Glossary of Terms - Artifacts B.C.

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Glossary

Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I K L
M N O P Q R S T U W Z

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ABRASIVE STONE(or "Abrader"):: Usually a sandstone slab used for grinding and polishing.
ACCESSION NUMBER:: A number assigned to an object or group of objects to fix its place chronologically in a collection and to distinguish the items of that object from those outside.
ACTIVITY AREA:: A limited portion of a site in which a specialised cultural function was carried out, such as food preparation, tool manufacture etc.
ADZE:: A ground and polished stone artifact characterised by a generally rectangular shape with a beveled cutting edge on one end. Used as a woodworking tool.
ALIDADE:: An optical surveying instrument used along side a plane-table and stadia-rod to produce a detailed small-scale topographical map.
ALKALINE:: A substance that has basic properties, i.e. it's pH is over 7.
ANTHROPOLOGY:: "The study of humans." In North America the overall field usually considered to embrace cultural anthropology, social anthropology, physical anthropology and archaeology. Primarily the scientific study of humans and culture through time and space.
ANTHROPOMORPHIC:: Having the face or features of a human.
ARBITRARY LEVEL:: An excavation level defined by factors of convenience, with no necessary relationship to site stratigraphy or cultural COMPONENTS.
ARCHAEOLOGY:: The science concerned with the recovery, analysis, description and explanation of the remains of past human cultures.
ARTIFACT:: Any manually portable product of human workmanship. In its broadest sense includes tools, weapons, ceremonial items, art objects, all industrial waste, and all floral and faunal remains modified by human activity.
ASSEMBLAGE:: A collection of cultural materials from a sampling area or unit, such as a site, pit, or level.
AWL:: A small pointed hand tool used for piercing holes in leather, wood and other materials.

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BARB:: A sharp backwards extension of a projectile point intended to act as a hook to keep the point within a wound.
BASALT:: A fine-grained volcanic rock used for the manufacture of chipped stone artifacts. Colour ranges from black to grey; texture granular to glass like.
BEAM:: The main stem of an antler.
BICONICAL DRILLING:: A means of perforating beads or pendants for suspension. Accomplished by drilling from both sides with a tapered drill bit resulting in an hour glass-shaped hole.
BIFACE:: A stone artifact flaked on both sides.
BIPOINT:: A bone or stone artifact pointed at both ends.
BIPOLAR PERCUSSION:: A means of manufacturing chipped stone artifacts. Accomplished by placing the raw material on a large rock and hitting it with a hammerstone from above.
BIVALVE:: Having a shelled animal composed of two valves(eg. a clam).
BLADE:: A long slender prismatic flake manufactured by indirect percussion or pressure from a prepared core.
BORDEN SYSTEM:: A code of 4 letters and a number used to designate archaeological sites in Canada (e.g. GtRx 7; FlJr 10 etc.). Proposed by Charles E. Borden, University of British Columbia, in 1954.
BIFACIAL FLAKING:: The manufacture of a stone artifact by removing flakes from both faces.
BILATERALLY BARBED:: A projectile point or harpoon with barbs on both edges.
BP:: "Before Present." The notation commonly used on radiocarbon dates.
BULB OF PERCUSSION:: A natural bulge formed on a stone just below the point of impact after a flake is struck off.
BUTCHERING STATION:: A site, or localized activity area within a site, dominated by evidence for the past butchering of game animals (e.g. broken and cut FAUNAL REMAINS and butchering tools).

