DOCSLIB.ORG

Identification of Activity Areas Through Lithic Analysis - the Longhorn Site (41KT53) in the Upper Brazos River Basin, Kent County, Texas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Identification of Activity Areas Through Lithic Analysis - the Longhorn Site (41KT53) in the Upper Brazos River Basin, Kent County, Texas Identification of Activity Areas Through Lithic Analysis - The Longhorn Site (41KT53) in the Upper Brazos River Basin, Kent County, Texas by Kathryn Mira Smith, B.S. A Thesis In Anthropology Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Accepted Dr. Brett Houk Co-Chair Dr. Eileen Johnson Co-Chair Dr. Tamra Walter Ralph Ferguson Dean of the Graduate School December 2010 © 2010 Kathryn Mira Smith Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my committee members for their advice and assistance throughout this project: Dr. Brett A. Houk, chair; Dr. Eileen G. Johnson, co-chair; and Dr. Tamra L. Walter, member. Additional thanks goes to the Museum of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Lake Landmark for access to their collections and equipment, as well as the encouragement and support of their staff. Furthermore, special thanks go to the following individuals for their contributions to this research: Douglas K. Boyd, site information; Dr. Bernard A. Schriever, photography; Dr. Stance Hurst, lithic expertise; Dr. Kevin Mulligan, ArcGIS support; Cynthia Lopez, archival research; Richard Beres and Samuel Thompson, database support. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the never-ending support of my family and friends. ii Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii ABSTRACT vi LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii I INTRODUCTION 1 Archaeological Background 1 Project Area Investigations 3 Research Orientation 5 Excavations at 41KT53 7 Results and Interpretations 9 Cultural Background 11 Paleoindian (11,500 RCYBP to 8,500 RCYBP) 11 Archaic (8,500 RCYBP to 2,000 RCYBP) 13 Ceramic (2,000 RCYBP to A.D. 1450) 13 Protohistoric (ca. A.D. 1450 to A.D. 1650) 13 Historic (A.D. 1650 to 1950s) 14 Environmental Setting 15 Geology 15 Lithic Raw Materials 18 Climate 18 Flora and Fauna 20 Water 20 Summary 23 II THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE 24 Behavioral Archaeology 24 Correlates 25 Culture Processes 26 Major Cultural Processes 28 N-transforms 30 C-transforms 30 Other Effects on Processes 31 Spatial Archaeology 32 Goals and Objectives 33 Research Questions 34 Tool Ratios 35 Thermal Alteration 35 iii Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 Summary 36 III METHODOLOGY 38 Behavioral Chain Analysis 38 Step 1: Activities That Could Have Taken Place 40 Step 2: Identifying Activity Areas 65 Step 3: Additional Information 68 Step 4: Additional Activities 68 Step 5: Recurring Activities 69 Step 6: Aspects of Social Organization 69 Summary 70 IV DATA 71 Mapping 72 Features 72 Raw Material Source 75 Debitage 75 Raw Material Source 75 Flakes 78 Debris 82 Debitage Thermal Alterations 83 Tools 84 Informal/Expedient Tools 84 Formal Tools 85 Other Tools 95 Distribution Mapping 97 Procurement Distribution 98 Manufacture Debitage Distribution 98 Maintenance Debitage Distribution 101 Debris Distribution 101 Feature Debitage Density 104 Postmold Type Distribution 106 Tool Distribution 106 Tool Density 110 Thermal Alteration 112 Impact on Lithics 113 Summary 115 V DISCUSSION 117 N-Transforms 118 Activity Areas 120 iv Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 Tool and Feature Association 122 Refuse Activity Area Types 131 Additional Information 143 Tool Ratio 143 Mobility 146 Additional Activities 148 Recurring Activities 149 Tool Manufacture 149 Tool Use/Maintenance 150 Cleaning Activities for Lithic Debitage 150 Postmold Disposal 150 Aspects Of Social Organization 150 Summary 153 VI CONCLUSIONS 156 Research Questions 157 Supplemental Data 160 Regional Perspective 161 REFERENCES CITED 162 v Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 ABSTRACT The Longhorn site (41KT53) represents a Protohistoric Native American encampment positioned along the border between the Rolling Plains and Southern High Plains of western Texas. Interpretations for the site are examined using lithic tool and debitage macroanalysis under the theoretical perspective of behavioral archaeology. Cultural and non-cultural processes are studied to determine their role in the creation, distribution, and disturbance of the site’s lithics and related features. Behavioral chain analysis is