Module 2 Flashcards
Artifact
A portable object manufactured or modified by humans or human ancestors / cousins
Ecofact
Non-artifactual organic or environmental remains which have cultural relevance
Feature
A non-portable object manufactured or modified by humans or human ancestors / cousins
Site
A concentration of evidence for past human activities in a particular location; legal definition varies by jurisdiction
Systemic context
An object that is in use or is anticipated to be used by humans
Archaeological context
An object that has been lost or abandoned, and is unlikely to be continually used by humans
Cultural transformation processes (AKA C-Transforms)
Changes and alterations to archaeological materials (sites, artifacts, features, ecofacts) brought on by humans or human ancestors / cousins
Natural transformation processes (AKA N-Transforms)
Changes or alterations to archaeological materials (sites, artifacts, features, ecofacts) brought on by the natural (non-human) world
Abandonment
Moving away from an activity area with no plan to return to it
Re-use
Using an object or location multiple times, often resulting in multiple layers of evidence for its past use
Modern Impacts
Impacts to archaeological materials and sites that are the result of modern activities; may or may not occur as deliberate actions
Taphonomy
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
Taphonomic stages (general sequence only)
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
Bioturbation
Disturbance / destruction of archaeological deposits by living entities; common forms include burrowing animals and tree roots
Bone burning stages
Blackening, calcining, mixed burning
types
Mutually exclusive, clearly defined groups of objects or concepts
Typology
Process of creating mutually exclusive, clearly defined groups of objects or concepts
Groups and Subgroups
Broad sorting categories of objects or concepts
Lumping vs. Splitting
Lumping: tendency to overlook minor variations; Splitting: tendency to overemphasize minor variations
Intuitive classification
Sorting objects or concepts into groups without using formal criteria for doing so
Attributes
Characteristics used to describe observed phenomena
Sorting Vs. Descriptitive
Sorting: characteristics used to define different phenomena; must be mutually exclusive. Descriptive: non-mutually exclusive characteristics used to describe phenomena
Primary Sorting Characteristic
Single, most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive
Secondary sorting characteristic
Second most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive
Teritary Sorting characteristic
third most important attribute for categorizing phenomena; must be mutually exclusive
GIS
Combination of computer mapping and database; allows various layers of information to be displayed or turned off for analysis
Archeological Survey
Formal process of looking for archaeological sites
Shovel Testing
Extremely small-scale excavation, often accomplished during survey, digging holes the size of a shovel blade
Systematic Survey
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
Random Selection vs. Haphazard selection
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
Remote Sensing
Searching for evidence of buried archaeological deposits without excavating
LiDAR
Light Detection and Ranging – laser mapping that permits researchers to remove unwanted ground cover such as trees
Stratified Random Survey
Employing probabilistic sampling to chose survey targets, but splitting up landscape into different portions, based on likelihood of encountering sites
Stratigraphy
Study of different layers of soil in an archaeological site; most easily seen in a profile
Salvage Excavation
Last-minute excavation, often immediately before site destruction; often occurs with very little warning
Test excavation
Small-scale excavation, typically fewer than 10 excavation units
Secondary Testing
Additional small-scale excavation, typically undertaken if initial excavation did not answer questions of testing goals
Offsite evidence
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
Surface survey
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.
Remote sensing
 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.
Research design
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
Geographic information systems (GIS)
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.
