Producing Archaeological Data

Archaeology as four-fold hermeneutic temporal and possible spatial difference/ distance cultural difference/distance the problem of being an archaeologist in the contemporary world –being an interpreter the problem of archaeology itself –a distinct set of practices which needs to be learned in order to be archaeology

Levels of Archaeological Theory High or General theory: –propositions about human culture, guiding ideas for archaeological projects Middle-level: –determining the specific human actions that produced the archaeological record Low-level: –observations that turn objects into archaeological data –Always data for something

Attributes

What is it? Artifacts: all objects that have been used, modified, or manufactured by humans Features: non-portable artifacts such as foundations, postholes, hearths, burials, pits that cannot be excavated without being disassembled or destroyed Ecofacts: objects not made or modified by humans, but which are useful for understanding human behavior (seeds, animal bones, pollen, landscapes)

Where is it? Context: the precise location where an object was found What site? what part of a site? In situ: the location where an object was lost or discarded by its last user Association: the artifacts, features, and ecofacts found together as a group: the components of an archaeological culture

Knowing artifact 20.2/4683 MATERIAL DESCRIPTION Obsidian GLEY 1 2.5/1 Greenish Black 21.3 mm long 2.1 Grams CONTEXT Unit B-5 56 cm BGS WHAT? Projectile Point

Excavation and Classification

Excavation is the actual recovery of archaeological remains Three-stage process Establish site grid-system Establish vertical control Establish horizontal control

Step 1.S ite grid Datum point Provenience 3-dimensional control

Excavation tools and techniques

Recording forms

Field photography

Field photographs

Step 2. vertical control stratigraphy the sequence of layers, or strata, that have accumulated at a site through natural and/or human activities Site formation processes

Stratigraphy at Gatecliff Shelter

Step 3. horizontal control: block excavation

Dating Archaeological Finds

Relative dating methods express dates through relativistic relationships such as “earlier.” “later,” “more recent,” “prehistoric,” Absolute dating methods express dates in specific units of measurement, such as days, years, centuries, or millennia; absolute determinations attempt to pinpoint a discrete known interval of time Dating Methods

Dating with Stratigraphy Law of Superposition Stratigraphic association

TAQ – terminus ante quem TPQ – terminus post quem Brick foundation built in 1850 TAQ TPQ