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CACHE:: A deliberate store of equipment, food, furs or other resources placed in, or on the ground (perhaps protected by a rock CAIRN), or raised above the ground on a platform.
CAIRN:: Stones intentionally piled by humans.
CARBON SAMPLE:: A quantity of organic material, usually charcoal, collected for radiocarbon dating (See RADIOCARBON DATING.)
CARTRIDGE:: A tube of metal containing an explosive charge in order to propel a bullet.
CATALOGUE:: The systematic list recording artifacts and other finds, recovered by archaeological research, including their description and provenience.
CATALOGUE NUMBER:: A number assigned to all items recovered by archaeological research to cross-index them to the catalogue.
CELT:: An ancient stone blade used as a tool, usually hafted, e.g. an adze or a chisel.
CERAMICS:: Deliberately fired clay artifacts, such as ceramic vessels.
CHALCEDONY:: A semi-translucent silicate (quartz) rock with a wax-like luster and a great range of colours, used as raw material for the manufacture of chipped stone artifacts. Commonly called agate.
CHERT:: A mainly opaque, fairly granular, silicate rock with a dull shiny luster and a great range of colours, used as raw material for the manufacture of chipped stone artifacts. Varieties include jasper and flint.
CHOPPER (also known as "Pebble Tools"):: A natural pebble with a crude, steep cutting edge formed by unifacial percussion flaking.
CHRONOLOGY:: Arrangement of past events in time.
COLLATERAL FLAKING:: When flakes on a chipped stone artifact extend to the middle from both edges forming a medial ridge. The flakes are at right angles to the longitudinal axis, and regular and uniform in size
COLUMN SAMPLE:: Collecting and analysing a sample of midden from a small column cut into the side of a pit wall.
CONSERVATION:: The protection and care of archaeological resources.
CONTEXT:: The spatial relationships of archaeological items and samples within a site. "Primary Context" refers to materials found in their original position; "Secondary Context" refers to materials which have been displaced and redeposited by disturbance factors; "Geological Context" is the relationship of the archaeological finds to geological strata.
COMPONENT:: "The manifestation of a given archaeological PHASE at a site." (Willey and Phillips 1958: 21.) Sites may be "single component" (only one distinct cultural unit), or "MULTI-COMPONENT" (2 or more cultural units).
COMPOSITE TOOL:: A tool formed of two or more joined parts, e.g. "composite toggling harpoon head".
CONCENTRATION:: A notable accumulation of archaeological materials in a small area, such as a "concentration of flakes" etc.
CONCHOIDAL FLAKE:: A type of spall resulting from the fracture of fine-grained, or glassy rocks. Characterized by a bulb of percussion, striking platform remnant, and extremely sharp edges. A predictable fracture pattern that allows the manufacture of predetermined tools from these materials.
CONTOURED LEVEL:: An excavation level with a floor parallel to the slope of the ground surface
CORE:: (1) A blocky nucleus of stone from which flakes or blades have been removed (see MICROBLADE CORE). (2) A column or lineal sample of materials obtained by "coring" the ground, trees, etc.
CORTEX:: The naturally weathered outer surface of a pebble.
CORTICAL SPALL (Or "Cortex Spall"):: A flake struck from the surface of a pebble or nodule which retains the natural cortex on one face. A "Cortical Spall Tool" is generally a relatively large ovate cortical spall exhibiting retouch or use-wear on one or more edges.
CULTURAL DEPOSIT:: Sediments and materials laid down by, or heavily modified by, human activity.
CULTURE SEQUENCE:: The chronological succession of cultural traits, phases or traditions in a local area.
CULTURE TYPE:: A chronologically limited cultural unit within a local culture sequence, characterized by sufficient descriptive traits to set it apart from all other units. A phase is generally represented by 2 or more components in several sites and is the basic classification of archaeological "cultures".
CUT NAIL:: A nail "cut" from a sheet of steel, and its head pounded into shape with a hammer.
CUTTING BLADE:: The piercing element of a composite projectile point or harpoon head.

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DATUM:: A fixed reference point on an archaeological site from which measurements are taken.
DATUM PLANE:: A fixed reference point from which a vertical measurement is taken in recording a specific depth.
D.B.D.:: Abbreviation for "depth below datum", or vertical distance below the datum plane.
D.B.S.:: Abbreviation for "depth below surface", or vertical distance below the natural ground level.
DEBITAGE:: Waste by-products from tool manufacture.
DEGLACIATION:: When glacial ice receeds, the massive weight and movement of the ice resculps the ground. The terrain at DcRu4 is directly related to this type of process.
DENDROCHRONOLOGY:: A method of absolute dating by the analysis and counting of tree growth-rings.
DENTALIA:: Small, slender horn-like Pacific Ocean shell used and traded as beads and wealth-items.
DETRITUS:: Waste by-products from tool manufacture. Most frequently applied to chips and fragments resulting from stone flaking.
DISTURBANCE:: A cultural deposit is said to be disturbed when the original sequence of deposition has been altered or upset by post-depositional factors. Agents of disturbance include natural forces such as stream or wind erosion, plant or animal activity, land-slides etc.; and cultural forces such as later excavations.
DRILL:: A tool used for perforating wood, bone, and soft stone.
DRINKING TUBE:: A length of hollow bird-bone used in aboriginal ceremonial situations for drinking liquids.