utilized to identify lithic activity areas that reflect the artifacts’ life history stages of procurement, manufacture, use, maintenance, and discard. Research orientation is focused on the roles of these cultural and non- cultural processes concerning thermal alterations present on some lithics in addition to activities performed during the site’s occupation. Site function based on these activities is used to address a skewed unifacial-to-bifacial stone tool ratio, and ArcGIS maps assist in displaying the distribution of the activity areas to reveal patterns of the site’s spatial organization. Aspects of trade and mobility are inferred based on the site’s lithic content and position on the landscape, providing a broader representation of Late Holocene hunter-gatherer life. vi Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 LIST OF TABLES 1.1. Source information for raw lithic materials found within the Justiceburg Reservoir area 6 1.2. Features uncovered during excavations 10 1.3. Some common plant and animal species in the upper Brazos River Basin 21 4.1. Raw material source by debitage type (frequency; count) 77 4.2. Thermal alteration by debitage type (frequency; count) 84 4.3. Raw material source by tool type (frequency; count) 87 4.4. Thermal alteration by tool type (frequency; count) 88 4.5. Raw material source by scraper type (frequency; count) 90 4.6. Debitage types exhibiting cortex (frequency; count) 99 4.7. Postmold types based on debitage and shim count 108 5.1. Contents of the site's drop and toss zones 129 5.2. Lithic and stake contents for postmold types 141 vii Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 LIST OF FIGURES 1.1. Location of the Longhorn site (41KT53) within the upper Brazos River Basin (modified from Boyd, 1997:Figure 4) 2 1.2. Proposed tipi stake made from a longhorn horn core after which the Longhorn site was named (Boyd et al., 1993, Figure 60) 8 2.1. The cultural element flow model that constitutes the life- history of most artifacts, here depicting hypothetical life-histories of a scraper (modified from Schiffer, 1995a:Figure 2.1) 27 3.1. Flake types typical of various flintknapping stages: a) core reduction flake; b) biface thinning flake; and c) resharpening flake 44 3.2. Common western Texas scrapers: a) concave scraper; b) convergent scraper; c) transverse scraper; d) side scraper; and e) end scraper 53 3.3. Bifacial lithic tools found in western Texas: a) four-sided beveled biface; b) graver; c) drill; and d) gunflint 54 3.4. Other tools that may indicate lithic-related activities: a) abrader; b) shaft straightener; and c) hammerstone 57 3.5. An informal tool modified to produce a single cutting edge 58 4.1. Site layout indicating all units within the area of focus 73 4.2. Flake types: a) core reduction flake; b) shaping flake; c) biface thinning flake; d) outré passé flake; e) finishing flake; and f) resharpening flake 79 4.3. Debris types: a) general debris; b) heat spall; c) heat shatter 82 4.4. Informal tool exhibiting original flake characteristics and used edge 85 4.5. Examples of tools representing the early stages of the flintknapping process: a) tested cobble; b) blank; and c) preform 89 4.6. Scraper types found at the Longhorn site: a) end; b) side; c) transverse; and d) convergent 91 4.7. Bifacial tools: a) beveled biface; b) possible graver; c) multi-use tool; d) gunflint; and e) untyped biface 93 4.8. Tools associated with the flintknapping process: a) abrader; b) shaft straightener; and c) hammerstone 97 4.9. Density distribution of all manufacture flakes 100 4.10. Density distribution of all maintenance flakes 102 4.11. Density distribution of all debris 103 4.12. Density distribution of all debitage associated directly with a feature 105 v iii Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 4.13. Distribution of postmold types: type 1) postmolds contain debitage and shim(s); type 2) postmolds contain debitage and no shims; and type 3) postmolds contain a shim and no debitage 107 4.14. Distribution of all tool types 109 4.15. Density distribution of all tools associated directly with a feature 111 4.16. Density distribution of all thermally altered debitage 114 5.1. Edwards Formation chert lithic exhibiting partial chromatic alteration 121 5.2. Distribution of groundstone objects 124 5.3. Patterns of overlapping concentric drop and toss zones as a result of hearth placement and wind direction (modified from Binford, 1978:Figure 5) 127 5.4. Placement of 1m and 2.5m buffers around hearths to replicate