formation processes module one

Question 1

what are N-transformations

Answer 1

brought by the natural world, like weathering on bones or wave action or burning from forest fires or animals chewing on bones

Question 2

what are c-transformations

Answer 2

types of change due to the cultural world or human activity
- bone breakage from marrow extraction
burning bodies for rituals
breakage of stone tool
differential transportation of the body

Question 3

how do sites form?
loss - explain

Answer 3

loss
- leaving items behind
- can be single items or a group of items

Question 4

why abandonment forms sites

Answer 4

can be cities or villages that were never returned to,
common in mobile populations

Question 5

systemic context vs archaeological

Answer 5

the use (systemic context) of the site and the materials within it will influence the archeological context (how we find it after abandonment)

Question 6

ritual destruction

Answer 6

generally in cities
- Ritual-destroyed cities, only temples and certain structures are destroyed not the dwellings

Question 7

modern re-use

Answer 7

sites that are altered by modern development
- some damage is minor or some destroys

Question 8

what are some other modern impacts

Answer 8

contruction or roads etc
or more minor less invasive activities also impact

Question 9

artifacts and c-transformations

Answer 9

most artifacts can be transformed through the use
breakage is common way for artifacts to altered

Question 10

past c- culture

Answer 10

some artifacts are intentionally destroyed or altered by the people using them

Question 11

Principle Goals of Archaeology

Answer 11

1. explaining culture change
2. outlining culture histories
3. description and ordering of artifacts
4. spatial distributions
5. data collection, classification, and ordering things in time and space
6. reconstructing the past lives
7. diet, settlement, trade
8. causes and mechanisms of culture change