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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{short description|Glossary for archaeological terms}}&lt;br /&gt;
This page is a &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;glossary of [[archaeology]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, the study of the human past from material remains.&lt;br /&gt;
{{Compact ToC|seealso=yes|notesfirst=yes|refs=yes|extlinks=yes}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== A ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|absolute age}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The age of an object with reference to a fixed and specific time scale, as determined by some method of [[absolute dating]], e.g. 10,000 [[Before Present|BP]] or 1.9 [[Million years ago|mya]].{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=2|loc=&amp;quot;absolute age&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|absolute dating|[[absolute dating]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Ascertaining the age of an object with reference to a fixed and specific time scale (e.g. [[calendar years]] or {{gli|radiocarbon years}}), as opposed to {{gli|relative dating}}.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=2|loc=&amp;quot;absolute dating&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|aerial archaeology|[[aerial archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Archaeological investigations conducted from the air, e.g. using [[aerial photography]] or [[satellite imagery]].}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|antiquarian|[[antiquarian]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|antiquary|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A person interested in the collection, curation and/or study of antiquities, particularly in reference to the intellectual tradition that developed in Europe in the 16th–17th centuries and is considered a precursor to [[modern archaeology]].{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;antiquarian&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|antiquarianism}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An intellectual tradition of inquiry that developed in Europe in the 16th and early 17th centuries AD as a result of new interests in nature, antiquity, the Renaissance of learning, and the addition of time‐depth to people&amp;#039;s view of the world.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;antiquarianism&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|antiquities|[[antiquities]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Ancient artefacts, particularly in the context of their trade and collection.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|antiquity|[[Ancient history|antiquity]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The ancient past, in particular the period of the earliest historic civilizations (see {{gli|classical antiquity}}).}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|archaeobotany|[[archaeobotany]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Subdiscipline devoted to the analysis of plant remains in the archaeological record.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|archaeozoology}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|zooarchaeology}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|archaeologist}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A person engaged in the study or profession of archaeology.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|archaeology|[[archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|archeology|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The [[academic discipline]] concerned with the study of the human past through material remains.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|artefact|[[Artifact (archaeology)|artefact]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|artifact|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A physical object made by humans.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|assemblage}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A set of artefacts or ecofacts found together, from the same place and time.{{sfn|Renfrew|Bahn|2008|p=578}}&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=https://archaeologywordsmith.com/search.php?q=assemblage |title=Assemblage |website=Archaeology Wordsmith |last=Kipfer |first=Barbara Ann |access-date=2 February 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Can refer to the total assemblage from a site, or a specific type of artefact, e.g. lithic assemblage, zooarchaeological assemblage.{{sfn|Feder|2008|p=93}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|association}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Two or more excavated objects that are thought to be related are said to be in association, e.g. artefacts discovered in close proximity within the same [[context (archaeology)|context]], or architectural features thought to have been standing at the same time.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== B ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|backfill}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1|To re-fill a trench once an excavation has been completed.}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1A|To re-fill a [[Tunnel construction#Cut-and-cover|cut and cover tunnels]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1B|To re-fill unused [[canal]]s}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1C|To re-fill [[trench]]es for [[Pipeline transport|gas]], [[Water distribution system|water]], [[Underground power lines|power]] and [[Undergrounding|communication]] lines}} &lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=2|Material used for backfilling, usually spoil from the original excavation.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|baulk}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|balk|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A wall of earth left in place between excavated areas in order to maintain the structural integrity of the trench and/or expose a [[section (archaeology)|section]] to aid in interpretation.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|bladelet}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Type of stone tool; a small [[blade (archaeology)|blade]] characteristic of [[Upper Palaeolithic Europe]].{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;bladelet&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== C ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|C14 dating}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|radiocarbon dating}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|context|[[context (archaeology)|context]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1|As in common usage, information relating to where an artefact or feature was found and what it was found in association with.}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=2|In [[single context recording|single context excavation]], a well-defined stratigraphic unit relating to a single depositional event, used as the primary unit for recording and analysis.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|culture|[[Archaeological culture|culture]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place that may constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== D ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|diagnostic}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A term used for objects, particularly sherds of pottery, which can be dated to a particular chronological period, and so used to ascertain the date of a particular context.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|dig}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An informal term for an archaeological excavation.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|disturbance|[[Disturbance (archaeology)|disturbance]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Any change to an archaeological site due to events which occurred after the site was laid down.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|dry sieving}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A method of sifting artefacts from excavated sediments by shaking it through sieves or meshes of varying sizes. As opposed to {{gli|wet sieving}}, which uses water.