Megalithic Yard

Horncore

The hard, bony inner portion of animal horn; the bony projections from the skull which support horns. The horn itself forms a tight sheath around the core, which is removed for horn working. Some archaeological sites have large accumulations of horn cores related to a horn-working industry.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Horncore

Stable Isotope Analysis

A technique for reconstructing past diets (plant foods) by analyzing the isotopic ratios, particularly carbon and nitrogen, contained in human bone. Human remains are analyzed for a measurement of the ratio between 13C and 12C isotopes in ancient human bone collagen.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Stable Isotope Analysis

Analogy

An anthropological practice using reasoning based on the assumption that if two things are similar in some respects, then they must be similar in other respects. Ethnographic information from recent cultures is then used to make informed hypotheses about archaeological cultures and to compare soc...

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Analogy

Reworking

Flaking applied to a broken or dulled tool so as to reclaim it for additional use. Sometimes called Lateral Rejuvenation, reworking was the characteristic means by which an implement was resharpened. Alternate and bifacial beveling, serration, and other diagnostic features of blade renewal are ve...

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Reworking

Cass Ny Hawin

A Mesolithic settlement site on the Isle of Man with a stone tools, including microliths.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Cass Ny Hawin

Cultural Adaptation

The whole of the adjustments of a human society to its environment. It is the process of change undergone by a community to better conform with environmental conditions or other external stimuli.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Cultural Adaptation

First Intermediate Period

Chronological phase, c 2130-1938 BC) between the Old Kingdom (2575-2130 BC) and the Middle Kingdom (1938-1600 BC), which appears to have been a time of relative political disunity and instability. The period includes the 9th dynasty (c 2130-2080 BC), 10th dynasty (c 2080-1970 BC), and the 11th dy...

archaeologsEnglishOthers

First Intermediate Period

Cayönü Tepesi

A site on a tributary of the Tigris River in eastern Turkey with occupation dating from c 7500-6500 BC. There are impressive architectural remains with stone foundations and evidence of a farming and hunting community. The latest phase included domesticated sheep and goats. Einkorn wheat was cult...

archaeologsEnglishPlace Names

Cayönü Tepesi

Archaeological Unit

An arbitrary classification unit set up by an archaeologist to separate one grouping of artifacts from another in space and time.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Archaeological Unit

Kalhu

The site of the Black Obelisk, Assyrian monument of King Shalmaneser III (reigned 859-824 BC). It is the most complete Assyrian obelisk yet discovered, decorated with cuneiform inscriptions and reliefs recording military campaigns and other triumphs, including payment of tribute by King Jehu of I...

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Kalhu

Loss Rate

The pattern of loss for a cultural object; large objects are less subject to loss than small ones, and valuable items are more likely to be searched for than items considered to have little value.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Loss Rate

Baselard

A type of dagger, usually used by civilians in the medieval period, with a H shaped hilt.

archaeologsEnglishOthers

Baselard