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A.D.
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Represents years in the Christian Era. Anno Domini.
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Aborigine
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A native human inhabitant of a country or geographic area. In North America, the Native North American Indian.
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Abrading Stone
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A stone, typically sandstone or limestone that was used to smooth or sharpen antler, bone, wood and other stone.
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abrasive stone
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usually a sandstone slab used for grinding and polishing.
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absolute dating
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the determination of age with reference to a specific time scale, such as a fixed calendrical system; also referred to as chronometric dating.
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acanthodians
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A primitive group of Silurian to Permian jawed bony fishes, bearing bony spines in front of all but their caudal fins.
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achieved status
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social standing and prestige reflecting the ability of an individual to acquire an established position in society as a result of individual accomplishments (cf. ascribed status).
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activity area
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a limited portion of a site in which a specialized cultural function was carried out, such as food preparation, tool manufacture etc.
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Acute
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Severe short angles coming to a sharp point.
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adaptation
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changes in gene frequencies resulting from selective pressures being placed upon a population by environmental factors; results in a greater fitness of the population to its ecological niche. The process of change to better conform with environmental conditions or other external stimuli. The process of change to better conform with environmental conditions or other external stimuli.
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Adena
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The major cultural group of the Woodland period. The had cultural influences in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The are regarded in modern times as being accomplished craftsmen.
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Adze
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A tool, typically made from stone, that was presumed to be used like a modern woodworker's chisel to work wood.
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adze-blade
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a ground and polished stone artifact characterized by a generally rectangular shape with a beveled cutting edge on one end. Used as a woodworking tool.
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Aeolian
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Deposited by action of wind.
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aerial photography
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photographic coverage of the land surface obtained from the air. Useful in locating and recording site positions.
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aerial reconnaissance
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an important survey technique in the discovery and recording of archaeological sites (see also reconnaissance survey).
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aerial thermography
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Uses differences in the radiation of heat from the ground to determine where burial sites are located.
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Agate
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A semi-precious chalcedony formed as quartz fossils of a previous geological age. The colors of agate can be clouded, clear or banded.
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Alamanni
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German tribe in Southern Germany which lived the time between 260 AD and 750 AD.
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albian
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European stage of the uppermost Lower Cretaceous, spanning the time between 107 and 95 million years ago.
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algae
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Photosynthetic, almost exclusively aquatic, nonvascular plants that range in size from simple unicellular forms to giant kelps several feet long. They have extremely varied life cycles and first appeared in the Precambrian.
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alidade
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an optical surveying instrument used in conjunction with a plane-table and stadia-rod to produce detailed large-scale topographic maps.
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alloying
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a technique involving the mixing of two or more metals to create an entirely new material, e.g. the fusion of copper and tin to make bronze.
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alluvial fan
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a cone-shaped deposit of sediments generally formed where a mountain stream discharges onto a level surface. Alluvial fan deposits are among the most common surficial sediments in mountainous terrain.
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alluvium
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sediment (mud, sand, and gravel) laid down by flowing water. The largest particles (sand and gravel) tend to accumulate within the channel itself. Particles of clay, silt, and fine sand are small enough to be suspended in flowing water. When the stream overflows its banks, these particles can be distributed across the valley floor. These overbank or flood deposits are the most common contexts in which buried archaeological sites are found. Stream valley floors are underlain by deposits of and o
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Alternate
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When used in reference to a flaked projectile or tool, alternate implies the opposite face of opposing edges was flaked.
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altimeter
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a barometric device for determining elevations above sea-level.
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altithermal
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a postulated climatic period characterized by warmer and/or drier conditions approximately 4,000-8,000 years ago.
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amino-acid racemization
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a method used in the dating of both human and animal bone. Its special significance is that with a small sample (10g) it can be applied to material up to 100,000 years old, i.e. beyond the time range of radiocarbon dating.
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ammonite
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A coiled, chambered fossil shell of a cephalopod mollusk of the extinct order Ammonoidea.
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amoeba
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A microscopic, one-celled animal consisting of a naked mass of protoplasm.
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analogy
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a process of reasoning whereby two entities that share some similarities are assumed to share many others.
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Analysis
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the process of studying and classifying artifacts, usually conducted in a laboratory after excavation has been completed.
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ancillary sample
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any non-artifactual materials collected by archaeologists to aid in dating, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, or other interpretations - e.g. carbon samples, soil samples, palynological samples etc.
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annealing
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in copper and bronze metallurgy, this refers to the repeated process of heating and hammering the material to produce the desired shape.
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anthropology
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the study of humanity - our physical characteristics as animals, and our unique non-biological characteristics we call culture. The scientific and humanistic study of man's present and past biological, linguistic, social, and cultural variations. The subject is generally broken down into three subdisciplines biological (physical) , cultural (social) , archaeology, and anthropological linguistics. The scientific and humanistic study of man's present and past biological, linguistic, social, and c
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anthropomorphic
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"man-like." Used to describe artifacts or art work decorated with human features or with a man-like appearance.
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antiquarian
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One who studies the past as a hobby rather than as a profession.
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Anvil
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A rock that was used as a level base for chipping other stone into tools, blades or projectile points. Typically part of a flint knapper's toolkit.
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aperture
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A relatively large opening on the last-formed chamber of a foraminiferal shell.
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aptian
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European stage of the Lower Cretaceous, spanning the time between 114 and 107 million years ago.
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arbitrary level
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an excavation level defined by factors of convenience, with no necessary relationship to site-stratigraphy or cultural components.
