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Glossary The following terms are not limited to those used in this site, we hope the definitions will help you to understand some more important concepts in archaeology. Absolute dating- The dating of age with correlation to a specific fixed place in time, such as a fixed calendar date. Also called chronometric dating. Aerial Reconnaissance- Using aerial photography to locate and determine archeological sites. Archaeomagnetic Dating- Also called paleomagnetic dating, Based on the knowledge that the Earth’s magnetic field changes over time, and the left over magnetism can be found in baked clay and pottery. Artifact- An object used or modified by humans, such as stone tools. Assemblage- An occurrence of artifacts located in the same time/space component of a site. Association- The co-occurrence of artifacts with other archeological finds of the same time/space component. Band- A term used to describe small scale societies of hunter and gatherers, usually below a hundred people that move according to the season and resources. Classification- The grouping of artifacts and data into groups with similar attributes. Context- The particular area and position of archeological material within the site dug. Cultural Ecology- A term used to describe the relationship of the environment to human culture, where culture is viewed as the adaptive technique. Culture- Term used to describe the non-biological characteristics of a particular culture. Dendrochronology- The study of tree rings. One can tell age, seasonal patterns, and overall environmental conditions during the life of the tree. Ecological Determinism- Ways of explaining that certain changes in the environment cause change in the human culture. Ethnology- Comparative study of existing culture to determine aspects of culture about the past. Excavation- The primary method of data retrieval in archeology. Excavations are set up along predetermined guidelines for systematic retrieval and removal of archeological finds. Faunal Dating- A method of relative dating that observes change in species of mammals over time. Flotation- A method of recovery from a site of any ecological material by using screening and water. Formation Process- The process in which archeological material was deposited onto a site and then eventually buried. Half-life- The time taken for half of a particular isotope sample to decay. (See carbon 14 dating.) Hunter-gatherers- A term used to describe small-scale mobile or semi-sedentary societies that mainly hunt and gather plants for subsistence. Hunter-gatherers are made of many bands with kingship ties. Material Culture- The things used and left behind that tell people about the culture of a certain society. Matrix- The physical areas within an archeological dig in which artifacts are found. Microwear Analysis- The study of the patterns of wear and damage on the edges of stone tools. Midden- The accumulation of debris and refuse into a particular area over time. Most common are shell middens. These can be used as a relative dating technique. Obsidian- A volcanic glass that was used to make points and other stone tools. Paleo-ethnobotany- The recovery and analysis of plant material from a paleo site, to determine past environments. Paleolithic- The archeological period before10,000 B.C. Palynology- The analysis of fossil pollen to reconstruct the past. Proton Magnetometer- A device used in subsurface detection that records variations in the Earth’s magnetic field. Used as a non-invasive way to detect assemblages without digging test pits. Radioactive Decay- The natural process in which radioactive isotopes breaks down over time. Radiocarbon Dating- An absolute dating method that measures the breakdown of the radioactive carbon isotope in organic material. Relative Dating- The determination of age, that is not based on a fixed on a calendar time scale. Remote Sensing- Term used to describe techniques used to locate archeological deposits without digging in the ground. Stratification- The deposition of soil layers into strata over time. Used as relative dating technique because the layers on the bottom are usually older than layers towards the surface. Stratigraphy- The analysis of the vertical time component of a site based on the stratification of the soil. Style- Similar ways in which material culture artifacts are created a decorated. Taphonomy- The study of organic matter such as bone after death; it also involves the study of teeth and ware pattern on bone. Type- A grouping of artifacts categorized by similar attributes. Typology- The systematic grouping or categorizing of artifacts with similar attributes.
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