drop and toss zones, respectively 128 5.5. Distribution of tool manufacturing stations 133 5.6. Distribution of use/maintenance stations 137 5.7. Distribution of disposal activity areas 139 5.8. Distribution of all activity areas 151 ix Texas Tech University, Kathryn Smith, December 2010 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Longhorn site (41KT53) is a 17th century Native American encampment located on the western border of the Rolling Plains of Texas (Boyd et al., 1993) within the upper Brazos River Basin (Figure 1). Original excavations by Prewitt and Associates uncovered a plethora of artifacts and features, whose analysis led to interpretations regarding how the site was utilized by its inhabitants. A large percentage of the recovered artifacts include lithics that represent the use of flintknapping technology. These lithics are reexamined in this research utilizing macroscopic lithic analysis and behavioral archaeology to study aspects of human activities and natural transforms that create the site as it is found in the archaeological record. The study of aspects of human behavior and its effect on site creation can be a complicated yet fruitful endeavor.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Burial Mounds in Europe and Japan Comparative and Contextual Perspectives
    Comparative and Global Perspectives on Japanese Archaeology Burial Mounds in Europe and Japan Comparative and Contextual Perspectives edited by Access Thomas Knopf, Werner Steinhaus and Shin’ya FUKUNAGAOpen Archaeopress Archaeopress Archaeology © Archaeopress and the authors, 2018. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Summertown Pavilion 18-24 Middle Way Summertown Oxford OX2 7LG www.archaeopress.com ISBN 978 1 78969 007 1 ISBN 978 1 78969 008 8 (e-Pdf) © Archaeopress and the authors 2018 © All image rights are secured by the authors (Figures edited by Werner Steinhaus) Access Cover illustrations: Mori-shōgunzuka mounded tomb located in Chikuma-shi in Nagano prefecture, Japan, by Werner Steinhaus (above) Magdalenenberg burial mound at Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany,Open by Thomas Knopf (below) The printing of this book wasArchaeopress financed by the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. Printed in England by Oxuniprint, Oxford This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com © Archaeopress and the authors, 2018. Contents List of Figures .................................................................................................................................................................................... iii List of authors .................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • LITHIC ANALYSIS (01-070-391) Rutgers University Spring 2010
    SYLLABUS LITHIC ANALYSIS (01-070-391) Rutgers University Spring 2010 Lecture days/hours: Thursday, 2:15-5:15 PM Lecture location: BioSci 206, Douglass Campus Instructors: Dr. J.W.K. Harris J.S. Reti, MA [email protected] [email protected] Office: BioSci, Room 203B Office: BioSci, Room 204C Office Hours: Friday 11:00 – 1:00 Office Hours: Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an integrated course that incorporates theoretical, behavioral, and practical aspects of lithic technology. Lithic Analysis is an advanced undergraduate course in human and non-human primate stone technology. Each student is expected to already have taken an introductory course in human evolution, primatology, and/or archaeology. Lithic Analysis is a sub-discipline of archaeology. The focus is on the inferential potential of stone tools with regard to human behavior. Early human ancestors first realized the utility of sharp stone edges for butchery and other practices. Arguably, without the advent of stone tools human evolution would have taken a different path. Stone tools allowed early hominins efficient access to meat resources and provided as avenue for cognitive development and three-dimensional problem solving. This course will provide a three-fold approach to lithic analysis: 1) study of archaeological sites and behavioral change through time relative to lithic technological changes, 2) insight into the art of laboratory lithic analysis and methods employed to attain concrete, quantitative behavioral conclusions, and 3) extensive training in stone tool replication. Such training will provide students with both an appreciation for the skills of our ancestors and with personal skills that will allow for further research into replication and human behavior.
