ANTH lab Flashcards
What is garbology?
- study of garbage, items that have been discarded
-coined by Bill Rathje in the 1970’s
-focuses on consumption patterns
what is an assemblage?
items from the same context
what can garbology tell us about people?
-age, gender, number of residents, interests, health, socioeconomic status
What is a site datum?
-control point in a site.
-the point where all measurements at the site are linked!
-normally site datum is given coordinates North 0, East 0.
when identifying a unit datum, where do you measure/label the unit to? (which corner)
the south west corner
Who is William Rathje?
Archaeologist who coined “garbology” in the 1970’s
How do archaeologists classify material culture?
thru sorting items into known categories, and recording information on context
What is classification?
the general process of sorting items into know categories
What is an excavation unit?
Grid square chosen as an excavation unit
What is a unit datum?
control point from which all measurements in a specific excavation unit are made
site map vs. unit plan view
Site map: map at the scale of the entire site/
unit plan view: map at the scale of the excavation unit
What can archaeologists interpret from provenience data/maps?
- important context in terms of the site.
- what the site was used for
- who cohabited at the site
Analysis of lithic artifacts determines the following three things:
- methods of manufacture
- form and style
- function
what is manufacture/production? (in terms of stone tools?)
- stone tools made by removing pieces of stone, such as through flaking, chipping, or grinding.
What are ground stone tools? what are they used for and What tools are they commonly?
- stone tools made by grinding the stone to remove bits.
- typically used for milling, grinding, hammering, digging.
- typically knives, hammers, net weights, axes, ect.
