Absolute Dating: A dating process that results in a date in an absolute number such as days, months or years. Radiocarbon dating is an example of this.

Adze: A metal tool used to work wood consisting of a blade, sharpened on one end and fixed (hafted) horizontally on a handle.

Archaeobotany: The study of plant remains from an archaeological site. These remains usually take the form of seeds but may also be charred stalks or leaves.

Archaeology: The study of the past using the material remains left behind by people.

Arrowhead: A general term used to denote a stone, bone, shell or metal tip afixed to the end of an arrow. Archaeologists use the more general term projectile point as opposed to arrowhead.

Artifact: Any object manufactured by people.

Assemblage: A group of artifacts found within one stratum or deposit in an archaeological site.

Atlatl: The Aztec term for a spear thrower. This hunting and fighting too predates the bow and arrow. It consists of a wooden, bone or antler shaft to which a spear is attached. It functions as an extension of the arm and increases velocity, distance and accuracy when throwing a spear.

Awl: A metal, bone or stone tool tapered at one end used to make holes.

Biface: A stone tool flaked on both sides (front and rear).

Core: A piece of stone off of which other pieces are flaked to make stone tools.

Cortex: The weathering present on the exterior of a stone.

Cultural Resource Management (CRM): A type of archaeology that focuses on the identification and excavation of archaeological sites that may be impacted during the construction projects. Often times the findings of such surveys remain in the "gray literature" of CRM reports and is rarely made public.

Culture: The nonbiological means of human adaptation.

Data: Information and observations made on objects and events that are then used to analyze a site, problem or culture.

Data Recovery: An archaeological excavation of a site done during the course of CRM work where a certain percentage of the site, usually 15% or less, is excavated before the site is destroyed. Data recoveries mitigate or clear the project area for development.

Datum: A fixed reference point used by archaeologists for all measurements at a site. Ideally this should be a point that will not be moved. The grid used to test and excavate a site is tied into this point.

Ethnoarchaeology: The study of contemporary people in an attempt to understand the past.

Excavation Unit: The square used during the course of archaeological work for the recovery of cultural materials and study of the stratigraphic soil profiles of a site. Excavation units vary in size depending on the needs of the project.

Experimental Archaeology: A means of studying archaeological processes and recovred material through the use of the do-it-yourself approach.

Faunal: Shell or bone remains recovered from an archaeological excavation.

Feature: A non-portable component of an archaeological site such as a hearth or post hole.

Flake: A lithic fragment struck from a larger piece during the course of the production of a stone tool.

Flintknapping: The process of reducing unmodified stone into a finished tool.

Grid: A two-dimensional intersecting network defining squares (excavation units) in which archaeologists dig.

Hammerstone: An unmodified cobble used in flintknapping for reducing a cobble.

Historical Archaeology: The study of the past through the material that is left behind which focuses on the period of time when written records exist.

Hypothesis: A statement developed in the course of archaeological work which must be tested on independent evidence.

In Situ: The position in which an artifact was found during the course of archaeological investigation.

Intensive Survey: An archaeological survey conducted during the course of CRM work designed to locate any archaeological remains with a project area.

Locus: An archaeological site location.

Material Culture: The artifacts used by a group of people to cope with their physical and social environment.

Midden: A refuse deposit that has resulted from human activity often consisting of shell, bone and discarded broken artifacts.

Plan: A drawing made of an archaeological site or deposit from an overhead perspective.

Post Hole: The hole initially dug in which to seat a post. This hole is usually larger than the post itself.

Post Mold: The decomposed remains of the post. Post molds may occurred alone if the post was hammered into the ground, or may be located within a post hole.

Pothunting: The illegal and unethical disturbing of an archaeological site using no valid recovery strategy or techniques. Also known as idiot archaeology.

Primary Refuse: Archaeological material in the area where it was used and discarded.

Profile: A drawing or photograph showing the depositional strata within and archaeological site.

Provenience: The exact location where an artifact was recovered from in relation to an archaeological dig. Without provenience artifacts loose much of their informational value.

Radiocarbon Dating: A absolute dating technique which relies on the decomposition of carbon isotopes in organic matter.

Reconnaissance Survey: An archaeological literature survey which does not normally involve excavation. Reconnaissance surveys are often done survey the known archaeological resources and to identify areas of sensitivity within an area to be developed or a town.

Relative Dating: Dates expressed through relative terms such as earlier and later.

Sample: Any subset of a larger group.

Scientific Method: A series of steps used by archaeologists and scientists alike where phenomena are examined and reasoned conclusions are reached.

Shatter: Pieces of randomly shaped stone debris that result from the hitting of a larger stone during the process of flintknapping.

Site Examination: An archaeological survey conducted during the course of CRM work designed to identify the extent, age and internal complexity of a site usually identified during an intensive survey.

Stratigraphy: The layers of soil encountered archaeologically.

Superposition: The notion that artifacts which occur higher in the stratigraphic profile were deposited after artifacts recovered from deeper layers. Basically, the stuff on top is not as old as the stuff below.

Temper: Foreign material mixed with clay to keep pottery from cracking when fired. In New England Native pottery, shell, gravel and crushed rock was often used.

Terminus ante quem: The date before which an archaeological deposit was formed.

Terminus post quem: The date after which an archaeological deposit was formed. This is determined by the latest dating artifact recovered.

Test Pit: A small square excavated in the course of archaeological testing to determine if archaeological materials are present in a specific area. Test pits are often expanded into excavation units.

Tool Kit: A spatially and functionally patterned group of artifacts such as a sewing kit or flintknapping kit.

Uniface: A stone tool that has been flaked only on one side.

Utilized Flake: A stone flake used for cutting or slicing whose edge has been damaged through use and not deliberate flaking.

Zooarchaeology: The study of animal bones from archaeological sites.