Class notes
Intro to Archaeology
- Course
- Intro to Archaeology
- Institution
- University Of Manitoba (UManitoba )
Part two of notes that is class material helps with all info on exams
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Test 3 2100.Frameworks for measuring time:
Absolute dating- the determination of age with reference to a specific timescale such as a fixed
calendrical system, also referred to as “Chronometric dating”
Relative dating techniques:
Terminus post quem (TPG): the earliest possible date for an archeological deposit
Terminus ante quem: TAQ: the latest possible date for the deposit
Stratigraphy: provides a broad relative chronology: oldest on bottom newest on top,
- Can provide a more defined chronology with the combo of other relative dating techniques or
absolute dating techniques
- Law of superposition: underlying layer was first and therefor earliest or earlier than layers above
it.
Typology: classification criteria: material shape and decoration:
- Relative dating through typology:
- 1) products of a given period and place have a recognizable style
- 2) change in style (shape and décor) of artifacts is often quite gradual or evolutionary.
Seriation: assemblages if artifacts can be arranged in a succession or serial order, which is then taken to
indicate their ordering in time, or their relative chronology
Linguistic dating
Environmental sequences:
- Deep sea cores: analysis of the chemical structure of microscopic marine organisms in datable
layers of sediment can be used to reconstruct climate and provide a relative chronology
- Ice cores: layers of annual ice deposits can produce a chronology of world climate
- Pollen dating: pollen produced by vast vegetation in a given area can reveal the climate of
particular pollen zones and help to produce a relative chronology.
Obsidian hydration: a fresh break absorbs water from atmosphere at a known rate, chemically alters a
thin layer on the edge of the break, thickness of this layer depends on the time since the break and can
provide a date relative to other samples at the same or surrounding sites.
Chemical dating of bone: bones, antler and teeth absorb fluorine and uranium from ground water while
leeching nitrogen into the soil, this occurs at a uniform rate so if the proportions are measured a relative
age can be established.
,Problems with relative dating techniques:
- Only approx. date where elements of the sequence can tie into historical data
- One type of artifact does not necessarily succeed another
- Curation or passing down of valued artifacts can lead them to be deposed long after their
manufacture.
-
Absolute Dating:
Dendrochronology: Tree ring dating uses the size of growth rings in trees to date wood, large pieces,
charcoal
Radiocarbon Dating: used to date any carbon based remains, up to 50,000 years old. Old wood effect.
Before 1950 Calibration chart. Best case scenario +/- 20 years. Worst case two centuries ago.
AMS Dating: Spectrometer that use magnets and sperate individual carbon atoms to date. Super small
sample can be used. 1000 sample a year Efficient, now standard procedure for arch.
Potassium Argon dating (K-AR) dating: compare the amount of K in a sample to the amount of AR. 5,000-
3-Billion-year-old samples.
Fission Track dating: fossil deposits: dates minerals contemporary to the fossil deposit, requires prior
high temperature event. Crystals. Glass, high uranium contents samples. 20 yrs – 5 billion.
Paleomagnetic dating: heated materials take on the magnetic properties of the earths magnetic field at
the time of heating. Up to 10,000 years.
Archaeomagnetic dating: ceramics, kilns, furnaces, and other heated objects.
Uranium series dating: calcite formations: 235U and 238 U decay. Less than 300,000 years old.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL): sediment dating: quartz and feldspar. Date is measured when
they last saw light and recharged in burial.
Thermoluminescence dating: heated samples, ceramics, and lava flows. Unlimited time frame.
Electron spin resonance: measure trapped electrons from surrounding radioactive material. Up to 1
million years old, bone and shell.
Amino acid racemization: non-radiometric: 2000-1 million years old. Bone, charcoal, other organic
material.
Obsidian Hydration: up to 800,000 years old, volcanic glass, both relative and absolute dating
mechanism.
, What is the importance of archaeobotany?
- Can provide answers to:
- What was the environment like?
- What did they eat?
- What contact did they have?
-
Microbotanical remains?
1) Pollen: most useful for the study of minor fluctuations in climate over the last 12,000 years.
Although pollen can be preserved for millions of years in some contexts (palynology)
2) Phytoliths: survive very well in most arch. Sediments and can add to the picture of the
environment built up from other sources
3) Diatoms: found in lake and shore sediments and thus useful for the analysis of past marine
environments
Macrobotanical remains: dry environments: desiccated, perm wet environments: waterlogged,
preserved by charring.
- Seed and fruits: can be identified to species (imprints)
- Crop domestication
- Origins of agriculture:
- Plant residues
- Wood and charcoal: identified to genus or species
Sampling and flotation: Micro
- Choosing sampling locations:
- - impractical to recover all sizes and classes from every bit of soil being removed
- Sieving (catch larger remains, small remains are still lost)
- During excavation it can be difficult to determine which contexts will be important for analysis
- Sampling method can address all of these issues
Blanket sampling for macro remains:
- Collect soil from all contexts
- Easy to carry out in field (become routine)
- Gives Max. flexibility for analysis
- Sampling above and below feature: analyst can evaluate the features without bias of adjacent
loci.
- Samples must be distinct (ex. Hearths different sample from surrounding floors)
In Situ sampling for macro remains:
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller tiffanykuhn_20. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for CA$11.05. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
56326 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now