Excavation, stratigraphy, radiocarbon and other dating methods, survey, and ethics in archaeology.
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- What is stratigraphy in archaeology?
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The principle and practice of studying layers of archaeological deposits- What is a stratigraphic layer or context?
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A physically distinct unit of archaeological deposit with consistent properties- What is the Harris Matrix?
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A system for recording the superposition and relationships between stratigraphic units- What is an unconformity in stratigraphy?
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A break in the stratigraphic sequence indicating erosion or a gap in deposition- What is a feature in archaeology?
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A non-movable archaeological element like a post hole, fireplace, or wall- What is a datum point?
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A fixed reference point used to record the location and elevation of finds- What does 'in situ' mean in archaeology?
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An artifact or feature found in its original position of burial or deposition- What is provenance?
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The documented location and context from which an artifact was excavated- What is an assemblage in archaeology?
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A collection of artifacts and ecofacts from a specific time and place- What is taphonomy?
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The study of processes affecting remains after death or deposition- What is radiocarbon dating?
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A dating method using the decay of carbon-14 in organic materials- What is the half-life of C-14?
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Approximately 5,730 years- What does AMS stand for in archaeological dating?
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Accelerated Mass Spectrometry- What is an advantage of AMS dating over conventional radiocarbon dating?
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It requires very small samples, typically milligrams of material- What are radiocarbon calibration curves?
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Standard references like IntCal that convert C-14 ages to calendar years
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