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archaean
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The middle era of Precambrian time, spanning the period between 3.8 and 2.5 billion years ago. Life arose on Earth during the early Archaean, as indicated by the appearance of fossil bacteria in rocks thought to be about 3.5 billion years old. Its name means "ancient."
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archaeobotany
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see paleoethnobotany.
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archaeological context
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the physical setting, location, and cultural association of artifacts and features within an site.
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archaeological culture
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a constantly recurring assemblage of artifacts assumed to be representative of a particular set of behavioral activities carried out at a particular time and place (cf. culture).
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Archaeological site
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a place where human activity occurred and material remains were deposited.
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archaeologist
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Anyone with an interest in the aims and methods of archaeology. A professional usually holds a degree in anthropology with a specialization in archaeology and is trained to collect archaeological information in a "proper" scientific way.
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archaeology
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the scientific study of the physical evidence of past human societies recovered through collection, artifact analysis, and excavation. Archaeologists not only attempt to discover and describe past cultures but also to formulate explanations for the development of cultures. Conclusions drawn from study and analyses provide answers and predictions about human behavior that add, complement, and sometimes correct the written accounts of history and prehistory. (also sometimes spelled Archeology) Th
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archaeology of cult
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the study of the material indications of patterned actions undertaken in response to religious beliefs.
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archaeomagnetic dating
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sometimes referred to as paleomagnetic dating. it is based on the fact that changes in the earth's magnetic field over time can be recorded as remnant magnetism in materials such as baked clay structure (ovens, kilns, and hearths).
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archaeozoology
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sometimes referred to as zooarchaeology, this involves the identification and analysis of faunal species from archaeological sites, as an aid to the reconstruction of human diets and to an understanding of the contemporary environment at the time of deposition.
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archaic
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New World time period known for its permanent settlements and the transformation to an agrarian economy from one of hunting and gathering.
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Archaic Period
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A time frame in North American pre-history spanning 7,000 years between 10,000 B.P. to 3000 B.P. after Paleo and before Woodland times. The 7,000 years is further defined as Early, Middle and Late which are also defined elsewhere in this glossary.
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Arrowhead or Arrowpoint
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A weapon point or tip made of stone, bone, metal or other material which in general is less than 2 1/2 inches in length (63 mm) and attributed no earlier than the Woodland phase of North American Aborigine prehistory. Larger points are regarded as spear points or knife blades and are associated with spear and dart atlatl or hand thrown delivery systems or hafted cutting.
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art
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object object any ifact carrying, or consisting of, decorative or istic elements.
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articulated
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two or more bones left in their anatomical position after tissue decay.
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artifact
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any manually portable product of human workmanship (see feature). In its broadest sense includes tools, weapons, ceremonial items, art objects, all industrial waste, and all floral and faunal remains modified by human activity. Common examples include tools, utensils, art, food remains, and other products of human activity. An old, authentic object used, crafted or manufactured by the application of human workmanship or activity, especially one of prehistoric origin that may have archaeological
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ascribed status
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social standing or prestige which is the result of inheritance or hereditary factors (cf. achieved status).
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assemblage
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a group of artifacts recurring together at a particular time and place, and representing the sum of human activities. A group of artifacts which represent a culture. A group of artifacts related to each other based upon some recovery from a common archaeological context. Assemblage examples are artifacts from a site or feature.
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association
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the co-occurrence of an artifact with other archaeological remains, usually in the same matrix.
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Asymmetrical
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When used in reference to projectiles or tools, asymmetrical refers to opposing side of an object which have dissimilar contours, shape or form.
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atlatl
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a bone or wood shaft implement, held in one hand, and used to propel a spear. The tool functions as a lever, giving greater thrust and distance to the spear or dart being thrown The Aztec word for a spear throwing stick device. This projectile propulsion device preceded the bow and arrow. In general, a wooden or bone stick or board with a hand grip at one end and a spur or hook at the other end. The is used as an extension of the arm in throwing a spear or dart. The spear shaft is socketed and
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atlatl-weight
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usually a ground and polished stone object with grooves or perforations - for attachment to the shaft of an atlatl. Presumed to function in balancing the weapon prior to throwing. A drilled or grooved stone or shell that was used to weight the atlatl. See Atlatl.
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atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
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a method of analyzing artifact composition similar to optical emission spectrometry (OES) in that it measures energy in the form of visible light waves. It is capable of measuring up to 40 different elements with an accuracy of c. 1 percent.
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attribute
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a minimal characteristic of an artifact such that it cannot be further subdivided; s commonly studied include aspects of form, style, decoration, color, and raw material. a characteristic or property of an object, such as weight, size, or color.
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attritional age profile
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a mortality pattern based on bone or tooth wear which is characterized by an overrepresentation of young and old animals in relation to their numbers in live populations. It suggests either scavenging of mortality victims (i.e. those dying from natural causes or from non-human predation) or the hunting by humans or other predators of the most vulnerable individuals.
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augering
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a subsurface detection method using either a hand or machine-powered drill to determine the depth and character of archaeological deposits.
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Auricle
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The corners of a stem of stemmed types or the corners of the base of triangular types which are ear-like.
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Auriculate
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A major projectile form which has rounded or pointed ears that project from the concave base or stem of points or blades.
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Authentic
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True or genuine. Artifacts made in prehistoric times.
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awl
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a small pointed hand tool used for piercing holes in leather, wood and other materials,
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Axe
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A large chopping tool that may have a grove for hafting to a handle.
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azimuth
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a magnetic bearing sighted from your position to a known landmark. Used in navigation and in determining site locations.
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