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=514|loc=&amp;quot;sieving&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== E ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|earthworks|[[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthworks]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Earthworks are artificial changes in land level, typically made from piles of artificially placed or sculpted rocks and soil}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|environmental archaeology|[[environmental archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Environmental archaeology is the science of reconstructing the relationships between past societies and the environments they lived in.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|evaluation}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|trial trenching}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|excavation|[[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Excavation is the exposure, processing and recording of archaeological remains.}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== F ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|fieldwork}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Archaeological investigations taking place in the field, e.g. excavations or surveys.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|finds}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An informal term for artifacts, features and other things discovered by archaeologists.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|fill|[[fill (archaeology)|fill]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Material that has accumulated, or been deposited, within a negative feature such as a {{gli|cut}}, ditch, or a hollow in a building.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|finds processing}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The preparation of finds from an excavation for storage or further specialist analysis, typically including washing, labelling, sorting and listing in an inventory.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|finds specialist}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An archaeologist who specialises in the analysis of a particular type of find, e.g. medieval pottery or prehistoric worked [[Flint#Tools or cutting edges|flint]].}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|flotation}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Method of separating very small objects from excavated sediments using water. It is particularly important for the recovery of botanical remains and animal bones.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|forensic archaeology|[[Forensic anthropology#Forensic archaeology|forensic archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Forensic archaeologists employ their knowledge of archaeological techniques and theory in a legal context. This broad description is necessary as forensic archaeology is practiced in a variety of ways around the world.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book |last1= Groen|first1= W.J. Mike|last2= Márquez‐Grant|first2= Nicholas|last3= Janaway|first3= Robert C.|date= 2015|title= Forensic archaeology: A global perspective|isbn=9781118745977}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|funerary archaeology|[[funerary archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Funerary archaeology is the study of the treatment and commemoration of the dead. It includes the study of human remains, associated artefacts and monuments.}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== G ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|[[geoarchaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The application of [[geology]] and other [[earth science]] techniques to archaeology.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=205|loc=&amp;quot;geoarchaeology&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|[[geofact]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Rocks or other naturally occurring minerals found in an archaeological context and presumed to have been transported there by humans, but not sufficiently modified to qualify as an [[artifact (archaeology)|artefact]].{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=205|loc=&amp;quot;geofact&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|[[geoglyph]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A form of [[rock art]] produced on the ground, either by arranging material on the surface (a &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;positive geoglyph&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) or removing part of it (a &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;negative geoglyph&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;).{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=205|loc=&amp;quot;geoglyph&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== H ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|henge|[[henge]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A type of Neolithic earthwork that has a ring-shaped bank and ditch, with the ditch inside the bank.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|hillfort|[[hillfort]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== I ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|industrial archaeology|[[industrial archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Subdiscipline devoted to the study of past [[Industrial sector|industry]] and [[industrial heritage]].}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|industry|[[industry (archaeology)|industry]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A typological classification of stone tools, e.g. the [[Mousterian industry]], the [[Acheulean industry]].}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|in situ|[[In situ#Archaeology|in situ]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Features, artefacts and other remains in their original depositional context, cf. {{gli|unstratified}}.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== K ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|K–Ar dating|[[K–Ar dating]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Potassium–argon dating; a radiometric dating method useful for samples older than 100,000 years.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=271|loc=&amp;quot;K–Ar dating&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|kerb}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|kerbstone circle|multi=yes}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A circular retaining wall built around certain types of [[burial mound]].{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=275|loc=&amp;quot;kerb&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|kill site}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A site where people slaughtered and/or butchered animals, especially in a Palaeolithic context, e.g. [[Naco Mammoth Kill Site]], [[Cooper Bison Kill Site]].{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=279|loc=&amp;quot;kill site&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|killed object}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|An object which has been deliberately broken or damaged in such a way as to make it unusable.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Jenny L. |editor1-last=Rowan |editor1-first=Yorke M. |editor2-last=Ebling |editor2-first=Jennie R. |title=New Approaches to Old Stones |date=2008 |publisher=Equinox |location=Sheffield |page=217 |chapter=Beyond the Broken}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|kiln site}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|In Southeast Asian archaeology, a site that was the centre for manufacture of particular [[ceramic ware]], e.g. [[Phnom Kulen (archaeological site)|Phnom Kulen]], [[Buriram (archaeological site)|Buriram]], [[Go Sanh]], [[Kalong (archaeological site)|Kalong]], [[Sukhothai Historical Park|Sukhothai]].{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=279|loc=&amp;quot;kiln site&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== L ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|locus}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|context}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== M ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|matrix}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1|The physical material in which finds and other cultural remains are found, e.g. soil or rock.{{Sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=339|loc=&amp;quot;matrix&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=2|[[Harris matrix]]; a diagram showing the [[Stratigraphy (archaeology)|stratigraphic]] relations between contexts.