Archaeolgy Definitions And Site Formation Processes

Localized/Regional variabls that may affect archaeological materials and sites Hidden history Set historical records straight

Soil Chemistry/PH

Chemical

3 goals

Animals

Re-examine history

Cryoturbation Material remains for which written history in some what effects is interpretable

Faunal Turbation

Turbation

Historical Archaeology

Graviturbation Argilliturbation (clay) Aeroturbation

Environmental formation processes

Site Formation Process

Study of contemporary peoples that might have similar practices to ancient peoples to create an analogy for prehistoric behavior

Decomposition

Biological

Ethno-Archaeology

Bioturbation Thermal Fluctuation/Exposure

Physical

Construction of manufacturing techniques

Turbations

Use/Wear of tools Reconstruction of ancient communities Testing of effect of deposition

Experimental Archaeology

Archeology Discussion 9.5.2007

Cultural site formation processes

The living behavioral system in which artifacts are part of the ongoing system of manufacture, use, reuse and discard

Temporal Continuity

Systemic context

Tradition Major transitions are labeled as horizons too

Sediment Shrink/Swell

how humans affect site formation

Observation and documentation of carnivore modification/disturbance to faunal materials. Turkey@Thanksgiving

Erosion/deposition

all artifacts, features and sites were once part of a living system think of systemic context as the life an artifact led before it entered the site

Spatial Continuity represented by cultural traits and assemblages Horizon

Time

Basic Archaeological unit Chronologically limited to briefest interval possible

natural transforms are occurrences at a site where nature is the principle actor

Phase

Transforms

Manifestation of a given archaeological "phase" at a specific site Component

Cultural transforms

Archeology Discussion - 9.5.2007.mmap - 9/23/2007 -

scattering of bones burial by sediments

Natural

Cultural traits distinctive enough to single it out

decomposition

People are principle actors

Utilizing ancient pueblo wallls of the structural elements in the construction of new pueblos

Wind/Gas