Module 2

Question 1

Artifact

Answer 1

A portable object manufactured or modified by humans or human ancestors / cousins

Question 2

Ecofact

Answer 2

Non-artifactual organic or environmental remains which have cultural relevance

Question 3

Feature

Answer 3

A non-portable object manufactured or modified by humans or human ancestors / cousins

Question 4

Site

Answer 4

A concentration of evidence for past human activities in a particular location; legal definition varies by jurisdiction

Question 5

Systemic context

Answer 5

An object that is in use or is anticipated to be used by humans

Question 6

Archaeological context

Answer 6

An object that has been lost or abandoned, and is unlikely to be continually used by humans

Question 7

Cultural transformation processes (AKA C-Transforms)

Answer 7

Changes and alterations to archaeological materials (sites, artifacts, features, ecofacts) brought on by humans or human ancestors / cousins

Question 8

Natural transformation processes (AKA N-Transforms)

Answer 8

Changes or alterations to archaeological materials (sites, artifacts, features, ecofacts) brought on by the natural (non-human) world

Question 9

Abandonment

Answer 9

Moving away from an activity area with no plan to return to it

Question 10

Re-use

Answer 10

Using an object or location multiple times, often resulting in multiple layers of evidence for its past use

Question 11

Modern Impacts

Answer 11

Impacts to archaeological materials and sites that are the result of modern activities; may or may not occur as deliberate actions

Question 12

Taphonomy

Answer 12

Name given to the study of all the factors that impact ecofacts between the time of death of the organism and the time of analysis by the archaeologist. Only organics are subject to taphonomic processes

Question 13

Taphonomic stages (general sequence only)

Answer 13

Different stages of impact to ecofacts following the death of the organism and continuing up to the time of analysis and curation by the archaeologist. Only organics are subject to taphonomic processes

Question 14

Bioturbation

Answer 14

Disturbance / destruction of archaeological deposits by living entities; common forms include burrowing animals and tree roots

Question 15

Bone burning stages

Answer 15

Blackening, calcining, mixed burning

Question 16

types

Answer 16

Mutually exclusive, clearly defined groups of objects or concepts

Question 17

Typology

Answer 17

Process of creating mutually exclusive, clearly defined groups of objects or concepts

Question 18

Groups and Subgroups

Answer 18

Broad sorting categories of objects or concepts

Question 19

Lumping vs. Splitting

Answer 19

Lumping: tendency to overlook minor variations; Splitting: tendency to overemphasize minor variations

Question 20

Intuitive classification

Answer 20

Sorting objects or concepts into groups without using formal criteria for doing so

Question 21

Attributes

Answer 21

Characteristics used to describe observed phenomena

Question 22

Sorting Vs. Descriptitive

Answer 22

Sorting: characteristics used to define different phenomena; must be mutually exclusive. Descriptive: non-mutually exclusive characteristics used to describe phenomena

Question 23

Primary Sorting Characteristic

Answer 23

Single, most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive

Question 24

Secondary sorting characteristic

Answer 24

Second most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive

Question 25

Teritary Sorting characteristic

Answer 25

third most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive

Question 26

GIS

Answer 26

Combination of computer mapping and database; allows various layers of information to be displayed or turned off for analysis

Question 27

Archeological Survey

Answer 27

Formal process of looking for archaeological sites

Question 28

Shovel Testing

Answer 28

Extremely small-scale excavation, often accomplished during survey, digging holes the size of a shovel blade

Question 29

Systematic Survey

Answer 29

Searching the landscape for evidence of past behaviours using a fixed increment, such as every 30 meters, rather than a probabilistic approach; not every area has an equal chance of being searched

Question 30

Random Selection vs. Haphazard selection

Answer 30

RS: probabilistic selection of samples, where every sample has an equal chance of being chosen; HS: selecting samples with no apparent bias, but where not all samples stand an equal chance of selection

Question 31

Remote Sensing

Answer 31

Searching for evidence of buried archaeological deposits without excavating

Question 32

LiDAR

Answer 32

Light Detection and Ranging – laser mapping that permits researchers to remove unwanted ground cover such as trees

Question 33

Stratified Random Survey

Answer 33

Employing probabilistic sampling to chose survey targets, but splitting up landscape into different portions, based on likelihood of encountering sites

Question 34

Stratigraphy

Answer 34

Study of different layers of soil in an archaeological site; most easily seen in a profile

Question 35

Salvage Excavation

Answer 35

Last-minute excavation, often immediately before site destruction; often occurs with very little warning

Question 36

Test excavation

Answer 36

Small-scale excavation, typically fewer than 10 excavation units

Question 37

Secondary Testing

Answer 37

Additional small-scale excavation, typically undertaken if initial excavation did not answer questions of testing goals

Question 38

Offsite evidence

Answer 38

Data from a range of information, including scatteres of such artifacts and features as plow marks and field boundaries, that provide important evidence about human exploitation of the environment

Question 39

Surface survey

Answer 39

There are two basic kinds that can be identified: unsystematic and systematic. The former involves field walking, i.e. scanning the ground along one’s path and recording the location of artifacts and service features. Systematic survey by comparison is less subjective and involves a grid system, such that the survey area is divided into sectors, and these are walked systematically that’s making the recording, of finds more accurate.

Question 40

Remote sensing

Answer 40

 The imaging, a phenomenon from a distance, primarily through airborne and satellite imaging. Ground based remote, sensing links, geophysical methods, such as radar, with remote, sensing methods, applied at ground level.

Question 41

Research design

Answer 41

The systematic planning of archaeological research, usually including the formulation of a strategy to resolve a particular question, the collection and recording of evidence, the processing in analysis of these data and their interpretation, and the publication of results

Question 42

Geographic information systems (GIS)

Answer 42

Software based systems designed for the collection, organization, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial and digital geographical data held in different layers. AGIS can also include other digital data.