13022018

Question 1

Attribute analysis

Answer 1

• Objectively measuring and characterizing
  An artifact’s physical characteristics
  With the goal of learning abt the process of
  The production, distribution and consumption of material culture
• e.g. with stone tools
  > Can reveal wt stage of production an artifact represent
• Process: (see notes)
  1) Collect projectile points of sample from a site
  2)
  3) Create index

Question 2

@Count of index

> 2 bell-shaped on size

Answer 2

Possible factors:

1) Functional difference
2) Time difference
3) Different manufactures

Question 3

Analysis of decoration and vessel shape

Answer 3

• Enable linkage to “style” and “form”

Question 4

Raw material sourcing can be done

Answer 4

1) Macroscopically:
- Based on color, inclusions, luster and other attributes that can be seen with the naked eye, and compared to source materials
OR
2) Finer-grained techniques:
- With finger-grained techniques that analyze chemical composition such as, for example: XRF / X-Ray Fluorescence
> Non-destructive; characterizes materials by their elemental composition

Question 5

2 general types of dating techniques

Answer 5

1) Absolute
2) Relative
> Stratigraphy: Law of superposition
> If you have date for B and date for D, can date “relative” date for C

Question 6

Dendrochronology

Answer 6

• Examine the tree cross section
• Thinner annual rings: lower precipitation
• Build tree-ring chronologies by starting with living trees and then finding progressively older specimen
  > Living tree > dead tree > old log cabin > prehistoric ruin > long-living tree

Question 7

Radiocarbon (14C) dating

Answer 7

1) Based on the unstable, radioactive 14C isotope and its predictable presence in the atmosphere, equal to less than 1%, compared to 12C which is about 99% of carbon in atmosphere
2) Half-life cycle: 14C decays at a predictable rate at 5568 years
3) Limitation: Cannot date far too early sample
4) Can date “formerly living organic material” by counting amount of 14C in sample to figure out when formerly living organism died
5) Dates come with error ranges because dating process is based on statistical sampling of 14C (at ~+/- years)
* 6) Need multiple samples to properly date a site (more sample, better estimation)