archaeology byu midterm Flashcards
Archaeology
The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of artifacts and other physical remains.
Archaeological record
The archaeological record is the body of physical (not written) evidence about the past
Artifacts
Objects made or modified by humans, such as tools or pottery.
Ecofacts
Natural materials that give environmental information about a site.
Features
Non-portable evidence of human activity, such as hearths or architectural elements.
Formation processes
those processes affecting the way in which archaeological materials came to be buried, and their subsequent history afterwards
Cultural Formation Processes
deliberate or accidental activities of humans
Natural Formation Processes
Natural events that govern the burial and survival of the archaeological record. (landslides, etc.)
Historical archaeology
the archaeological study of places for which written records exist
Prehistoric archaeology
The study of cultures without a written record.
Culture
The beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.
forms of survey
intrusive: artifacts are collected
non-intrusive: nothing is touched, just recorded (GPR)
Forms of survey
Different methods used to locate archaeological sites.
Excavation
The process of digging and removing artifacts from a site.
Vertical excavations
smaller sized, deeper pits, aimed at recovering diachronic information
Horizontal excavations
Excavations that extend across a site.
Post-excavation
The analysis and interpretation of the excavated material.
the importance of publication
nothing done in archeology is worth it unless the work is published. Since excavation is destructive, published material is often the only record of what was found at a site.
Relative dating
any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects by using other events and objects (soil layers)
historical dating
the verification of age and value of a document or object (the object cannot be older than the date listed on the artifact) (dendrochronology)
absolute dating
A technique used to determine the actual age of a fossil (carbon14)
Willard Libby
The scientist who developed radiocarbon dating.
Climate change
a change in global or regional climate patterns
Radiocarbon dating
A method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon.
Calibration
The process of adjusting radiocarbon dates to correct for variations in the atmospheric 14C over time.
Dendrochronology
The dating of past events through the study of tree ring growth.
Seriation
A relative dating method in which artifacts from numerous sites are placed in chronological order.
Stratigraphy & the law of superpositioning
The study of rock layers and the layering process, where the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest at the top.
Context & provenience
The precise location where an artifact or other archaeological find was discovered.
History of archaeology
The study of the development of archaeological methods and theories over time.
Antiquarianism vs. archaeology
The difference between the study of ancient artifacts for curiosity and the systematic study of the human past.
New or Processual archaeology
a way of studying ancient cultures that focuses on figuring out the steps or processes that led to the changes we see in ancient artifacts and ruins.
Post-processual archaeology
An approach that focuses on the interpretation of the past and the role of individuals in shaping the archaeological record.
Public archaeology
involves engaging with and involving the public in the process of archaeological research, conservation, and interpretation.
Theoretical biographies
An approach that uses biographical details to understand the lives of past individuals.
Hawkes’ ladder of inference
A model used to understand the process of making interpretations in archaeology.
Scientific method (rules)
There is a real and knowable universe
The universe operates to certain, understandable rules or laws
These laws are immutable
These laws can be discerned, studied, and understood by people through careful observation, experimentation, and research (reliable ideas)
Scientific method (steps)
Observe
Induce
Deduce
Test
Conclude
Occam’s razor
The principle that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.
Epistemology
The study of the nature and scope of knowledge and belief.
Key assumption underlying archaeology
The belief that the material remains of the past can provide insights into human behavior and culture.
Ramapithecus
An extinct hominid species that is considered a possible ancestor of humans.
Bamboo technology (Pope reading)
Bamboo technology (Pope reading)
Unilinear cultural evolution
an early anthropological theory that states all cultures evolve from simple to complex along a single trajectory of progress (Savage-> barbaric-> civilization)
multilinear cultural evolution
The view that there are many pathways of change a culture may take over the time span of its existence
Ethnographic analogy/ Ethnoarchaeology
The study of living societies to aid in the interpretation of the archaeological record.
4 types of commonalities
1) subsistence
2) technology
3) social organization
4) ecological conditions
formal analogies
a method of comparing artifacts or structures from different time periods or cultures based on their similar physical characteristics or forms.
relational analogies
a method of comparison that is based on logical reasoning and understanding of human behavior rather than solely on physical characteristics.
Experimental archaeology
The study of past cultures through re-creation of their activities and technologies.
Microwear analysis, refitting, etc.
The microscopic study of wear patterns on artifacts and the process of reconstructing stone tools from broken fragments.
Peopling of North America
The process of human migration and settlement of North America.
Clovis & Pre-Clovis sites
Cactus hill virginia, mount verde chile, meadowcroft pennsylvania
Pyrotechnology
The study of the use of fire by humans and its effects on the archaeological record.
Development of pottery
The evolution of pottery-making techniques and styles.
Artifact classification
The categorization of artifacts based on shared characteristics.
Assemblages
Collections of artifacts and ecofacts from a specific time and place.
