Glossary: O Terms
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Olorgesailie
Olorgesailie is the name of a geological formation in southern Kenya, East Africa where a group of lower paleolithic archaeological sites have been discovered.
Olorgesailie is the name of a geological formation in southern Kenya, East Africa where a group of lower paleolithic archaeological sites have been discovered.
Ohalo II (Israel)
Ohalo II is the name of a submerged late Upper Paleolithic (Kebaran) site located on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Ohalo II is the name of a submerged late Upper Paleolithic (Kebaran) site located on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Oroncota (Bolivia)
Oroncota (also spelled Huruncuta) is the name of a region in Bolivia and a small Inca provincial center.
Oroncota (also spelled Huruncuta) is the name of a region in Bolivia and a small Inca provincial center.
Oasis Theory
The Oasis Theory is a core concept in archaeology, referring to one of the main hypotheses about the origins of agriculture.
The Oasis Theory is a core concept in archaeology, referring to one of the main hypotheses about the origins of agriculture.
Oaxaca Valley (Mexico)
The Oaxaca valley is a large y-shaped valley in Oaxaca state of central Mexico, and it was the home of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations.
The Oaxaca valley is a large y-shaped valley in Oaxaca state of central Mexico, and it was the home of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations.
Obsidian Hydration
The dating technique called obsidian hydration is a favorite of archaeologists, both because it is relatively secure and because it is relatively inexpensive.
The dating technique called obsidian hydration is a favorite of archaeologists, both because it is relatively secure and because it is relatively inexpensive.
Obsidian
The volcanic glass called obsidian was highly prized in prehistory where ever it was found.
The volcanic glass called obsidian was highly prized in prehistory where ever it was found.
Oc Eo (Vietnam)
Oc Eo is a very large Funan culture site in the Mekong Valley of Vietnam, occupied approximately 1500 years before the present.
Oc Eo is a very large Funan culture site in the Mekong Valley of Vietnam, occupied approximately 1500 years before the present.
Ochre (or Ocher) and Hematite
Ochre (also spelled ocher) and Hematite are names archaeologists use to refer to several forms of iron oxide, that is to say a type of clay or sandy clay mineral that is found naturally in many different regions of the world.
Ochre (also spelled ocher) and Hematite are names archaeologists use to refer to several forms of iron oxide, that is to say a type of clay or sandy clay mineral that is found naturally in many different regions of the world.
Oldowan Tradition
The Oldowan Tradition is the name given to a pattern of stone-tool making by our hominid ancestors, some 2.5 million years ago.
The Oldowan Tradition is the name given to a pattern of stone-tool making by our hominid ancestors, some 2.5 million years ago.
Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)
Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania is an ancient hominid archaeological site in Tanzania, excavated by the Leakeys in the mid-1950s.
Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania is an ancient hominid archaeological site in Tanzania, excavated by the Leakeys in the mid-1950s.
Olmec Civilization
The Olmec civilization is the name given to a sophisticated central American culture between 1200 and 400 BC.
The Olmec civilization is the name given to a sophisticated central American culture between 1200 and 400 BC.
Olorgesailie (Kenya)
The archaeological site known as Olorgesailie is an Acheulean site in Kenya, East Africa, and dated to about 7.5-1 million years ago.
The archaeological site known as Olorgesailie is an Acheulean site in Kenya, East Africa, and dated to about 7.5-1 million years ago.
Olympia (Greece)
The archaeological site of Olympia is a Panhellenic sanctuary in Greece, excavated in the mid-19th century by Edward Curtius.
The archaeological site of Olympia is a Panhellenic sanctuary in Greece, excavated in the mid-19th century by Edward Curtius.
Omo Kibish (Ethiopia)
Omo Kibish is an ancient rock formation in Ethiopia where excavations by Richard Leakey and others have recovered Homo sapiens remains as old as 125,000 years before the present.
Omo Kibish is an ancient rock formation in Ethiopia where excavations by Richard Leakey and others have recovered Homo sapiens remains as old as 125,000 years before the present.
Opal Phytoliths
An opal phytolith is a tiny, three-dimensional copies of a plant cells created by a plant as a product of taking in water with dissolved silica.
An opal phytolith is a tiny, three-dimensional copies of a plant cells created by a plant as a product of taking in water with dissolved silica.
Opatów, Poland (Site 1)
Opatow is the name of a site and a village in the Silesian province of Poland, where an enormous cemetery used for several hundred years has permitted archaeologists to compare health conditions for wealthy and not-so-wealthy individuals.
Opatow is the name of a site and a village in the Silesian province of Poland, where an enormous cemetery used for several hundred years has permitted archaeologists to compare health conditions for wealthy and not-so-wealthy individuals.
Opone (Somalia)
The ancient trade center of Opone on the east coast of Africa was mentioned in Egyptian records about 40 AD, and is probably the archaeological site of Ras Hafun, Somalia.
The ancient trade center of Opone on the east coast of Africa was mentioned in Egyptian records about 40 AD, and is probably the archaeological site of Ras Hafun, Somalia.
