Archaeology and Prehistoric Cultures

Front

archaeologist

Back

scientist who learns about earlier societies by discovering and studying physical evidence of their lifestyles

Front

artifact

Back

object made or shaped by humans, such as projectile points, tools, pottery, and jewelry

Front

carbon-14 dating

Back

technique used to find the age of plant or animal matter by determining the amount of carbon 14 still in its remains

Front

context

Back

how something relates to its surroundings

Front

culture

Back

way of life of a particular group of people at a particular time

Front

ecofacts

Back

natural objects, such as bones, teeth, and shells, that have survived from earlier cultures

Front

excavating

Back

physically exposing a site and uncovering archaeological evidence

Front

feature

Back

archaeological term for a specific area of human activity visible in the ground

Front

organic

Back

plant or animal matter

Front

post molds

Back

stains in the soil left from wooden posts