Site Types in Archaeology
Although the best known archaeological sites are either temples or spectacular burials, archaeologists are interested in all kinds of behaviors exhibited by people in the past, not just the combination of wealth and religion. The variety of archaeological remains left by people in the past--no matter what their political or economic status--allows us to draw comparisons among the classes and gain a broader perspective on what human society was like in the past, and how that reverberates in our cultures today. Here are some of the classes of archaeological sites that are studied by archaeologists, identified by function, size, date, and assemblage of artifacts.
Ancient Roads
Ancient roads are also site types: part of extensive transportation networks that played an important role in many ancient civilizations.
Ancient roads are also site types: part of extensive transportation networks that played an important role in many ancient civilizations.
Astronomical Observatories
Buildings meant to track time have been constructed for some five thousand years. Here's a few of the important astronomical observatories around the world.
Buildings meant to track time have been constructed for some five thousand years. Here's a few of the important astronomical observatories around the world.
Burial Types
In the past people memorialized their dead in many different ways; here is a list of several of the ways in which the dead were buried.
In the past people memorialized their dead in many different ways; here is a list of several of the ways in which the dead were buried.
Causeways
A causeway is an early form of transportation system, consisting of a narrow, man-made earthen or rock structure that bridged a waterway.
A causeway is an early form of transportation system, consisting of a narrow, man-made earthen or rock structure that bridged a waterway.
Cave Art
Cave art refers to paintings, murals, drawings, etchings, carvings, and pecked artwork on the interior of rockshelters and caves.
Cave art refers to paintings, murals, drawings, etchings, carvings, and pecked artwork on the interior of rockshelters and caves.
Desert Castles
Desert castles are Islamic fortifications built during the earliest days of Islamic expansion, in the 8th century AD.
Desert castles are Islamic fortifications built during the earliest days of Islamic expansion, in the 8th century AD.
Fish Weir
A fish weir or fish trap is a step forward in fishing technology, used in North America for the past several thousand years.
A fish weir or fish trap is a step forward in fishing technology, used in North America for the past several thousand years.
Geoglyphs
Geoglyphs are a type of archaeological site that were made from moving or arranging stones or earth or other objects within a landscape.
Geoglyphs are a type of archaeological site that were made from moving or arranging stones or earth or other objects within a landscape.
Henge or Stone Circle
A henge is the term given to a large prehistoric earthwork, usually but not always circular, whether of stones, wood, or earth.
A henge is the term given to a large prehistoric earthwork, usually but not always circular, whether of stones, wood, or earth.
Hoards and Caches
"Hoards" or "caches" refer to collections of objects which were intentionally gathered together and buried underground.
"Hoards" or "caches" refer to collections of objects which were intentionally gathered together and buried underground.
Lost Bodies
One kind of site type that doesn't really have a name, per se, but certainly happens often enough, is what I'm calling a "lost body".
One kind of site type that doesn't really have a name, per se, but certainly happens often enough, is what I'm calling a "lost body".
Midden - What is a Midden
A midden is the archaeological term for a trash heap.
A midden is the archaeological term for a trash heap.
Monumental Architecture
Monumental architecture, at an archaeological site, refers to large man-made structures of stone or earth.
Monumental architecture, at an archaeological site, refers to large man-made structures of stone or earth.
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.
Pyramid
A pyramid is one of the earliest form of massive monumental architecture built by humans.
A pyramid is one of the earliest form of massive monumental architecture built by humans.
Quarrying Sites
A quarry or mine site is where raw material--stone or metal ore--was mined for use as building material or tool construction; and they are often mined for archaeological information as well.
A quarry or mine site is where raw material--stone or metal ore--was mined for use as building material or tool construction; and they are often mined for archaeological information as well.
Shell Middens
A shell midden is a type of archaeological site made almost entirely of mussel shells.
A shell midden is a type of archaeological site made almost entirely of mussel shells.
Sirikwa Holes
The term Sirikwa Holes is the local name for depressions found throughout the western highlands of Kenya and in northern Tanzania; they represent late Iron Age hut locations.
The term Sirikwa Holes is the local name for depressions found throughout the western highlands of Kenya and in northern Tanzania; they represent late Iron Age hut locations.
Statue-Menhirs
Statue-menhirs are a kind of megalithic standing stone consisting of a carved human or human-like statue of life or larger size.
Statue-menhirs are a kind of megalithic standing stone consisting of a carved human or human-like statue of life or larger size.
Synagogues
A synagogue is, of course, a religious structure that can be identified with the Jewish faith; the earliest synagogues probably developed during the Byzantine period of the 6th century BC.
A synagogue is, of course, a religious structure that can be identified with the Jewish faith; the earliest synagogues probably developed during the Byzantine period of the 6th century BC.
Temples and Shrines
Basically, archaeologists think of the word temple as meaning one of three kinds of shrines.
Basically, archaeologists think of the word temple as meaning one of three kinds of shrines.
Vitrified Forts
There are, believe it or not, some 200 hillforts and other archaeological sites in the world which have been vitrified--exposed to heat so extreme that part of the buildings are converted to glass-like substances.
There are, believe it or not, some 200 hillforts and other archaeological sites in the world which have been vitrified--exposed to heat so extreme that part of the buildings are converted to glass-like substances.