comply with historic preservation regulations

problem-oreintated research

a systematic method that begins with a specific, well defined question or hypothesis

previous research

nominal data

descriptive categories

• ex:

  • cats and dogs

  • vase and jar

ordinal data

ranked data

• not continuous, there are specific categories

• ex:

  • small, medium, large

interval data

continuous data without a “true zero“

• numbers

• no minimum

• not limited from the lower bound

• no actual 0 to stop you

• ex:

  • numbers

ratio data

continuous data with a “true zero“

• numbers

• have a starting point

• there is an actual 0

• go up as high as you want

• ex:

  • height (you can’t have 0 height)

population

(in most unavailable for social sciences)

variable

a measurable characteristic of the population

sample

a portion of elements to make inferences about the population

non-probablistic sampling

• using prior information to guide the selection process

• judgemental sampling

probablistic sampling

• sampling based on statistical criteria that enables archaeologists to evaluate how close a sample represents the larger population of artifacts or features at a site

systematic sampling

• establish a pattern of sampling

• areas of sampling are evenly. distributed thorghout overall sampling universse

• sampling areas are selected according to pattern

simple random sampling

• completely random

stratified random sampling

• divides area into natural zones, then utilizes simple, random method to sample each area independently

• each zone is tested at a predetermined percentage

• the area tested is proportional to the zones overall area

cluster sampling

• divides data into groups then utilizes simple random method to sample within groups

adaptive sampling

• begins with another sampling method (simple random, systematic, or stratified) to find a starting location

• sampling areas are modified according to data obtained during the study

assembling the team

• director

• field director (crew chief)

• field archaeologist

• technical experts

• students

• workers

other needs for the team

• camp

• provisions

• logistics

• permits

political relations

the study of power dynamics in both past and present societies, the use of historical artifacts to shape national identity, and the political implications of archaeological sites and discoveries

social relations

focus on understanding how past and present societies are, or were, structured and how people interacted through their material culture and social practices

community relations

the practice of collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, including descendant communities, local residents, and civic officials, to involve them in research from project design to dissemination

artifact

portable objects created or modified by humans

ecofact

unmodified remains of biological materials

feature

non-portable archaeological remains that were constructed by humans = hearths, burials, storage pins, roads, dams

region

• beyond the limit of a single site

• defined by both natural and cultural factors

site

• a spatial cluster of artifacts, ecofacts, feature, and/or structure

non-random sampling

• a method of selecting participants for a study where not every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen