Archaeology Term: Secondary Context
Secondary context refers to the condition of an artifact that has been altered or displaced from its original position due to various site formation processes.
These processes may include disturbances caused by human activity, natural forces, or other factors after the artifact was originally deposited.
When an artifact is found in secondary context, it means that its association with its original use or deposition is no longer intact. This can happen when human activities, such as digging, construction, or later settlement, disturb the site and move artifacts from their initial location.
Artifacts in secondary context can provide important information, but they must be interpreted with caution. The displacement of objects can complicate the process of understanding their original function or their relationship to other artifacts at the site.
Secondary context is particularly relevant when studying sites that have experienced significant human or natural disturbance. For example, a building that was abandoned and later reused or modified may have artifacts scattered or moved from their original locations, making it harder to establish clear chronological or cultural connections.
The presence of an artifact in secondary context can indicate changes in the site over time. It may reflect the activities of later inhabitants, such as repurposing materials, or natural events like erosion or flooding, which can shift objects across the landscape.
Understanding secondary context is essential for archaeologists because it helps clarify how and why artifacts may have been displaced. Distinguishing between primary and secondary contexts allows for more accurate interpretations of the past and helps avoid misinterpretation of the site’s history.
Although secondary context can provide valuable clues about site formation processes, artifacts found in this context are often less reliable for establishing direct relationships with other finds. However, by analyzing these artifacts in combination with those found in primary context, archaeologists can reconstruct broader patterns of site use and transformation.
Artifacts from secondary context may also be helpful in understanding the later activities of people who interacted with the site. In some cases, they reveal how previous cultural layers were reinterpreted or repurposed, contributing to the broader historical narrative of human activity at the site.
In conclusion, secondary context plays a significant role in archaeology by highlighting the dynamic and transformative processes that affect archaeological sites. It emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the history of an artifact's location before drawing conclusions about its original use or significance.
