Archaeology Dictionary

Anno Domini (A.D.) is a Latin phrase meaning 'in the year of our Lord.' It's used to denote years af...

Absolute dating is a crucial technique in archaeology that allows researchers to assign specific dat...

The Acheulean is a significant chapter in the story of human technological evolution, spanning a vas...

An acropolis, derived from the Greek words 'akron' meaning 'highest point' and 'polis' meaning 'city...

Aerial photography has revolutionized the field of archaeology by providing a unique bird's-eye view...

Aerial reconnaissance is a vital technique in archaeological research, involving the systematic obse...

The agora, a vibrant heart of ancient Greek cities, was a public space that served as a marketplace,...

An alidade is a surveying instrument used to measure angles and distances, historically employed to...

Alloy, a combination of two or more elements, primarily metals, is a material that often surpasses t...

Alluvial deposits, formed by the accumulation of sediment carried by flowing water, have played a cr...

The amphora, a distinctive two-handled pottery jar with a narrow neck, is a ubiquitous artifact in t...

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is a sophisticated technique that enables precise radiocarbon da...

Anthro, a shortened form of 'anthropology,' refers to anything related to humans, encompassing their...

Anthropology, the comprehensive study of humankind, delves into the intricate tapestry of human exis...

Antiquarians, the curious minds of bygone eras, were individuals fascinated by the artifacts and rel...

Archaeoastronomy, a fascinating interdisciplinary field, explores the celestial knowledge and practi...

Archaeology, the scientific exploration of the human past, involves the excavation and analysis of m...

Archaeozoology, also known as zooarchaeology, is the scientific study of animal remains, primarily b...

The term 'archaic' in archaeology often refers to an early period in a culture's history, characteri...

An aristocracy, a system of government dominated by a privileged class of nobility, has historically...

An artifact, a tangible object shaped by human hands, serves as a tangible link to the past, offerin...

An assemblage, a collection of artifacts found together in a specific archaeological context, provid...

Association, in the context of archaeology, refers to the spatial relationship between artifacts wit...

B.C., an abbreviation for 'Before Christ,' is a chronological system used to designate years prior t...

B.C.E., an abbreviation for 'Before Common Era,' is a secular system of chronological notation used...

B.P., an abbreviation for 'Before Present,' is a chronological system used to denote time periods pr...

Back dirt, the excavated material removed from an archaeological site, is typically discarded after...

A balk, a vertical wall of earth left standing between excavation units, is a crucial tool in archae...

A benchmark, a fixed point of known elevation, serves as a reference point for measuring vertical di...

Biface tools, characterized by their distinctive shape and the deliberate flaking on both sides, rep...

Boat graves, a unique type of burial practice, involve placing a body or cremated remains within a b...

The Bronze Age, a significant period in human history, is characterized by the widespread use of bro...

A bulb of percussion is a distinctive feature found on the surface of a flake, formed as a result of...

A bulbar depression, a distinctive mark left on a core after a flake has been removed, provides valu...

C.E., an abbreviation for 'Common Era,' is a secular system of chronological notation used to design...

A cache, a deliberate stash of objects buried for safekeeping, offers a fascinating glimpse into the...

Canopic jars, iconic artifacts of ancient Egyptian funerary practices, were used to store the intern...

Carbon dating, a powerful technique in archaeology, allows scientists to determine the age of organi...

Cardinal directions, the fundamental orientations of North, South, East, and West, have been essenti...

Ceramics, objects crafted from clay and hardened through firing, have been an integral part of human...

Chert, a durable and versatile sedimentary rock, has been a prized material for toolmaking throughou...

Chipped stone tools, crafted through the deliberate removal of flakes from a core, represent a signi...

A citadel, a fortified stronghold within or near a city, has historically served as a symbol of powe...

A city-state, a self-governing city that exercises political control over its surrounding territory,...

A clan, a social group composed of individuals who claim common ancestry, has been a fundamental uni...

The Classic Period, a significant era in the history of Mesoamerica and the Andean region, marked a...

The Classical Age, a period of remarkable cultural, philosophical, and artistic achievement, encompa...

Classical Archaeology, a specialized field within archaeology, focuses on the study of the material...

The Classical Period in ancient Greece, spanning the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, represents a pinnacl...

Clovis points, distinctive stone tools characterized by their fluted design, are a hallmark of the C...

Collectors, individuals who acquire archaeological artifacts for personal collections, play a comple...

Colonial archaeology, a specialized field within historical archaeology, focuses on the material cul...

A column, an upright pillar with a base and a capital, is a fundamental architectural element that h...

Conchoidal fracture is a distinctive characteristic of certain types of stone, such as flint, chert,...

Conservation archaeology, a vital aspect of archaeological practice, focuses on the preservation and...