    [Show full text]
  • FEBRUARY 2019 Co-Editors Linda Alderman ([email protected]) & Janice Freeman ([email protected])
    Herbs Make Scents THE HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA SOUTH TEXAS UNIT VOLUME XLII, NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2019 Co-Editors Linda Alderman ([email protected]) & Janice Freeman ([email protected]) February 2019 Calendar Feb 12, Tues. at 10 a.m. Day Meeting is at the home of Tamara Gruber. The program, “Salvia greggii – Hot Lips,” is presented by Cathy Livingston. Members should bring a dish to share. Guests should RSVP to Tamara at 713-665-0675 Feb 20, Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Evening Meeting is at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion in Hermann Park (1500 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004). Hosts are Jenna Wallace, Mike Jensvold, and Virginia Camerlo. The program, “Molcajetes and Metates,” is presented by Jesus Medel, M.Ed., founder of Museo Guadalupe Aztlan. Bring your plate and napkin and a dish to share. March 2019 Calendar Mar 12, Tues. at 10 a.m. Day Meeting is at the home of Janice Stuff. The program, “Blue Blooming Salvias,” is presented by Janice Dana. Members should bring a dish to share. Guests should RSVP to Janice Stuff at [email protected] Mar 19, Tues. at 7 p.m. Board Meeting is at the home of Donna Yanowski Mar 20, Wed. at 6:30 p.m. Evening Meeting is at the Clubhouse in Hermann Park (6201 Hermann Park (Note: Change of Location) Drive, Houston, TX 77030). Parking Lot H. Hosts are Mary Sacilowski, Palma Sales. The program, “Healing Teas from the Wild Side,” is presented by Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, PhD, author of Foraging and creator of “Foraging Texas”. Bring your plate and napkin and a dish to share.
    [Show full text]
  • Dress and Cultural Difference in Early Modern Europe European History Yearbook Jahrbuch Für Europäische Geschichte
    Dress and Cultural Difference in Early Modern Europe European History Yearbook Jahrbuch für Europäische Geschichte Edited by Johannes Paulmann in cooperation with Markus Friedrich and Nick Stargardt Volume 20 Dress and Cultural Difference in Early Modern Europe Edited by Cornelia Aust, Denise Klein, and Thomas Weller Edited at Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte by Johannes Paulmann in cooperation with Markus Friedrich and Nick Stargardt Founding Editor: Heinz Duchhardt ISBN 978-3-11-063204-0 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-063594-2 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-063238-5 ISSN 1616-6485 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 04. International License. For details go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Library of Congress Control Number:2019944682 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. © 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston The book is published in open access at www.degruyter.com. Typesetting: Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd. Printing and Binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck Cover image: Eustaţie Altini: Portrait of a woman, 1813–1815 © National Museum of Art, Bucharest www.degruyter.com Contents Cornelia Aust, Denise Klein, and Thomas Weller Introduction 1 Gabriel Guarino “The Antipathy between French and Spaniards”: Dress, Gender, and Identity in the Court Society of Early Modern
    [Show full text]
  • FEATURE TYPES Revised 2/2001 Alcove
    THE CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER FEATURE TYPES Revised 2/2001 alcove. A small auxiliary chamber in a wall, usually found in pit structures; they often adjoin the east wall of the main chamber and are substantially larger than apertures and niches. aperture. A generic term for a wall opening that cannot be defined more specifically. architectural petroglyph (not on bedrock). A petroglyph in a standing masonry wall.A piece of wall fall with a petroglyph on it should be sent in as an artifact if size permits. ashpit. A pit used primarily as a receptacle for ash removed from a hearth or firepit. In a pit structure, the ash pit is commonly oval or rectangular and is located south of the hearth or firepit. bedrock feature. A feature constructed into bedrock that does not fit any of the other feature types listed here. bell-shaped cist. A large pit whose greatest diameter is substantially larger than the diameter of its opening.A storage function is implied, but the feature may not contain any stored materials, in which case the shape of the pit is sufficient for assigning this feature type. bench surface. The surface of a wide ledge in a pit structure or kiva that usually extends around at least three-fourths of the circumference of the structure and is often divided by pilasters.The southern recess surface is also considered a bench surface segment; each bench surface segment must be recorded as a separate feature. bin: not further specified. An above-ground compartment formed by walling off a portion of a structure or courtyard other than a corner.