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ENCLOSED BARBS:: The barbs of a harpoon or spear lying within the profile edge, not protruding beyond the stem width.
ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALOGY:: Interpretation of archaeological remains by comparison to historical cultures.
ETHNOGRAPHY:: That aspect of cultural anthropology concerned with the descriptive documentation of living cultures.
ETHNO-HISTORY:: The study of ethnographic cultures through historical records.
ETHNOLOGY:: The aspect of cultural anthropology concerned with the comparative and processional analysis of ethnographic cultures.
EXCAVATION GRID:: A system of rectangular co-ordinates, established on the ground surface by stakes and string, which divides a site into excavation units.
EXCAVATION UNIT:: A grid work of squares usually 1 or 2 meters on a side.
EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY:: A method of inferring the original functions of archaeological finds by the replication, reconstruction and use of similar artifacts.

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FACETED:: A bilaterally beveled surface usually on bone or stone. It has a hexagonal cross-section.
FAUNAL REMAINS:: Bones and other animal parts found in archaeological sites. Important in the reconstruction of past ecosystems and cultural subsistence patterns (see: MICROFAUNAL REMAINS).
FEATURE:: A non-portable product of human workmanship. Usually clusters of associated objects; structural remains; hearths, post-moulds, etc.
FIELD DATA FORMS:: Printed forms used to record archaeological survey or excavation information. Special forms are frequently used to record artifact proveniences; features and burials; site locations and descriptions; and level-notes.
FIELD EXCAVATOR:: A trained professional who digs a hole in order to uncover evidence of past human occupation.
FIELD NOTES (see "level notes"):: Written observations on all significant characteristics of an excavated level.
FIRE-CRACKED ROCK (f.c.r.):: (Also "fire-broken rock"). Rocks which have been cracked or broken by the heat of a fire. A common element in aboriginal campsite debris.
FIXED POINT:: A projectile point permanently attached to its shaft, as opposed to a toggling head.
FLAKE:: A fragment removed from a core or nucleus of cryptocrystaline or fine-grained rock by percussion or pressure. May be used as a tool with no further deliberate modification, may be RETOUCHED, or may serve as a PREFORM for further reduction.
FLAKE-SCAR:: The negative area left on a stone CORE or nucleus after the removal of a CONCHOIDAL FLAKE.
FLAKING STATION:: A specialised site or activity area within a site, dominated by evidence for the past manufacture of flaked stone artifacts. Might consist of an area of concentrated DETRITUS, CORES, FLAKING-TOOLS, and PREFORMS.
FLAKING-TOOL (Also "Flaker"):: Any implement used to remove conchoidal flakes by percussion or pressure from a nucleus of suitable material. May be a pointed antler or bone pressure-flaking tool, or a small hammerstone used for percussion.
FLINT:: A microcrystaline silicate rock similar to CHERT, used for the manufacture of flaked stone tools. Colour . most commonly grey, honey-brown, or black.
FLOOR-PLAN:: A scale drawing of FEATURES and important associations completed for the end of each excavation LEVEL in a given EXCAVATION UNIT.

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GRAVER:: A small pointed or chisel-like stone tool used for incising or engraving.
GRID-SYSTEM:: A system of rectangular excavation or sampling units laid over a site by strings and stakes.
GROUND STONE:: Stone artifacts shaped by sawing, grinding, and/or polishing with abrasive materials (e.g. "ground slate knives", "polished soapstone pendants" etc.).

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HABITATION AREA:: A generalized term for a house or tent floor, or the remains of any other type of aboriginal shelter.
HABITATION SITE:: A location where a human group has lived and conducted normal daily activities for a significant period.
HAFTED:: Attached with a binding to a shaft or handle (e.g. a "hafted knife").
HALF-LIFE:: The length of time necessary for half of a given quantity of radioactive substance to decay into non-radioactive material.
HAMMERSTONE:: A natural rounded, largely unmodified pebble used as an unhafted hammer.
HAND-MAUL:: A carefully manufactured unhafted stone hammer.
HARPOON:: A thrown or thrust spear-like weapon armed with a detachable point fastened to a retrieving line.
HARPOON HEAD (POINT):: The arming tip of a harpoon. Generally classifiable into 2 main forms - TOGGLING and BARBED - each of which may be COMPOSITE or single-piece, and may or may not carry additional CUTTING-BLADES or SIDE-BLADES. Always have LINE-GUARDS or other means of line attachment.
HEARTH:: A fireplace, often circular and may be unlined, rock or clay-lined, or rock-filled.
HEAT TREATMENT:: An aboriginal process by which the flaking properties of a rock were improved by controlled heating in a fire.
HEMATITE:: A natural iron oxide which was used as reddish pigment (see RED OCHRE).
HINGE-FRACTURE:: A weak or inward-directed blow against cryptocrystalline or fine-grained rock will produce a flake which breaks off (or "hinges") halfway along, without carrying through to a thin tapered end.
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY:: The archaeological investigation of POST-CONTACT sites.
HISTORIC PERIOD:: The time after European contact or the beginning of written recording.
HORIZON:: Layers typical of the soil profile in a particular region.
HOUSE-PIT:: An aboriginally excavated house floor.