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|megasite}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|mega-site|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A site that is anomalously large in comparison to others from the same period and region, e.g. [[PPNB megasite]]s, [[Trypillia megasite]]s.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=What to Do with &amp;quot;Megasites&amp;quot; in Prehistory? Further Exploring the &amp;quot;Megasite&amp;quot; Conundrum |url=https://core.tdar.org/collection/65028/what-to-do-with-megasites-in-prehistory-further-exploring-the-megasite-conundrum |website=The Digital Archaeological Record |publisher=Digital Antiquity |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== N ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|negative geoglyph}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|geoglyph}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== O ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|occupation earth|occupation earth}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|set of deposits believed to represent in-situ settlement at an archaeological site, containing pottery sherds, ashes, animal remains, etc.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Philip|title=Techniques of archaeological excavation|edition=3rd|year=1993|publisher=B. T. Batsford|isbn=978-0-7134-7169-4|pages=138|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZh1vxJ3L7cC}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== P ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|palaeoethnobotany|[[palaeoethnobotany]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|paleoethnobotany|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|archaeobotany}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|pollen diagram}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|pollen profile|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|pollen spectrum|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A series of side-by-side graphs, produced by [[archaeobotany|archaeobotanists]] and [[palynology|palynologists]], showing the frequency of different types (species) of [[pollen]] in a soil sample by depth. Usually presented vertically, with the shallowest samples at the top and the deepest at the bottom, to represent a [[pollen core]] or other stratified deposit. The depth of the sample corresponds roughly to how old it is, and therefore the vertical axis may also contain an estimate of its absolute age. Used to visualise the [[environmental history]] of the place where the sample was taken.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite dictionary|url=http://www.archaeologywordsmith.com/lookup.php?category=&amp;amp;where=headword&amp;amp;terms=pollen+diagram|title=pollen diagram|dictionary=Archaeology Wordsmith|last1=Kipfer|first1=Barbara Ann|year=2010|access-date=2017-01-31}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://www.jefpat.org/archeobotany/PollenDiagram.aspx|title=How To Read A Pollen Diagram|website=Maryland Archeobotany|publisher=Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum|access-date=2017-01-31}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|positive geoglyph}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|geoglyph}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|potassium–argon dating}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|K–Ar dating}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|potsherd|[[potsherd]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A fragment of pottery.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;kip&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite book|last=Kipfer|first=Barbara A.|work=Archaeology Wordsmith|title=sherd|date=2002|access-date=April 6, 2014|url=http://www.archaeologywordsmith.com/lookup.php?terms=Sherd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408230345/http://www.archaeologywordsmith.com/lookup.php?terms=Sherd|archive-date=April 8, 2014}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In specialised usage &amp;#039;&amp;#039;sherd&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is preferred over the more common spelling &amp;#039;&amp;#039;shard&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite Merriam-Webster|shard|access-date=2019-10-10}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Q ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|[[Section (archaeology)#Quarter sectioning|quarter sectioning]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Sometimes called digging by quadrant, it is a procedure for excavating discrete features (especially those circular or ovoid in shape) where two diagonally opposite quadrants are removed, resulting in two complete cross-sections of a feature.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== R ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|[[radiocarbon dating]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|absolute dating technique used to determine the age of organic materials less than 50,000 years old.  Age is determined by examining the loss of the unstable carbon-14 isotope, which is absorbed by all living organisms during their lifespan.  The rate of decay of this unstable isotope after the organism has died is assumed to be constant, and is measured in half-lives of 5730 + 40 years, meaning that the amount of carbon-14 is reduced to half the amount after about 5730 years. Dates generated by radiocarbon dating have to be calibrated using dates derived from other absolute dating methods, such as dendrochronology and ice cores.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== S ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|screening}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|sieving}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|season}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A period of time spent working on a particular site or field project.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|section|[[Section (archaeology)|Section]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A section is a view of the archaeological sequence showing it in the vertical plane, as a cross section, showing the stratigraphy.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|sherd|[[sherd]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Also see {{gli|potsherd}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|shovel test pit|[[shovel test pit]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|test holes, usually dug out by a shovel, in order to determine whether the soil contains any cultural remains that are not visible on the surface.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|shovelbum}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A colloquial term for professional excavators working in [[cultural resources management]] in the United States.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|sieving}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The use of [[sieve]]s, screens, and meshes to improve the recovery rate of artefacts from excavated sediments ({{gli|spoil}}). Can be divided into {{gli|dry sieving}} and {{gli|wet sieving}}.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=514|loc=&amp;quot;sieving&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|spoil}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Loose sediment excavated from a trench.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|spoil heap}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A pile of sediment from an excavation, usually located next to a trench.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== T ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|trial trenching|[[trial trenching]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A method of archaeological evaluation used to estimate the archaeological potential of a site.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book |author=Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) |author-link=Chartered Institute for Archaeologists |date=2020 |title= Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation |url= https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/CIfAS%26GFieldevaluation_2.pdf}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|typology|[[Typology (archaeology)|typology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The classification of objects according to their physical characteristics.