User:Skw29/Artifact (archaeology)

ARTIFACT/ECOFACT/FEATURE

Artifacts exist as a result of behavioral and transformational processes. A behavioral process involves acquiring raw materials, manufacturing these for a specific purpose and then discarding after use. Transformational processes begin at the end of behavioral processes; this is when the artifact is changed by nature and/or humans after is has been deposited. Both of these processes are significant factors in evaluating the context of an artifact.

The context of an artifact can be broken into two categories: primary context and secondary context. Before defining these categories, it must be noted that a matrix is a physical setting that an artifact exists in, and a provenience refers to a specific location within a matrix. When an artifact is found in the realm of primary context, the matrix and provenience have not been changed by transformational processes. However, the matrix and provenience are changed by transformational processes when referring to secondary context. Artifacts exist in both contexts, and this is taken into account during the analysis of them.

Artifacts are distinguished from stratigraphic features and ecofacts. Stratigraphic features are non-portable remains of human activity that include hearths, roads, deposits, trenches and similar remains. Ecofacts, also referred to as biofacts, are objects of archaeological interest made by other organisms, such as seeds or animal bone.

Artifacts, features and ecofacts can all be located together at sites. Sites may include different arrangements of the three; some might include all of them while others might only include one or two. Sights can have clear boundaries in the form of walls and moats, but this is not always the case. Sites can be distinguished through categories, such as location and past functions. How artifacts exist at these sites can provide archaeological insight. An example of this would be utilizing the position and depth of buried artifacts to determine a chronological timeframe for past occurrences at the site.

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LITHIC/CERAMIC/FAUNAL ANALYSES

Lithic analysis refers to analyzing artifacts that are created with stones and are often in the form of tools. Stone artifacts occur often throughout prehistoric times and are, therefore, a crucial aspect in answering archaeological questions about the past. On the surface, lithic artifacts can help archaeologists how technology has developed over time by showing a variety of tools and manufacturing techniques from different periods of time. However, even deeper questions can be answered through this type of analysis; these questions can revolve around topics that include how societies were organized and structured in terms of socialization and the distribution of goods. The following lab techniques all contribute to the process of lithic analysis: petrographic analysis, neutron activation, x-ray fluorescence, particle-induced x-ray emission, individual flake analysis and mass analysis.

SOURCE: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=N3kiBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=lithic+analysis&ots=K79FnnoV3s&sig=Cx8pnqI4C6wY5CSoM2xsPtCDFcE#v=onepage&q=lithic%20analysis&f=false

Another type of artifact analysis is ceramic analysis, which is based around the archaeological study of pottery. Different types of analyses can help archaeologists gain information on the raw materials that were used and how they were utilized in the creation of pottery. Laboratory techniques that allow for this are mainly based around spectroscopy. The different types of spectroscopy used include atomic absorption, electrothermal atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission and x-ray fluorescence. Ceramic analysis does more than just provide information on raw materials and pottery production; it helps provide insight to past societies in terms of their technology, economy and social structure.

SOURCE: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0584854702002537?token=EAE908E137B8F0C06D2027ABB6A003CE17AC4F658FF3F96456252D81057502C27B99AE89ED066E5D00C93BA42C65A034

SOURCE: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-9274-4_1

Additionally, faunal analysis exists to study artifacts in the form of animal remains. Just as with lithic artifacts, faunal remains are extremely common within the field of archaeology. Faunal analysis provides insight to trade due to animals being exchanged in different markets over time and being traded over long distances. Faunal remains can also provide information on social status, ethnic distinctions and dieting from previous complex societies.

SOURCE: https://www-jstor-org.pitt.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdf/20170207.pdf

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