Context, the spatial and temporal relationship of an artifact or feature within an archaeological si...

Contract archaeology, a specialized field within archaeology, involves conducting archaeological res...

Coprolites, fossilized feces, offer a unique window into the past, providing valuable insights into...

A core, a fundamental element in lithic technology, is a piece of stone from which flakes are remove...

The Corinthian column, a magnificent architectural element, is renowned for its ornate and elegant d...

Cortex, in archaeological terms, refers to the outer layer of a stone tool or core. It's the origina...

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) is a specialized field that focuses on the identification, evalua...

Culture, the intricate web of shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors, shapes human societies...

Cuneiform, one of the earliest writing systems known to humans, emerged in ancient Mesopotamia aroun...

A datum point, a fixed reference point with a known elevation, is essential for precise measurements...

Debitage refers to the small fragments of stone that are left behind as waste during the creation of...

Dendrochronology is an absolute dating technique that determines the age of wood by analyzing the un...

Diffusion in archaeology refers to the spread of ideas, technologies, or materials from one culture...

A Doric column is a type of classical Greek column known for its simple, robust design, characterize...

Ecofacts are naturally occurring materials found at archaeological sites that hold cultural signific...

Egyptology is a specialized branch of archaeology focused on the study of ancient Egyptian civilizat...

Electrical resistivity is a remote sensing technique used in archaeology to detect underground featu...

An epigrapher is a specialist who studies ancient inscriptions to interpret the writings, languages,...

Ethnography is a branch of anthropology focused on studying and describing contemporary human cultur...

Excavation is the process of carefully digging and recording archaeological sites to uncover and doc...

Experimental archaeology is a branch of archaeology that investigates ancient technologies and pract...

In archaeology, 'fabric' refers to the specific composition and characteristics of the clay used to...

In archaeology, a 'feature' is any permanent structure or physical alteration in the landscape made...

Feminist archaeology is a branch of archaeology that aims to uncover and analyze the social roles an...

Field notes are detailed, written records made by archaeologists during ongoing research and excavat...

In archaeology, a 'flake' refers to a piece of stone that has been struck from a larger core, either...

A flexed burial refers to a burial practice where the deceased is placed in a fetal position, curled...

Flint is a hard, fine-grained sedimentary rock extensively used by early humans to craft a variety o...

Flotation is an archaeological technique that involves soaking excavated soil or dirt in water to se...

Formation processes refer to the human-caused or natural changes that modify an archaeological site...

Geoarchaeology is the branch of archaeology that applies the methods and concepts of earth sciences...

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, refers to software tools that help archaeologists organize,...

A glaze is a special slip applied to pottery that, when fired, creates an impermeable, glossy surfac...

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a tool that determines the location of archaeological feature...

Grave goods are objects placed within human burials to accompany the deceased, often intended to equ...

A grid is a network of squares used to divide a site or excavation area into manageable units for sy...

Ground reconnaissance is the process of searching for archaeological sites through visual inspection...

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an instrument used to detect subsurface anomalies, such as archaeo...

Half-life is the time required for half of a radioactive isotope to decay and transform into a stabl...

The Harris Matrix is a tool developed by Dr. Edward C. Harris in 1973 to simplify the representation...

The Hellenistic period refers to the era between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. and...

Hieroglyphs are an ancient writing system made up of pictographic or ideographic symbols used to rep...

Historical archaeology is a discipline focused on using archaeological methods to supplement written...

The term 'hominid' was once used to describe early humans, but its meaning has evolved over time. To...

Hominin refers to early human or pre-human species, characterized primarily by bipedalism, which set...

Household archaeology is a branch of archaeology that focuses on studying the material culture and d...

Hunter-gatherers are communities that sustain themselves primarily through hunting wild animals and...

Hypostyle refers to a type of architectural design where a roof or ceiling is supported by rows of c...

Iconography refers to the use of symbolic pictures, images, or figures to represent a subject, theme...

An ideogram is a pictorial symbol used to represent a concept or idea rather than a specific word or...

'In situ' refers to an object or feature that is found in its original or natural position, undistur...

Inorganic refers to materials composed of substances that are not derived from living organisms or o...

An Ionic column is a type of classical column characterized by its decorative capital, which feature...

The Iron Age is the prehistoric period that succeeded the Bronze Age, marked by the widespread use o...

Jade is a gemstone highly prized in ancient cultures for its beauty, durability, and symbolic signif...

Jasper is a type of opaque quartz known for its vibrant colors and patterns, often used historically...

Jasperoid refers to a type of rock that has been altered by hydrothermal fluids, leading to the form...

Jasperware is a type of ceramic developed by English potter Josiah Wedgwood in the 18th century, kno...

