ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA:

-how we organize information

N-TRANSFORMS are: 

-natural agents that disturb the arch record 

domesticated sheep and goat are: 

-cultural artifacts because they're evolution has been determined partially by humans 

list the different kinds of RESIDUES: 

-artifacts

-ecofacts

-features

-structures 

ARTIFACTS area: 

-shaped mostly due to human activity 

ECOFACTS are: 

-objects found in an archeaological context that are not intentionally modified by ppl. 

a FEATURE is: 

-change in sediment resulting from human activity

-non portable artifacts (fire pit, post holes) 

a STRUCTURE is: 

-a conjunction of at least two of the following: artifacts, ecofacts, or features

ex city of pompeii 

ex.  a hearth is a FEATURE if there are no stones surrounding it.  if there are stones (ARTIFACTS) surrounding it then it is a STRUCTURE 

 TYPOLOGY is:

-the classification of artifacts into different types based on their similarities

-one way we classify data 

a TYPE must have: 

-discrete variables

-constant variables 

the PRINCIPLE OF ASSOCIATION is: 

-the fact that objects found in the same sedimentary deposit were buried at the same time, although that doesn't mean they are necessarily contemporary

TIME AVERAGING is: 

-the error of assuming that all contents of a deposit were in use at the same time 

 variation in types and measurements are:

-correlated with variation in behavior 

3 things you must take into account while doing research are: 

-time range

-geographic range

-the number of lines of evidence you want to obtain 

what is the relationship between STRATIGRAPHY and ASSEMBELAGES?  

-without stratigraphy it is diff/impos to correlate objects by time

in other words, stratigraphy helps us to construct assembelages 

ex; 1 cave in isreal was excavated 3 times 

what are 2 ways we describe archaeological data? 

-types

-measurements 

assembelages are only truly valid when: 

-the sedimentary context (provenience, matrix, association) has not been disturbed 

the POMPEII PREMISE is: 

-the mistake of interepreting assemblages without taking time averaging into account 

the 2 types of ASSEMBELAGE FORMATION

PROCESSES are: 

-natural

-cultural 

 DEFLATION is:

-a natural assemblage formation processes

-when layers of sediments are blown way by wind, exposing artifacts and disturbing their sedimentary context 

how does FLOWING WATER affect assemblage formation? 

-sorts objects by size and mass

and can deposit similar objects in a

characteristic way

-also erodes

ex.  olorgesailie DE 8/9 

what are the worst conditions for preservation? 

-constantly changing

-coastal 

what are the best conditions for preservation? 

-stable temp and humidity

-caves 

the only way to destroy ceramics is: 

-by soaking it in salt water and then allowing it to dry.  salts form crystals as water evaporates 

2 BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES are:

(assemblage form or site form?) 

-decomposition

-trampling 

DECOMPOSITION is: 

-the process of decay of organic material

-some decomposers are rats, mushrooms, bacteria, insects 

-a biologic process 

TRAMPLING is: 

-walking over a site, which pushes artifacts downwards 

-a biological process

-a natural formation (?) 

archaeologists can recover the full arch. record.

true or false? 

false 

REUSE is: 

-the continued use of an artifact for the SAME

purpose it was originally designed for 

LATERAL CYCLING is: 

-recovery of an artifact from the arch record (ie i picked it up off the sidewalk) and used again for it's original purpose with no change in form

the 4 types of DISCARD BEHAVIOR are: 

-reuse

-lateral cycling

-recycling

-secondary use 

RECYCLING is: 

-recovery of artfct from the arch record and changing the form and using it agian for something different than it was orginally used for.

ie an entirely novel artfct from the old one 

SECONDARY USE is: 

-recovery of artfct from arch record and no change in form but used for a different purpose 

discard behavior is important because: 

-it influences what gets preserved 

list four cultural formation processess: 

-discard behavior

-vandalism

-construction

-looting 

a SURVEY is:

-an assesment of the variation of the kinds of residues present at an arch site

-the systematic search for unknown arch sites 

-done to help us locate an excavation site and to

help us decide how to excavate the site

PROBABALISTIC SAMPLING is used when: 

- little is known about the research area 

 - there are no specific period or site type priorities

- we need general info about the contents of a research area 

RECONNAISSANCE (survey?) DATA tells us: 

-which periods are represented in the research area

-whether research area is appropriate for particular rsrch questions

-what chances there are that construction wont disturb arch sites 

the 4 types of SURVEYS are: 

1.  arial/satellite imagery

2.  ground penetrating radar

3.  subsurface remote sensing electrical resistivity

4.  surface survey 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR is: 

-a survey method

-also known as 'hard returns'

-gives us a profile of the density of sediments and allows us to guess at what features and structures

we might find 

SUBSURFACE REMOTE SENSING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY is: 

-a survey method

-done by setting up a grid of probes which send

send out an electrical network.  electricity cant

go through substances like stone so we can get

an idea of where a structure might be by the

breaks in the grid of electricity 

ie like battle ship 

what 3 SURVEY METHODS are most helpful in

looking for structures? 

- arial/satellite survey

-ground penetrating radar

-subsurface remote sensig electrical resistivity 

what can SURVEY data tell us about human behavior? 

-site distribution and strategic resources

-site size and political structure 

EXCAVATION is: 

-the recovery of behavioral residues from depositional sediments

-destructive

-used as a last resort if survey data can't answer

your research questions 

what are your two most important tools on an dig? 

your note book and pencil 

a SOUNDING TRENCH is: 

-a narrow trench used to obtain info about stratigraphy

-not helpful for variability of remains 

before you excavate, you MUST make a            of the research area.

map 

a DECAPAGE is: 

-a horizontal exposure which gives us data about spatial variation of residues from the same area 

a STRIKE is: 

-the orientation of length of object to compass rose 

DIP is: 

-orientation of object pointing up/down in the sediment 

what must you have in a RECORD PICTURE? 

-a scale item 

INDEX FOSSILS are: 

-fossils that can be used for dating strata

-lived for only a short period of time and had a wide geographic range 

FREQUENCY SERIATION is: 

- used for chronological ordering based on the relative number of artifacts in an assembelage

-over time, the frequency of of object will form a battle ship curve

ex.  james deetz's study w three types of grave stones, found that through time each type formed a predictable battleship curve

BATTLESHIP CURVE is: 

-the predictable representation of an artfct through time

-think frequency seriation

-when an art is first introduced to a population, there are few of them.  they become more popular, you find more of them.  finally they stop being used and we see few of them again 

an AUGER-CORE is: 

-a metal tube that is pushed into the ground and gives us a sample of the stratigraphy 

PROVENIENCE is: 

-the spot a residue was found, measured in 3 dimensonal coordinates

WET SERVING is: 

-a process of cleaning an artifact done in the field lab, where art is put in water and the sediments peel away