    [Show full text]
  • The Texas Archaic: a Symposium
    Volume 1976 Article 11 1976 The Texas Archaic: A Symposium Thomas R. Hester Center for Archaeological Research, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ita Part of the American Material Culture Commons, Archaeological Anthropology Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Other American Studies Commons, Other Arts and Humanities Commons, Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons, and the United States History Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Cite this Record Hester, Thomas R. (1976) "The Texas Archaic: A Symposium," Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State: Vol. 1976, Article 11. https://doi.org/10.21112/ita.1976.1.11 ISSN: 2475-9333 Available at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ita/vol1976/iss1/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Regional Heritage Research at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State by an authorized editor of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Texas Archaic: A Symposium Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License This article is available in Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ita/vol1976/iss1/11 Center for Archaeological Research The University of Texas at San Antonio 78285 Thomas R. Hester, Director Spe.uat Re.pom Publications dealing with the archaeology of Texas and Mesoamerica. No. 1 (1975) 11 Some Aspects of Late Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology in Southern Texas 11 (By Thomas R.
    [Show full text]
  • Ch. 4. NEOLITHIC PERIOD in JORDAN 25 4.1
    Borsa di studio finanziata da: Ministero degli Affari Esteri di Italia Thanks all …………. I will be glad to give my theses with all my love to my father and mother, all my brothers for their helps since I came to Italy until I got this degree. I am glad because I am one of Dr. Ursula Thun Hohenstein students. I would like to thanks her to her help and support during my research. I would like to thanks Dr.. Maysoon AlNahar and the Museum of the University of Jordan stuff for their help during my work in Jordan. I would like to thank all of Prof. Perreto Carlo and Prof. Benedetto Sala, Dr. Arzarello Marta and all my professors in the University of Ferrara for their support and help during my Phd Research. During my study in Italy I met a lot of friends and specially my colleges in the University of Ferrara. I would like to thanks all for their help and support during these years. Finally I would like to thanks the Minister of Fournier of Italy, Embassy of Italy in Jordan and the University of Ferrara institute for higher studies (IUSS) to fund my PhD research. CONTENTS Ch. 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Ch. 2. AIMS OF THE RESEARCH 3 Ch. 3. NEOLITHIC PERIOD IN NEAR EAST 5 3.1. Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) in Near east 5 3.2. Pre-pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) in Near east 10 3.2.A. Early PPNB 10 3.2.B. Middle PPNB 13 3.2.C. Late PPNB 15 3.3.
    [Show full text]
  • Grinding Stone Reuse 1983
    The Effects of Grinding Stone Reuse on the Archaeological Record in the Eastern Great Basin Author(s): STEVEN R. SIMMS Source: Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 1/2 (Summer and Winter 1983), pp. 98-102 Published by: Malki Museum, Inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27825137 Accessed: 30-11-2015 18:41 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Malki Museum, Inc. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 129.123.24.42 on Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:41:26 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 5, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 98-102 (1983). The Effects of Grinding Stone on Reuse the Archaeological Record in the Eastern Great Basin STEVEN R. SIMMS are aware thatmany hunter-gatherer societies where the transpor ARCHAEOLOGISTSfactors change archaeological sites after tation of material culture is a limiting factor. they have been initially deposited. One kind Reuse can include the use of grinding stones of post-depositional phenomena that could from nearby, older sites or the caching of change the material record is the scavenging previously used grinding stones.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf
    OCS Study BOEM 2012-008 Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS Study BOEM 2012-008 Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Author TRC Environmental Corporation Prepared under BOEM Contract M08PD00024 by TRC Environmental Corporation 4155 Shackleford Road Suite 225 Norcross, Georgia 30093 Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management New Orleans Gulf of Mexico OCS Region May 2012 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared under contract between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and TRC Environmental Corporation. This report has been technically reviewed by BOEM, and it has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of BOEM, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endoresements or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with BOEM editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY This report is available only in compact disc format from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $15.00, by referencing OCS Study BOEM 2012-008. The report may be downloaded from the BOEM website through the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS). You will be able to obtain this report also from the National Technical Information Service in the near future. Here are the addresses. You may also inspect copies at selected Federal Depository Libraries. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Standard for Pottery Analysis in Archaeology
