Formation Processes of the Archaeological Record

934 Pages·2002·5.42 MB·English

by  Michael Brian Schiffer

Formation Processes of the Archaeological
title:
Record
author: Schiffer, Michael B.
publisher: University of Utah Press
isbn10 | asin:
print isbn13: 9780874805130
ebook isbn13: 9780585133980
language: English
Archaeology--Methodology, Archaeology--
subject
Philosophy.
publication date: 1996
lcc: CC80.S335 1996eb
ddc: 930.1/028
Archaeology--Methodology, Archaeology--
subject:
Philosophy.
Page iii
Formation Processes of the Archaeological
Record
Michael B. Schiffer
University of Utah Press
Salt Lake City
Page iv
©1987 by Michael B. Schiffer
All rights reserved
University of Utah Press edition 1996
Printed on acid-free paper
Library Of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data
Schiffer, Michael B.
Formation processes of the archaeological record /
Michael B. Schiffer.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Originally published: Albuquerque, NM : University
of New Mexico Press, c 1987.
ISBN 0-87480-513-9 (alk. paper)
1. ArchaeologyMethodology. 2. Archaeology
Philosophy. I. Title.
[CC80.S335 1996]
930.1'028-dc20 96-11651
Page v
CONTENTS
Preface xix
Part I. An Introduction To Formation Processes 1
Chapter 1: The Nature of Archaeological Evidence 3
Introduction 3
General Conceptions of Formation Processes 8
Chapter 2: The Dimensions of Artifact Variability 13
Traces and the Life History of Artifacts 13
Formal Dimension 15
Spatial Dimension 17
Frequency Dimension 18
Relational Dimension 19
Principles of Formation Processes 21
Conclusion 23
Part II. Cultural Formation Processes 25
Chapter 3: Reuse Processes 27
Varieties of Reuse 28
Lateral Cycling 29
Recycling 29
Secondary Use 30
Conservatory Processes 32
Reuse Mechanisms and Large-Scale Processes 36
Reuse: The Individual and Household Perspectives 40
Effects of Settlement Longevity 44
Conclusion 46

Page vi
Chapter 4: Cultural Deposition 47
Introduction 47
Discard Processes 47
What is Discarded 47
The Pathway Model 50
The Basic Discard Equation 53
Variations on the Basic Discard Equation 55
Primary and Secondary Refuse 58
Maintenance Processes and Waste Streams 64
Influence of Social Stratification, Ethnicity, and
Symbolic
Factors on Discard Processes 72
Child's Play Refuse 75
Loss Processes 76
Ritual Caches 79
Treatment of the Dead 80
Death Rates, Life Tables, and Burial Populations 81
Variability in Treatment of the Dead 83
Social Determinants of Variability in Mortuary 85
Treatment
Abandonment Processes 89
De Facto Refuse and Curate Behavior 89
Determinants of De Facto Refuse 90
Other Factors Affecting the Composition of De 96
Facto Refuse
Effect of Abandonment on Maintenance and Discard 97
Processes
Conclusion 98
Chapter 5: Reclamation Processes 99
Introduction 99
Occupational Variability and Reoccupation 100
Reincorporation and Salvage 103
Scavenging 106
Scavenging and Displaced Refuse 111
Collecting and Pothunting 114
Other Processes 120
Conclusion 120
Chapter 6: Disturbance Processes 121
Introduction 121
Earth-Moving Processes 122
Surficial Disturbances 126
Trampling 126
Plowing 129
The Consideration of Impacts 132
Planning Stage Impacts 133
Page vii
Construction Stage Impacts 133
Operating Stage Impacts 134
Inferring Impacts at Sites 136
Conclusion 140
Part III. Environmental Formation Processes 141
Chapter 7: Environmental Formation Processes: The 143
Artifact
Introduction 143
Nature of the Environment 144
Environment versus Artifact Perspectives 146
Agents of Deterioration 147
Chemical Agents 148
Physical Agents 148
Biological Agents 149
Rates and Cycles of Deterioration 150
Stone 151
Ceramic Artifacts 158
Glass 162
Organic Materials 163
Wood 165
Bacterial Decay 168
Fungal Decay 169
Insect Decay 173
Other Animal Agents 177
Decay Prevention 177
Weathering 179
Grains and other Plant Products 180
Textiles 181
Bone 182
Metals 189
General Principles 189
Gold 193
Silver 193
Copper 194
Tin 195
Lead 195
Zinc 195
Iron 196
Discussion 197
Chapter 8: Environmental Formation Processes: The Site 199
Introduction 199
Primary and Secondary Deposition 199
Page viii
Soils and Sediments 200
Pedoturbation 206
Faunalturbation 207
Floralturbation 210
Cryoturbation 213
Frost Heave and Thrust 213
Involutions 214
Patterned Ground 214
Graviturbation 216
Argilliturbation 216
Aeroturbation 217
Other Processes 217
Transformations of Pits and Structures 217
Pits 218
Structures 220
Effects of Regional-Scale Processes 231
Earthquakes 231
Storms 233
Concluding Remarks 234
Chapter 9: Environmental Formation Processes: The 235
Region
Volcanism 236
Eolian Processes 238
Hydrological Processes 243
Ground Water 245
Lakes 247
Glaciation 248
Colluvial and Alluvial Processes 249
Erosion 251
Coastal Processes 255