Out Of The Past: An Introduction To Archaeology: Chapter 1

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absolute age

Back 1

The amount of time elapsed, with reference to a specific time scale, since an object was made or used.

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activity area

Back 2

Localized zone of intensive, generally repeated use, as evidence by artifacts, assemblages, and special-purpose features. Sometimes the activity area coincides with a particular room in a building, as it does in the kitchen (the food preparation activity area) of a modern house, but often this is simply an area, indoors or out, exhibiting a particular kind of use. There may be several features associated with a single activity area.

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Age of Discovery

Back 3

A time of European exploration, discovery, and enlightment about the world which occurred from about the 15th through the 18th centuries.

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anthropogocal archaeology

Back 4

The tradition of archaeology that is derived from, the most strongly oriented towards, the larger field of anthropology. Classical archaeology is another, distinctive tradition.

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anthropology

Back 5

The study of huma physical and cultural diversity and similarity, throughout the world, for the whole history of our species.

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archaeology

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The study of past cultures based on their material remains.

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artifact

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Anything that has been made, modified, or transported by humans that can provide information about human behavior in the past.

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assemblage

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The whole set of artifacts represting the material culture inventory or repertoire used in a given cultural setting over a limited period of time. For exsample the range of things in a modern Sears or Spiegal catalogue is a fairly complete assemblage of of durable household goods of middle-class Americans.

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attribute

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A minor characteristic or recognizable quality of an artifact that is useful for describing, analyzing, or categorizing it. For exsample, among the attributes of potsherd are those related to its "surface treatment," such as wheather it is painted or unpainted.

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component

Back 10

Materials representing activities during a particular period of occupation at an archaeological site.

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context

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An object's setting in time and place, its affinity to other things of similar form, and its general relationship to other objects in the archaeological record.

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cultural ecology

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The theoretical perspective that culture and environment interact so that each sets limits and possibilities on the other in a dynamic relationship.

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cultural process

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Sets of interrelated changes occuring through time, operating very broadly in geographical, social, and temporal temrs over the course of a culture's history.

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culture

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Patterned, learned, shared behavior based on symbolic communication.

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culture area

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The area inhabited by societies sharing cultural traits such as language, belief systems, sociopolitical organization, food-getting practices, and basic technology. Culture areas re mst usefully defined on the basis of broadly shared stylistic or ideological features.

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culture history

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The area inhabited by societies sharing cultural traits such as language, belief systems, sociopolitical organization, food-getting practices, and basic technology. Culture areas are most usefully defind on the basis of broadly shared stylistic or ideological features.

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ecofact

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Floral, faunal, or geophysical material not necessarily used, altered, or transported by humans but of value in interpreting archaeoogical cultures - for exsample, a pollen sample that provides valuable information about past climates.

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environmental setting

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The physical and biotic surroundings - plants, animals. climate, inorganic resources - that influence social groups and their associated cultures, including other human groups.

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epigraphy

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The study and and interpretation of ancietn inscription.

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ethnoarchaeology

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The study of observable, dynamic behavior of living people in order to develop models to interpret archaeological remains.

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ethnographic analogy

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Use of both material and non-material aspects of a living culture to form models to test interpretations of archaeoligical remans.

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ethnographic study

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The study of cultural characteristics of a particular ethnic or social group.

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ethnography

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The careful and accurate description of a particular group of living people based on direct observation, sometimes supplemented by written or other records.

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facilities

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Nonportable artifacts, such as the remains of an ancient structure.

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feature

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Any highly localized area of human use or modification, sometimes part of the work area (e.g., a hearth that is part of the cooking area) or the location of activities (e.g., a built-inbench that serves as work area and sleep area).

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formal context

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The affinity of an object to a general class of objects sharing general characteristics of form.

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historical archaeologist

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One that studies material remains of those cultures for which historic documents are available.

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horizon

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Period of time during which a distinctive set of archaeological remains (e.g., religious symbols, ritual objects, and art styles) spreads over a very large region. When these distinctive remains are found at different sites the sites may be assumed to be roughly contemporaneous.

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hunter-gatherers

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People or societies dependant on wild food resources. Such societies are usually technologically simple, small in size, and high;y mobile. Hunter-gethers are also sometimes called "foragers."

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iconography

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Illustrations based on stylized symbolic forms, or icons; alo the study and interpretation of such images.