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== U ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|underwater archaeology|[[underwater archaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Subdiscipline devoted to the study of archaeological remains submerged under seas, lakes, or rivers.{{Sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;underwater archaeology&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|unenclosed}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;See {{gli|enclosure}}&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|uniface|[[uniface]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Stone tool or other artefact that has only been worked on one side, cf. {{gli|biface}}.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;unifacial flaking&amp;quot;}}{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;unifacial tool&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|unit}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=1|In stratigraphic excavation, a {{gli|context}}.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;unit&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|no=2|In British [[commercial archaeology]], a company providing archaeological services, e.g. the [[Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit]].{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;unit&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|univallate}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|[[Hillfort]] or other enclosed settlement surrounded by a single line of walls or ramparts, cf. {{gli|multivallate}}.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;univallate hillfort&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|unurned}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Cremation burial where the remains were not placed in a container ({{gli|urn}}), typical of the Early to Middle Bronze Age in Northern Europe.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;unurned cremation&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|updraught kiln}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|updraft kiln|multi=y}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Type of [[ceramic kiln]] which works by drawing hot air from a fire placed adjacent to or below the material to be fired.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;updraught kiln&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|urban archaeology}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Subdiscipline devoted to the study of archaeology in major cities and towns.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;urban archaeology&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|urn|[[urn]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Pottery vessel in which cremated remains were placed for interment; sometimes specially made, but often a repurposed domestic container.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;urn&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|urnfield}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Cemetery containing cremation burials in urns. Typical of Late Bronze Age Europe and the eponymous [[Urnfield culture]].{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;urnfield&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|use-wear}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Microscopic traces of wear, damage or residue left on the surface of an artefact from use. [[Use-wear analysis]] involves studying these traces to discern the function of a tool.{{sfn|Darvill|2009|loc=&amp;quot;use-wear (microwear) analysis&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== V ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Empty section|date=February 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== W ==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Washing-sieving, samples from Calvero de la Higuera, Pinilla del Valle, Madrid, Spain 02.JPG|thumb|right|Wet sieving.]]&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|watching brief|[[watching brief]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|A formal programme of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|wet sieving}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|The use of flowing water to force excavated sediment through a screen or mesh and recover small artefacts. It is more effective than {{gli|dry sieving}} in heavier soils and, as part of the process of [[flotation (archaeology)|flotation]], can be used to recover very small organic remains.{{sfn|Kipfer|2000|p=514|loc=&amp;quot;sieving&amp;quot;}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== X ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Empty section|date=February 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Y ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Empty section|date=February 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Z ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary start}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{term|zooarchaeology|[[zooarchaeology]]}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{defn|Subdiscipline devoted to the analysis of animal remains in the archaeological record.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{glossary end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== See also ==&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Outline of archaeology]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Table of years in archaeology]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Glossary of history]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== References ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Reflist|20em}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Bibliography ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Refbegin|indent=yes}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{Cite book|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199534043.001.0001/acref-9780199534043|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology|last=Darvill|first=Timothy|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780191727139|location=Oxford|doi=10.1093/acref/9780199534043.001.0001|url-access=subscription}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |last=Feder |first=Kenneth |year=2008 |title=Linking to the Past: A Brief Introduction to Archaeology |edition=2nd updated |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533117-2}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedic Dictionary of Archaeology|last=Kipfer|first=Barbara Ann|publisher=Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers|year=2000|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-306-46158-3}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{Cite book|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/referenceworks/9780123739629|title=Encyclopedia of Archaeology|publisher=Elsevier|year=2008|isbn=9780123739629|editor-last=Pearsall|editor-first=Deborah M.|location=Amsterdam|url-access=subscription}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |last1=Renfrew |first1=Colin |last2=Bahn |first2=Paul |author-link1=Colin Renfrew |author-link2=Paul Bahn |year=2008 |title=Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice |edition=5th updated |location=London |publisher=Thames &amp;amp; Hudson |isbn=978-0-500-28719-4 |oclc=441377624}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{Cite book|title=A Dictionary of Archaeology|publisher=Blackwell|year=1999|isbn=9780470753446|editor-last=Shaw|editor-first=Ian|location=Oxford|doi=10.1002/9780470753446|editor-last2=Jameson|editor-first2=Robert}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology|publisher=Springer|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4419-0465-2|editor-last=Smith|editor-first=Clare|location=New York, NY|doi=10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2|s2cid=220616743 }}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Refend}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Glossaries of science|Archaeology]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Archaeological terminology| ]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Archaeology| ]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Archaeology-related lists| ]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Wikipedia glossaries using description lists]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Ajay Kumar</name></author>
	</entry>
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