Definition: American archaeologist Michael B. Schiffer is probably best known for his impact on the field of behavioral archaeology, crafting the immensely useful concept of site formation processes. The main component of many cultural resource texts today, the practice of determining site formation processes makes an archaeologist attempt to explain how a site came to be, what natural and cultural forces can be determined to have built the archaeological record. Schiffer's voluminous output from the University of Arizona where he is professor, continues to stimulate new ideas in the field.
Schiffer, Michael Brian. 1972 Archaeological context and systemic context. American Antiquity 37(2):156-165.
---1974. Cultural formation processes or "occupation floors". 39th Annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.
---1987 Formation Processes of the Archaeological Record. edition.Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
---1985 Is there a "Pompeii premise" in archaeology? Journal of Anthropological Research 4118-41.
---1983 Toward the identification of formation processes. American Antiquity 48675-706.
---1999 Behavioral archaeology: Some clarifications. American Antiquity 64(1):166-168.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Schiffer, Michael Brian. 1972 Archaeological context and systemic context. American Antiquity 37(2):156-165.
---1974. Cultural formation processes or "occupation floors". 39th Annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.
---1987 Formation Processes of the Archaeological Record. edition.Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
---1985 Is there a "Pompeii premise" in archaeology? Journal of Anthropological Research 4118-41.
---1983 Toward the identification of formation processes. American Antiquity 48675-706.
---1999 Behavioral archaeology: Some clarifications. American Antiquity 64(1):166-168.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