Jebel is an Arabic term that translates to 'mountain' or 'hill' and is commonly used in archaeologic...

Jericho, located in the West Bank, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with...

Jet is a type of black, lustrous coal that has been used throughout history to create jewelry and de...

Jet beads are ornaments made from jet, a black, lustrous coal that has been used for thousands of ye...

Jewelry refers to ornaments like necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other decorative items, typically...

A joint artifact is an object made up of two or more pieces that were originally joined together. Th...

A joint of articulation is the point where two bones meet, forming a joint, and the study of these c...

Jomon culture refers to a prehistoric period in Japan, marked by distinctive pottery and a hunter-ga...

The Jomon period is a prehistoric era in Japan marked by the production of unique pottery with cord-...

Jomon pottery refers to the distinctive style of ceramic vessels produced by the Jomon people of pre...

A jug is a large container with a narrow neck and a wide body, used primarily for storing and pourin...

A junk is a traditional Chinese sailing vessel widely used for trade, fishing, and transportation. K...

Jurassic Park is a popular science fiction series centered on the concept of cloning dinosaurs from...

The Jurassic Period was a geological period in the Mesozoic Era, marked by the dominance and diversi...

Jute is a natural fiber obtained from plants of the genus Corchorus, commonly used to make textiles,...

Knapping is the technique of making stone tools by striking flakes from a core using a hard or soft...

The Law of Superposition is a fundamental principle in geology and archaeology that asserts the deep...

The Levallois technique is a prehistoric stone tool-making method that dates back around 200,000 yea...

LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser beams to map s...

Linear A is an ancient writing system used by the Minoan civilization on Crete between the 18th and...

Linear B is a syllabic script used by the Mycenaeans around the 13th century BCE, primarily for writ...

A lintel is a horizontal beam or block placed across the top of a doorway or opening in a structure....

Lithic refers to anything related to or made from stone, commonly used in archaeology to describe st...

Locus refers to a specific point in space or a defined unit within an archaeological excavation. It...

A looter is an individual who illegally excavates archaeological sites to extract valuable artifacts...

Magnetometry is a geophysical survey technique that uses magnetic fields to detect subsurface anomal...

Material culture refers to the physical objects, artifacts, and structures that humans have created...

Matrix refers to the physical material, such as soil or sediment, that surrounds and supports archae...

Medieval Archaeology focuses on studying the material culture and remains of the medieval period in...

The Mesolithic is a transitional period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages, marking a shift...

A microlith is a small, flaked stone tool typically measuring between 1 to 4 centimeters in length....

A midden is a deposit of refuse or waste materials, such as shells, bones, or pottery fragments, tha...

The Mousterian refers to a specific stone-tool industry associated with Neanderthals in Europe, know...

The Neolithic period marks the latter part of the Stone Age, beginning around 10,000 B.C.E., charact...

The term 'New World' refers to the Americas, including North, Central, and South America, as well as...

Nomads are groups that move across territories seasonally to access food, water, and grazing grounds...

Obsidian is a volcanic rock with a glassy texture, often black, that was prized in ancient times for...

The term “Old World” refers to the regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa, known to Europeans prior to...

The Oldowan industry is the earliest known stone tool tradition, dating from roughly 2.6 million to...

An oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small, privileged group, typically wea...

Organic materials in archaeology refer to substances derived from living organisms, such as plant, a...

Osteology, the study of bones, is a crucial field within archaeology and anthropology that helps rev...

Paleobotany, or the study of ancient plants, provides insights into past environments, climate, and...

The Paleolithic period, or Old Stone Age, marks the earliest stage of human technological and cultur...

Paleontology is the scientific study of past life forms through the examination of fossils, encompas...

Palynology is the study of ancient pollen grains, which reveals information about past climates, veg...

Papyrus is a plant native to the Mediterranean and northern African regions, especially Egypt, histo...

Pedology is the scientific study of soils, focusing on their formation, classification, and mapping....

Petrology is the geological and chemical study of rocks, focusing on their origin, composition, and...

A pictogram is a picture or symbol that represents a word, phrase, or concept in visual form. Used s...

A pithos is a large Greek storage pot traditionally used for keeping provisions, often crafted from...

A plane table is a surveying tool that consists of a horizontal board mounted on a tripod, used for...

A polis is an ancient Greek city-state, a political and social structure that became a defining feat...

Prehistory refers to the period of human history before the advent of written records, encompassing...

Pressure flaking is a technique used in stone tool-making where controlled pressure is applied to ca...

Primary context refers to the original, undisturbed placement of an artifact, feature, or site as it...

A profile, or cross-section, in archaeology is the exposed view of an excavation’s walls, offering a...

A profile drawing is a drawn representation of the walls of an excavation unit, showing the exposed...