    A Standard for Pottery Analysis in Archaeology Medieval Pottery Research Group Prehistoric Ceramics Research Group Study Group for Roman Pottery Draft 4 October 2015 CONTENTS Section 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Aims 1 1.2 Scope 1 1.3 Structure 2 1.4 Project Tasks 2 1.5 Using the Standard 5 Section 2 The Standard 6 2.1 Project Planning 6 2.2 Collection and Processing 8 2.3 Assessment 11 2.4 Analysis 13 2.5 Reporting 17 2.6 Archive Creation, Compilation and Transfer 20 Section 3 Glossary of Terms 23 Section 4 References 25 Section 5 Acknowledgements 27 Appendix 1 Scientific Analytical Techniques 28 Appendix 2 Approaches to Assessment 29 Appendix 3 Approaches to Analysis 33 Appendix 4 Approaches to Reporting 39 1. INTRODUCTION Pottery has two attributes that lend it great potential to inform the study of human activity in the past. The material a pot is made from, known to specialists as the fabric, consists of clay and inclusions that can be identified to locate the site at which a pot was made, as well as indicate methods of manufacture and date. The overall shape of a pot, together with the character of component parts such as rims and handles, and also the technique and style of decoration, can all be studied as the form. This can indicate when and how a pot was made and used, as well as serving to define cultural affinities. The interpretation of pottery is based on a detailed characterisation of the types present in any group, supported by sound quantification and consistent approaches to analysis that facilitate comparison between assemblages.
    [Show full text]
  • Maize and Stone a Functional Analysis of the Manos and Metates of Santa Rita Corozal, Belize
    University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2011 Maize And Stone A Functional Analysis Of The Manos And Metates Of Santa Rita Corozal, Belize Lisa Glynns Duffy University of Central Florida Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Duffy, Lisa Glynns, "Maize And Stone A Functional Analysis Of The Manos And Metates Of Santa Rita Corozal, Belize" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 1920. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/1920 MAIZE AND STONE: A FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MANOS AND METATES OF SANTA RITA COROZAL, BELIZE by LISA GLYNNS DUFFY B.A. University of South Florida, 1988 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2011 ABSTRACT The manos and metates of Santa Rita Corozal, Belize are analyzed to compare traditional maize-grinding types to the overall assemblage. A reciprocal, back-and-forth grinding motion is the most efficient way to process large amounts of maize. However, rotary movements are also associated with some ground stone implements. The number of flat and trough metates and two handed manos are compared to the rotary-motion basin and concave type metates and one-handed manos to determine predominance and distribution.
    [Show full text]
  • Visualization and Collaborative Practice in Paleoethnobotany
    ARTICLE VISUALIZATION AND COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE IN PALEOETHNOBOTANY Jessica M. Herlich and Shanti Morell-Hart Jessica M. Herlich is a Ph.D. candidate at the College of William and Mary and Shanti Morell-Hart is Assistant Professor at McMaster University. aleoethnobotany lends unique insight into past lived Methodologies, Practices, and Multi-Proxy Understandings experiences, landscape reconstruction, and ethnoecolog- There are many methodologies within paleoethnobotany that ical connections. A wide array of paleoethnobotanical P lead to distinct yet complementary pieces of information, methodologies equips us to negotiate complementary under- whether due to scale of residue (chemical to architectural) or the standings of the human past. From entire wood sea vessels to technology available (hand loupes to full laboratory facilities). individual plant cells, all sizes of botanical remains can be The limits of archaeobotanical analysis are constantly expand- addressed through the tools available to an archaeobotanist. As ing as the accessibility and capabilities of technology improve. paleoethnobotanical interpretation is interwoven with other This is true for microscopes and software, which make it possi- threads of information, an enriched vision of the relationships ble for a paleoethnobotanist to capture and enhance the small- between landscape and people develops. est of cellular structures, and for telecommunications and digi- tal records, which are expanding the possibilities for decipher- Collaboration is a necessary component for archaeobotanical ing archaeobotanical material and for collaborating with distant analysis and interpretation. Through collaboration we make stakeholders. Improvements in technology are an integral part the invisible visible, the unintelligible intelligible, the unknow- of the exciting future of paleoethnobotany, which includes col- able knowable.
    [Show full text]