Glossary - Simpler Definitions Flashcards
absolute dating
methods of dating archaeological materials that provide precise dates expressed in calendrical years
alluvium
sediment that has been deposited by moving water
alluvial plain
- a land area formed by the accumulation of sediment over time
- soil found in these areas are typically excellent for agriculture
antiquarianism
the practice of collecting archaeological materials out of curiosity or for financial gain
antiquarians
aficionados of history, occasionally educated in the subject, but are typically motivated by a personal collection of artifacts instead of academic study
archaeology
the study of human culture through the study of material culture, landscapes, and sites; the survey and excavations of particular sites; and the analysis of artifacts/ecofacts
assemblage
an associated set of contemporary artifact types
artefact/artifact
any object which has been modified for human use; are the basic components of material culture
bioarchaeologist
archaeologists who study human remains excavated from archaeological sites
cadastral map
a map that depicts the extent of land boundaries and ownership
cartography
the study and practice of making maps
cataract
shallow areas in the ancient Nile River where riverine transport was prevented due to sediment deposits and/or large stones
Chaîne opératoire
a method of archaeological analysis that prioritizes the technical process of making objects, alongside social inputs of their production, to describe an object’s overall production, use, and disposal
context
- a term used in archaeology to identify the smallest units within an excavation (often used to refer to different types of strata)
- more broadly used to refer to the position, setting or circumstance that an object, person or building can be found within or comes from
cosmology
literally, the scientific study of the origin and evolution of the universe. in an archaeological context, it refers to humanity’s metaphysical relationship to the world, which is critically important to social structure, religious traditions, daily activities and more. often expressed in art, literature, and myth/folklore traditions, the layer of cities, and the the use of artifacts
cuneiform
a wedge-shaped writing script used in ancient Mesopotamia and Iran to express the ancient Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Elamite languages; written by using a reed stylus into tablets of clay
diachronic
a phenomena as it occurs or changes across time
ecofact
natural materials that have been used by humans ; includes remains of plants/animals that were eaten by a given community and other organic material recovered from archaeological sites that are relevant to ancient ecology
fieldwalking
a non-intrusive method of archaeological survey in which teams of archaeologists walk the length of a large survey areas in transects while documenting observed finds
holloway
a road or a track created by the movement of animals and humans that is lower in grade than the land on either side
Hieratic script
a cursive writing script used for writing ancient Egyptian languages such as Archaic, Old, Middle, and Late Egyptian
landscape
the physical world as it is shaped, engaged with, experienced, and conceptualized by humankind; refers to a person or society’s relationship with the surrounding environment
LiDAR
- light detection and ranging
- a survey method that uses laser light to detect and display ground surface features through the reflection of light off of that surface; helpful for mapping heavily wooded areas
magnetometry
a technique for surveying and mapping subsurface magnetic patterns; different deposits have different magnetic signatures that reflect the shape of site features
material culture
a term used to describe the objects produced by human beings
Mesopotamia
the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and home to the ancient Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, and Babylonians; means “between the two rivers” in ancient Greek
Ostraca/Ostracon
artifacts that have been reused as writing surfaces, such as potshers, ceramic tiles, and small pieces of stone
palimpsest
something reused or altered bearing traces of its original form; may refer to a landscape with visible traces of human activity
paleobotany
the collection and study of plant remains from the geological and archaeological record
paleography
the study of ancient and historical handwriting for deciphering, reading, and dating texts
paleopathologist
a specialist that studies ancient diseases and ailments found in the archaeological record
papyrus
a paper-like material made from a papyrus plant used as a writing surface; largely used in Egypt due to abundant amounts of material
relative dating
scientific methods of placing the dates of objects and events in chronological order relative to other events or objects (stratigraphy or seriation)
remote sensing
the use of satellite imaging and aerial photography for the detection of archaeological features
seriation
a relative dating method in which artifacts or assemblages from numerous sites are associated with each other and placed in chronological order
space and place
- space is the measurable and mathematical dimensions of a particular area
- place is a space that has been invested with cultural meaning by people
- i.e. the space of a temple is its dimensions, but it is also a place because of the religious experience shared in this space
stratigraphy
a form of relative dating in which the study of the order and position of layers of archaeological remains; relies upon a scientific law known as the Law of Superposition
Law of Superposition
follows the principle that if one makes a deep vertical cut into the earth, one will see various layers of rock, sediment, and archaeological materials known as strata; the oldest strata will be placed at the bottom, newer strata will be at the top
taphonomy
the process in which objects and sites enter and form the archaeological record after their use life
Terminus Ante Quem
the latest possible date for something; means “limit before which”
Terminus Post Quem
the earliest possible date for something; means “limit after which”
Three Age System
a system of relative dating that arranges archaeological materials chronologically into three ages; Stone, Bronze, and Iron; was popularized by Danish archaeologist Christian Jurgensen Thomsen and considered revolutionary because it was the first system used to prioritize artifacts in establishing chronologies
topography
the shape and features of land surfaces; refers to the study of surface features and their representation in maps
transhumance
the human transport of pastoral animals based on the seasonal use of landscapes
votice
a sacred object offered as a gift to a god