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INDIRECT PERCUSSION:: A technique for flaking stone artifacts by using a bone or antler punch between the hammer and the raw materials. Allows greater control than direct percussion flaking.
IN SITU:: Archaeological items are said to be "in situ" when they are found in the location where they were last deposited.
ISOLATED BARBS:: Multiple barbs that stand out from the shaft, beyond the profile edge of an antler or bone projectile point.
ISOTOPE:: An unstable element that decays at a constant rate.

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KILL-SITE:: A type of special activity site where large game animals were killed and butchered.

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LEACHING:: A natural process by which chemicals and minerals are transported downwards through a soil profile.
LENTICULAR:: "Lens-shaped". Any object with a biconvex cross-section.
LEVEL:: The basic vertical subdivision of an EXCAVATION UNIT. May be NATURAL, ARBITRARY or CONTOURED.
LEVEL BAG:: A bag containing excavated materials from a single level of a single excavation unit.
LEVEL NOTES:: Written observations on all significant characteristics of an excavated level.
LINE-GUARD:: A device to fasten the retrieving line to a harpoon point.
LINE-LEVEL:: A small spirit-bubble designed for suspension on a string. Used in archaeology to determine horizontal lines over short distances.
LITHIC:: Of/or pertaining to stone.
LITHIC INDUSTRY:: That part of an archaeological artifact assemblage manufactured of stone.
LITHIC TECHNOLOGY:: The process of manufacturing tools etc., from stone. Most frequently refers to stone flaking.
LOCALITY:: A very large site or site-area composed of 2 or more concentrations or clusterings of cultural remains.
LONGHOUSE:: The long multi-family dwellings of the lroquois area.

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MACROBLADE:: A large BLADE, greater than 5 cm in length.
MARINE:: Of/or relating to the sea.
MATRIX:: An inclusive term for the natural and cultural sediments of an archaeological site .
MICROBLADE:: A small prismatic parallel-sided flake struck from a prepared core. Microblades were probably inserted end-to-end in a slotted bone or antler shaft to provide a continuous cutting edge for points or knives.
MICROBLADE CORE:: The nucleus from which microblades were manufactured. Usually a small barrel or conical shaped stone artifact with a flat top and one or more fluted surfaces left as scars from the removal of the microblades.
MICROFAUNAL REMAINS:: Very small animal remains, such as rodent bones, tiny bone fragments, insects, small molluscs, etc., discovered in an archaeological site.
MIDDEN:: A deposit of camp refuse associated with human occupational sites. Most frequently refers to coastal SHELL-MIDDENS.
MUNSELL COLOUR CODE:: A system of describing colours by a code of letters and numbers defining "hue", "value" and "chroma". Important in accurately describing the colours of archaeological soils and sediments.

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NATURAL LEVELS (Also "Stratigraphic Levels"):: An excavation LEVEL defined by the original stratigraphic layers of the site.
NEPHRITE:: A hard fibrous green to white rock often used for the manufacture of adze-blades. Commonly called jade.
NET SINKER (Also "Net weight"):: A rock used to submerge a fishing net. May be grooved, notched or perforated.

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OBSIDIAN:: Natural volcanic glass. Colour ranges from nearly translucent through black, red and green. The best raw material for the manufacture of flaked stone tools.
OBSIDIAN HYDRATION:: A method of dating by measuring a layer of chemical alteration on the surface of obsidian artifacts.
OCHRE:: Iron oxide or hematite. Colour is commonly reddish-brown to yellow. Used as a natural pigment.

