Archaeological research : a brief introduction

203 Pages·2022·14.804 MB·English

by  Peter Neal Peregrine

Archaeological Research
The third edition of Archaeological Research introduces the basic methods of archaeologi-
cal research, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as considering
the state of the field today.
With new sections on curating archaeological collections and public archaeology, the
third edition also adds a new chapter on the analysis of metals and glass. This popular,
concise textbook examines approaches to the archaeological record, sampling and re-
search design, survey and excavation methods and strategies, recordkeeping, dating and
analysis of archaeological materials, and the professional practice of archaeology.
Archaeological Research continues to be an excellent text for undergraduate students in
basic archaeology courses, field methods courses, and field schools.
Peter N. Peregrine is Professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies at Lawrence
University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He serves as research associate for the Human Re-
lations Area Files at Yale University and is a Fellow of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science.

Archaeological Research
A Brief Introduction
Third Edition
Peter N. Peregrine
Cover image: © Shutterstock
Third Edition published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Peter N. Peregrine
The right of Peter N. Peregrine to be identified as authors of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
First published by Pearson Education 2001
Second edition published by Routledge 2017
Library of Congress C ataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Peregrine, Peter N. (Peter Neal), 1963– author.
Title: Archaeological research: a brief introduction / Peter N. Peregrine.
Description: [Third edition]. | Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021035666 (print) | LCCN 2021035667 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367652951 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367640682 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003128793 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Archaeology—Methodology.
Classification: LCC CC75 .P375 2022 (print) | LCC CC75 (ebook) |
DDC 930.1072—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021035666
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021035667
ISBN: 9 78-0 -3 67- 65295- 1 (h bk)
ISBN: 9 78-0 -3 67- 64068- 2 ( pbk)
ISBN: 9 78-1 -0 03- 12879- 3 ( ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/ 9781003128793
Typeset in Times New Roman
by codeMantra
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders. Please advise the
publisher of any errors or omissions, and these will be corrected in subsequent
editions.

Contents
About the Author xi
List of Figures xii
List of Tables xviii
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxv
1 The Archaeological Research Process 1
1.1 Phase I: Asking Questions 1
1.2 Phase II: Building Models 4
1.3 Phase III: Collecting Data 6
1.4 Phase IV: Analyzing Data 9
1.5 Phase V: Evaluating Results 11
1.6 Summary 12
2 The Archaeological Record 14
2.1 What Do Archaeologists Find? 15
2.2 What Is Context? 15
2.3 What Theories Do Archaeologists Use to Interpret the Archaeological
Record? 17
2.4 Summary 21
3 Measurement and Sampling 23
3.1 How Do Archaeologists Make Measurements through the
Archaeological Record? 23
3.1.1 Types of Data 24
3.1.2 Validity and Reliability 25
3.1.3 Units of Analysis 26
3.2 How Do Archaeologists Sample from the Archaeological Record? 26
3.2.1 Random Sampling 26
3.2.2 Stratified Sampling 27
3.2.3 Cluster Sampling 27
3.2.4 Nonrandom Sampling 28
3.3 Summary 28
viii Contents
4 Survey Methods and Strategies 30
4.1 How Do Archaeologists Find Sites? 30
4.1.1 Literature Search 31
4.1.2 Landowner and Collector Interviews 33
4.2 What Is Archaeological Survey? 34
4.2.1 Pedestrian Survey 34
4.2.2 Probing and Testing 35
4.2.3 Remote Sensing 36
4.2.4 Aerial Photography and Imagery 39
4.3 How Do Archaeologists Conduct Surveys? 40
4.3.1 “T op-D own” Surveys 40
4.3.2 “ Bottom- Up” Surveys 40
4.3.3 “ Shotgun” and Predictive Surveys 41
4.4 Summary 42
5 Excavation Methods and Strategies 44
5.1 What Techniques Do Archaeologists Use to Excavate Sites? 45
5.1.1 Horizontal Controls 45
5.1.2 Vertical Controls 47
5.2 What Strategies Do Archaeologists Use to Excavate Sites? 48
5.2.1 Standard Excavation Strategies 49
5.2.2 S pecial-C ase Excavation Strategies 53
5.3 What about the Digging Itself? 55
5.4 Summary 57
6 Recordkeeping 59
6.1 How Do Archaeologists Record Context? 59
6.2 What Types of Records Do Archaeologists Keep? 61
6.2.1 Excavation Records 62
6.2.2 Accession Records 65
6.2.3 An Example of Archaeological Recordkeeping 65
6.3 How Do Archaeologists Store Records? 67
6.4 Summary 69
7 Dating Archaeological Materials 71
7.1 Relative Dating 71
7.1.1 Association 72
7.1.2 Seriation 73
7.2 Absolute Dating 75
7.2.1 Radiocarbon 75
7.2.2 Thermoremnant Magnetism 77
7.2.3 Thermoluminescence 77
7.2.4 Dendrochronology 78
7.2.5 Other Absolute Dating Techniques 79
7.3 Summary 79
Contents ix
8 Lithic Analysis 81
8.1 What Are Lithics Made From? 81
8.2 How Are Chipped Stone Tools Made? 82
8.3 What Types of Chipped Stone Tools Are There? 84
8.4 What Types of Ground Stone Tools Are There? 85
8.5 How Do Archaeologists Analyze Lithics? 86
8.6 What Can Archaeologists Learn from Lithic Analyses? 91
8.7 Summary 93
9 Ceramic Analysis 95
9.1 What Are Ceramics Made From? 95
9.2 How Are Ceramics Made? 97
9.3 How Do Archaeologists Analyze Ceramics? 101
9.4 What Can Archaeologists Learn from Ceramic Analysis? 104
9.5 Summary 111
10 Analysis of Metals and Glass 113
10.1 How Are Metal Objects Made? 113
10.2 What Kinds of Metal Objects Are There? 117
10.3 How Are Glass Objects Made? 117
10.4 What Kind of Glass Objects Are There? 119
10.5 How Do Archaeologists Analyze Metal and Glass Objects? 119
10.6 What Can Archaeologists Learn from the Analysis of
Metal and Glass? 122
10.7 Summary 124
11 Floral and Faunal Analysis 126
11.1 How Do Archaeologists Find Remains of Ancient Plants
and Animals? 127
11.2 What Kinds of Plant Remains Are Found in the
Archaeological Record? 128
11.2.1 Microbotanical Remains 128
11.2.2 Macrobotanical Remains 129
11.3 What Kinds of Animal Remains Are Found in
the Archaeological Record? 132
11.3.1 Microfaunal Remains 132
11.3.2 Macrofaunal Remains 132
11.4 What Information Do Archaeologists Obtain from
Plant and Animal Remains? 134
11.5 What about Human Remains? 136
11.6 Summary 138
12 Presenting Results and Curating Collections 140
12.1 Why Publish? 140
12.2 What Types of Publication Are There? 142