Opovo (Serbia)
The site of Opovo is a Late Neolithic village site in the province of Vojvodina on the Tamis River in what is the modern day country of Serbia.
The site of Opovo is a Late Neolithic village site in the province of Vojvodina on the Tamis River in what is the modern day country of Serbia.
Oppida
Oppida is the word given to the archaeological remains of fortified settlements throughout Europe by archaeologists, from a word used by Julius Caesar.
Oppida is the word given to the archaeological remains of fortified settlements throughout Europe by archaeologists, from a word used by Julius Caesar.
Oracle Bones
Oracle bones are a type of artifact found in archaeological sites from the Shang Dynasty in China.
Oracle bones are a type of artifact found in archaeological sites from the Shang Dynasty in China.
Orange Culture
The Orange culture is a term for the Late Archaic period in Florida (and no, I'm not making this up).
The Orange culture is a term for the Late Archaic period in Florida (and no, I'm not making this up).
Orce Basin (Spain)
The Orce Basin in the Andalucía of Spain is noted for holding the earliest Homo erectus occurring in Europe, about 1.6 million years ago.
The Orce Basin in the Andalucía of Spain is noted for holding the earliest Homo erectus occurring in Europe, about 1.6 million years ago.
Orchomenos (Greece)
The archaeological site of Orchomenos was mentioned by Homer and excavated by Heinrich Schliemann.
The archaeological site of Orchomenos was mentioned by Homer and excavated by Heinrich Schliemann.
Orgnac 3 (France)
Orgnac 3 is a Middle Paleolithic cave and open air site located in the Rhone Valley of France, near the Ardeche river gorges.
Orgnac 3 is a Middle Paleolithic cave and open air site located in the Rhone Valley of France, near the Ardeche river gorges.
Ortoiroid Culture
The Ortoiroid culture is a preceramic culture of the Caribbean Sea, generally dated concurrent to and after the Casimiroid culture, and thought to have resulted from people migrating north from South America.
The Ortoiroid culture is a preceramic culture of the Caribbean Sea, generally dated concurrent to and after the Casimiroid culture, and thought to have resulted from people migrating north from South America.
Oseberg (Norway)
The Oseberg is a Viking boat-grave excavated in Norway in 1904 and probably dated to about 830 AD.
The Oseberg is a Viking boat-grave excavated in Norway in 1904 and probably dated to about 830 AD.
Oshara Tradition
The Oshara tradition is the name given to an Archaic culture of the American southwest, about 6000 BC.
The Oshara tradition is the name given to an Archaic culture of the American southwest, about 6000 BC.
Osteodontokeratic
The term osteodontokeratic was invented by the Australian archaeologist Raymond Dart, to describe the tool kit of our hominid ancestor Australopithecus africanus. Great name,isn't it? Too bad he was wrong.
The term osteodontokeratic was invented by the Australian archaeologist Raymond Dart, to describe the tool kit of our hominid ancestor Australopithecus africanus. Great name,isn't it? Too bad he was wrong.
Ostraca
The term ostraca (singular ostracon) is from a Greek word 'ostrakon' meaning 'shell.'
The term ostraca (singular ostracon) is from a Greek word 'ostrakon' meaning 'shell.'
Ostrogoths
The Ostrogoths were a Germanic kingdom in Italy, one of six major Germanic tribes to run things in Europe after the end of the Roman Empire.
The Ostrogoths were a Germanic kingdom in Italy, one of six major Germanic tribes to run things in Europe after the end of the Roman Empire.
Otomani Culture
The Otomani culture was a group of Bronze age settlements in the Carpathian basin in the early 2nd millennium BC.
The Otomani culture was a group of Bronze age settlements in the Carpathian basin in the early 2nd millennium BC.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire ruled much of the middle and near east beginning in the 15th century AD and continuing into the 20th century.
The Ottoman Empire ruled much of the middle and near east beginning in the 15th century AD and continuing into the 20th century.
Otzi the Iceman (Italy)
The Iceman was found in the Tyrolean Alps in 1991, a Bronze Age hunter lost in a storm between 3350-3300 BC
The Iceman was found in the Tyrolean Alps in 1991, a Bronze Age hunter lost in a storm between 3350-3300 BC
Out of Africa Hypothesis
The Out of Africa or African Replacement Hypothesis argues that every living human being is descended from a small group in Africa.
The Out of Africa or African Replacement Hypothesis argues that every living human being is descended from a small group in Africa.
Owo (Nigeria)
The Owo site consists of the remains of a Yoruba city state dated to the 15th century AD.
The Owo site consists of the remains of a Yoruba city state dated to the 15th century AD.
Tell el-'Oueili (Iraq)
The settlement of Tell el-'Oueili is an Ubaid (and pre-Ubaid) site of the Mesopotamian civilization, located near the modern (and ancient) city of Larsa, in Iraq.
The settlement of Tell el-'Oueili is an Ubaid (and pre-Ubaid) site of the Mesopotamian civilization, located near the modern (and ancient) city of Larsa, in Iraq.