Methodology

Question 1

Middle range theory

Answer 1

a conceptual framewrok linking raw arcaeologial data with higehr level generalizations and conclusions about the past whichcan be derived from this evidence

Question 2

ecofacts

Answer 2

floral, faunal, or geophysical materials not necessarily used, altered, or transported by humans but of value in interpreting arch cultures

Question 3

artifacts

Answer 3

anything made, modified, or transported by humans and can provide information about past behaviors

Question 4

features

Answer 4

Any highly localized area of human use or modification, sometimes part of work area, location of activitiles, architecture

Question 5

Context

Answer 5

an objects setting in time and space, its affinity to other objects of similiar form and its relationship to other objects in the arcaeology record

Question 6

Major assumption behind context:

Answer 6

Since human culture behaivor is patterned,

it will occur in a predictable way.

Since it is predictable,

we can decipher the patterns

Question 7

three dimensions of context

Answer 7

• spatial
• temporal
• formal (affinity )

Question 8

Matrix

Answer 8

physical material within which artifacts are embedded or supported

Question 9

fieldwork

Answer 9

• observation of surface patterns
• excavation
• retrieval of materials

Question 10

observation of surface patterns

Answer 10

• reconnaissance survey : a braod range of techniques involved in the location of archaeological sites
• Field-walking: basically initial phyisical survey
• Systematic settlement survey: Methodologies used to establish settlements patterns

Question 11

GIS

Answer 11

Geographical information systems: software-based systems designed for the collection, organization storage retrieval anaylsis and displayin of spatial digital geographic data hel in different layers

Question 12

Datum point

Answer 12

The reference point in an archaeologiy site used as basis for all measurements

Question 13

lots

Answer 13

any unit of collection in which artifacts are presumed to share some particular context, typically a level of a trench

Question 14

Assemblage

Answer 14

a group of artifacts recurring together at a particular time and place, and representing the sum of human activities

Question 15

4 parts to excavation

Answer 15

• provenience: exact location in 3 dinmensional space of any material in archaeology context
• Baulks: unexcavated side walls of trenches
• Witness columns: smaller unexcavated areas that maintain record of strata
• Stratigraphic profiles: drawings of depostis

Question 16

Typology

Answer 16

process of establishing and selectin categories for data and for systems of categories themselves

Question 17

Taphonomy

Answer 17

the study of natural and cultural processes that affect organic remains after death and their depositional characteristics