The Archaeological The Archaeological RecordRecord

Context and VariabilityContext and Variability

Transformation ProcessesTransformation Processes

ModificationModification

What is the Archaeological What is the Archaeological Record?Record?

►Traces of the Human past.Traces of the Human past.►Affected by the age of the material, Affected by the age of the material,

preservational environment, preservational environment, excavation technique.excavation technique.

►The archaeological record is patterned The archaeological record is patterned by human activities and the natural by human activities and the natural environment.environment.

► Includes artifacts, ecofacts, features.Includes artifacts, ecofacts, features.

Soil vs. SedimentSoil vs. Sediment

►Soil develops during stable periods of a Soil develops during stable periods of a landscape.landscape. Paleosols are soil profiles that formed in the Paleosols are soil profiles that formed in the

past and are buried by more recent past and are buried by more recent deposition.deposition.

These paleosols represent stable surfaces in These paleosols represent stable surfaces in the past and can have archaeological sites the past and can have archaeological sites associated with them.associated with them.

►Sediments are soils that are brought to Sediments are soils that are brought to an area through wind, water, etc.an area through wind, water, etc.

GeoarchaeologyGeoarchaeology

GeoarchaeologGeoarchaeologist examining ist examining

column samplecolumn sample

ArtifactsArtifacts

►Anything used, made or modified by Anything used, made or modified by humans.humans.

► Includes stone tools, pottery, bone Includes stone tools, pottery, bone objects, etc.objects, etc.

Stone Pipe-ca. 2,000 BPStone Pipe-ca. 2,000 BPNorth AmericaNorth America

Colonoware-Early African Colonoware-Early African American PotteryAmerican Pottery

Clovis Points-ca. 11,000 BP Clovis Points-ca. 11,000 BP North AmericaNorth America

EcofactsEcofacts►Material that provides information Material that provides information

about the environments of the past.about the environments of the past.►These are usually things that were These are usually things that were

used but not modified by humans in used but not modified by humans in the past.the past.

► Includes nutshells, animal bone, Includes nutshells, animal bone, botanical remains, etc.botanical remains, etc.

Burnt WoodBurnt Wood

Animal boneAnimal bone

Human RemainsHuman Remains

http://www.ikonosheritage.org/introCourse/theory/archaeology/spring/documents/04-ArchaeologySession2-01.pdf

Roman Cemetery, ItalyRoman Cemetery, Italy

http://www.ips.siu.edu/SA/bioarchaeology.html

Microscopic AnalysisMicroscopic Analysis

http://www.le.ac.uk/ulas/services/human_remains.html

FeaturesFeatures

►Non-portable evidence of past Non-portable evidence of past human activity.human activity.

►These include things like hearths, These include things like hearths, structures, burials, etc.structures, burials, etc.

PostholesPostholes

Stone Box Grave FeatureStone Box Grave Feature

Hearth-Zhoukoudien, ChinaHearth-Zhoukoudien, Chinaca. 1 million years BPca. 1 million years BP

Late Medieval Hearth and Late Medieval Hearth and floorfloor

Stone House-IrelandStone House-Ireland

http://www.ikonosheritage.org/introCourse/theory/archaeology/spring/documents/04-ArchaeologySession2-01.pdf

SitesSites

►The previously mentioned materials The previously mentioned materials make up what archaeologists call make up what archaeologists call sites.sites.

►Sites are areas of past human activity Sites are areas of past human activity and can vary from being very small and can vary from being very small and ephemeral to very large.and ephemeral to very large.

Pre-Clovis Site: Cactus Hill, Pre-Clovis Site: Cactus Hill, VAVA

Middle Eastern TellMiddle Eastern Tell

Novgorod Viking site: Paved Novgorod Viking site: Paved StreetsStreets

Tomb of the Terra Cotta Tomb of the Terra Cotta Soldiers:Soldiers:

Emperor Ch’inEmperor Ch’in

Meadowcroft Rockshelter PAMeadowcroft Rockshelter PA

ContextContext

►Context is one of the most important Context is one of the most important concepts in archaeology.concepts in archaeology.

►Context is a the relationship of Context is a the relationship of archaeological materials at a site and is archaeological materials at a site and is comprised of provenience, matrix and comprised of provenience, matrix and association.association. Provenience is the exact location of an artifact.Provenience is the exact location of an artifact. Matrix is the material in which something is Matrix is the material in which something is

found.found. Association is the spatial relationships between Association is the spatial relationships between

artifacts, ecofacts, features, structures and artifacts, ecofacts, features, structures and sites.sites.

VariabilityVariability

►Variability in the archaeological record Variability in the archaeological record is affected by preservation and scale.is affected by preservation and scale.

►Some variability is reflected well in the Some variability is reflected well in the archaeological record-like the archaeological record-like the variability of pyramids in Egypt.variability of pyramids in Egypt.

►Other variability is not-like the Other variability is not-like the variability in moccasin styles of variability in moccasin styles of prehistoric people.prehistoric people.

Site Formation ProcessesSite Formation Processes

TaphonomyTaphonomy

► The study of natural processes from the The study of natural processes from the time something dies and is deposited until it time something dies and is deposited until it is recovered as part of an archaeological is recovered as part of an archaeological site.site.

► Takes into account all of the materials to Takes into account all of the materials to understand why the materials/objects are understand why the materials/objects are they way they are.they way they are.

►Note: Not everything from an archaeological Note: Not everything from an archaeological site is necessarily part of that site’s site is necessarily part of that site’s occupation or use.occupation or use.

TaphonomyTaphonomy

Transformation ProcessesTransformation Processes

► CulturalCultural RecyclingRecycling ReuseReuse LossLoss DiscardDiscard AbandonmentAbandonment BurialBurial

►NaturalNatural WeatheringWeathering ErosionErosion DepositionDeposition

Cultural Transforms (C-Cultural Transforms (C-Transforms)Transforms)

►Applying uniformitarianism: processes Applying uniformitarianism: processes acting today acted the same in the past.acting today acted the same in the past.

►Recycling Recycling Recycling a discarded object into something Recycling a discarded object into something

new.new.

►ReuseReuse Reusing a discarded object.Reusing a discarded object.

►Also Loss, Discard, Abandonment, BurialAlso Loss, Discard, Abandonment, Burial

Natural Transforms (N-Natural Transforms (N-Transforms)Transforms)

►Natural processes (weathering, Natural processes (weathering, erosion, soil deposition) affect cultural erosion, soil deposition) affect cultural materials.materials.

►These processes are usually very These processes are usually very dynamic, but can also apply the dynamic, but can also apply the concept of uniformitarianism.concept of uniformitarianism.

Natural TransformsNatural Transforms

►Environment can affect color, weight, Environment can affect color, weight, size, etc.size, etc.

►Objects can be more through wind, Objects can be more through wind, water and soil movements.water and soil movements.

►Weathering affects objects and Weathering affects objects and operates at different rates.operates at different rates.

►Deposition, erosion and deflation are Deposition, erosion and deflation are all natural processes.all natural processes.

http://www.ikonosheritage.org/introCourse/theory/archaeology/spring/documents/04-ArchaeologySession2-01.pdf