Definition: Sedentism is the term archaeologists use to describe the process of settling down. Hunter gatherers, by and large, are primarily mobile, moving from resource to resource, following herds of animals such as bison and reindeer or moving with normal seasonal climatic changes. By contrast, farmers tend to stay close to their fields for at least part of the year. Sedentism refers to that process of becoming more sedentary, no matter how one earns one's living.
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.
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