Provenance refers to the origin and history of ownership of an archaeological or historical object,...

Provenience refers to the precise, three-dimensional location of an archaeological find, encompassin...

A quarry is a site where stone, such as flint or obsidian, is extracted for toolmaking or constructi...

A quarry pit is a depression in the ground formed by the extraction of stone or other materials. The...

Quartz is a common mineral composed of silicon dioxide, widely used in the production of stone tools...

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed from quartz sandstone, often used for making tools and weapon...

The Quaternary Era is the most recent geological era, spanning from about 2.6 million years ago to t...

The Quaternary Period is the most recent geological period, lasting from 2.6 million years ago to th...

Quipu was an ancient Inca system of knotted cords used for record-keeping, accounting, and communica...

Qumran is an archaeological site near the Dead Sea, known for its connection to the discovery of the...

A Quonset hut is a prefabricated building structure with a distinctive semicircular design, often us...

Radiocarbon dating is an absolute dating technique used to determine the age of organic materials th...

Radiometric dating is a technique used to determine the age of rocks, fossils, and other materials b...

Reconnaissance is a method used to gather data in archaeology by identifying and mapping archaeologi...

Relative dating is a method used by archaeologists to date archaeological remains and strata in rela...

Remote sensing is a non-intrusive survey method used in archaeology to find and study archaeological...

Rescue archaeology, also known as salvage archaeology, involves the swift excavation and recovery of...

Salvage Archaeology, also known as rescue archaeology, refers to the quick excavation and recovery o...

Scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) are powerful tools used in archaeology to create highly magnifi...

Secondary context refers to the condition of an artifact that has been altered or displaced from its...

Sediments are soils that have been transported from their original location and accumulated in a new...

Seriation is the process of organizing artifacts, monuments, types, and styles into groups that refl...

Settlement pattern refers to the distribution and arrangement of human settlements across a landscap...

A shaman is a specialist in certain societies who acts as a mediator between the visible world and t...

A sherd is a term used to describe a fragment or piece of broken pottery found in an archaeological...

A site is any location where human material remains are discovered, representing an area of past hum...

Slip is a dilute clay solution used to coat pottery, often applied for decorative purposes. This tec...

Soils are deposits that form in place from the weathering of parent material, such as rocks or organ...

A square in archaeology refers to a subdivision of a site or excavation unit, often used to organize...

A stela, or stele, is a stone slab or column that is often decorated with carvings or inscriptions,...

The Stone Age is a period in prehistory when humans primarily used stone to make tools and weapons....

Stratigraphy is the study of the layers, or strata, of sediments, soils, and material culture found...

Style in archaeology refers to the distinctive characteristics of appearance used to classify and gr...

A stylus is a pointed tool used for writing or inscribing, particularly in ancient times. It was com...

Surface survey is the method of searching for archaeological remains by physically examining the lan...

A tell, also spelled “tel,” is a mound created from the layered remains of ancient settlements, comm...

Temper is a coarse material like sand, crushed shells, or other minerals added to clay to improve it...

Terminus ante quem, meaning “date before which,” is a concept used in archaeology to establish the l...

Terminus post quem, meaning “date after which,” is an archaeological term that identifies the earlie...

A test pit is a small excavation unit used during preliminary investigations to assess what lies ben...

Thermoluminescence (TL) is a radiometric dating method that measures the light energy released when...

The Three Age System is a chronological framework dividing prehistory into the Stone, Bronze, and Ir...

A total station is a sophisticated surveying instrument combining a transit with an electronic dista...

A transit is a surveying instrument essential for measuring vertical and horizontal angles and dista...

Tree rings are growth rings formed annually in a tree’s trunk, each ring often reflecting environmen...

A trench is an excavation unit used in archaeology, typically longer than it is wide, designed for d...

Tufa is a type of solidified volcanic ash, often referred to as tuff, that is commonly found in arch...

A tumulus is a large, earthen mound constructed above a tomb or grave, often used in ancient burial...

In archaeology, a type refers to a grouping of artifacts that are identified as distinct or used for...

Typology is the study and classification of artifacts into distinct types based on shared characteri...

Underwater archaeology is the study of archaeological sites, shipwrecks, and artifacts that are loca...

Uniface tools are tools or points that have been worked or knapped on only one side or face. These t...

Use-wear analysis is a method of studying artifacts to identify wear patterns or damage that reveal...

Varves are annual layers of clay or silt that accumulate in bodies of water, typically formed by the...

Ware refers to different types of ceramics, categorized based on their function, appearance, style,...

A ziggurat is a rectangular, tiered structure commonly found in ancient Mesopotamia, which served as...

A zone in archaeology refers to a specific stratigraphic level within an excavation that is distingu...