General archaeology

General archaeology

Terms and definitions of archaeology -- the study of human society through the analysis of artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes.

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General archaeology

cultural materialism

Archaeology; General archaeology

The theory, espoused by Marvin Harris, that ideas, values, and religious beliefs are the means or products of adaptation to environmental conditions ("material constraints").

multivariate explanation

Archaeology; General archaeology

Explanation of culture change, e.g. the origin of the state, which, in contrast to monocausal approaches, stresses the interaction of several factors operating simultaneously.

cache-pit

Archaeology; General archaeology

Circular excavations usually less than 3 m in diameter assumed to have aboriginally functioned as storage "cellars".

Cores drilled from the sea bed that provide the most coherent record of climate changes on a worldwide scale. The cores contain shells of microscopic marine organisms (foraminifera) laid down on the ...

anthropology

Archaeology; General archaeology

The study of humanity - our physical characteristics as animals, and our unique non-biological characteristics we call culture. The subject is generally broken down into three subdisciplines: ...

surface finish

Archaeology; General archaeology

In the study of ceramic artifacts, the mainly decorative outer elements of a vessel.

historical archaeology

Archaeology; General archaeology

The archaeological study of historically documented cultures. In North America, research is directed at colonial and post-colonial settlement, analogous to the study of medieval and post-medieval ...