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PALEONTOLOGY:: The study of fossil animal remains.
PALEOSOL:: "Old Soil." Buried soil horizons indicative of past soil conditions different from that presently prevailing.
PARALLEL FLAKING:: Regular sized parallel sided flakes removed from stone artifacts.
PEBBLE TOOL (Also known as a "Chopper"):: A natural rounded pebble manufactured into a simple cutting tool by the removal of a few percussion flakes, usually unifacially on one edge.
PECKING:: A stone-working technique. Shaping a stone by sharp and repeated hitting or "pecking" it with a stone of greater hardness. Abrasive techniques might be used to finish the piece.
PENDANT:: Any ornamental object designed for suspension.
PERCUSSION FLAKING (Also "Direct Percussion Flaking"):: The technique of shaping stone artifacts by removing flakes with direct blows with a hammer of stone, antler, or wood.
PETROGLYPH:: Pictures, symbols, or other artwork pecked, carved or incised on natural rock surfaces.
pH:: The measurement of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7 is neutral; less than 7 is acidic; greater than 7 is basic or alkaline.
PHASE (Also "Culture Type"):: A chronologically limited cultural unit within a local CULTURE SEQUENCE, characterized by sufficient descriptive traits to set it apart from all other units. A phase is generally represented by 2 or more components in several sites and is the basic classification of archaeological "cultures".
PICTOGRAPH:: Aboriginally painted designs on natural rock surfaces. Red ochre is the most frequently used pigment and natural or abstract designs may be represented.
PIECE ESQUILLEE (Fr. "splintered piece"):: A type of flaked stone artifact manufactured by the bipolar percussion technique. Generally characterized by a lenticular or wedge-shaped cross-section; opposed bifacial crushing, battering and hinge-fracturing; and frequently relatively long columnar "blade-like" flake scars.
PIECE-ESQUILLEE SPALL:: Small blade-like flakes removed by bipolar percussion in the reduction of a piece-esquillees. May be easily mistaken for microblades or burin-spalls.
PIPESTONE:: Any soft stone used in the manufacture of aboriginal smoking pipes.
PITHOUSE:: A semi-subterranean "earth-lodge" dwelling. Usually consisted of an earth-covered log framework roof over a circular to rectangular excavation.
PLEISTOCENE:: The latest major geological epoch, colloquially known as the "Ice Age" due to the multiple expansion and retreat of glaciers. (Ca. 3,000,000-10,000 years BP)
POST-CONTACT PERIOD (Also "Historic Period"):: Refers to the period following the first arrival of Europeans.
POST-MOULD:: The impression, stain, or cavity, left in the ground by a rotted wooden post.
POT-HUNTER:: An "amateur archaeologist" who vandalizes and destroys sites to add to his private collection, or for monetary gain.
PRE-CONTACT:: Refers to the period before the first arrival of Europeans in a given area.
PREFORM:: An early preliminary stage in the reduction manufacture of a flaked stone artifact.
PREHISTORIC:: The period prior to written records for any given area. In North America synonymous with PRE-CONTACT.
PRESSURE FLAKING:: The technique of shaping tools from cryptocrystailine or fine-grained rocks by pressing off small CONCOIDAL FLAKES by FLAKING-TOOLS of antler or bone.
PRIMARY FLAKES:: The first series of flakes removed from a core or nucleus in the process of tool manufacture.
PROFILE:: A section, or exposure of the ground, showing depositional or developmental strata or horizons.
PROFILE DRAWING:: A precise scale drawing of the strata and horizons revealed in the walls of an excavation or other exposure. A section which has been drawn is said to have been "profiled".
PROJECTILE POINT:: An inclusive term for arrow, spear or dart-points. Characterized by a symmetrical point, a relatively thin cross-section and some element to allow attachment to the projectile shaft. Flaked stone projectile points are usually classified by their outline form: triangular, leaf-shaped, lanceolate, stemmed, corner-notched, and side-notched.
PROVENIENCE:: The horizontal and/or vertical position of an object in relation to a set of spatial co-ordinates.

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QUARTZ CRYSTAL:: Pure silicate rock-crystal. Usually perfectly clear with six crystal surfaces. May be used as a raw material for lithic tool manufacture.

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RADIOCARBON DATING:: A dating method based on the radioactive decay of Carbon-14 contained in organic materials.
REPLICATION:: The experimental reproduction or duplication of prehistoric artifacts in an attempt to better understand how they were made and used in the past.
RESHARPENED FLAKES:: Usually small flakes removed from the edges of chipped-stone cutting or scraping tools to rejuvenate the effectiveness of the edge.
RETOUCH:: The removal of small secondary flakes along the edge of a lithic artifact to improve or alter the cutting properties of that edge. Retouch flaking may be BIFACIAL or UNIFACIAL.
RETOUCHED FLAKE:: A stone flake which has had one or more edges modified by the deliberate removal of secondary chips.
RHYOLITE:: A fine-grained light coloured volcanic rock, chemically identical to obsidian. Colour may range from white, through grey, and yellow to reddish-pink. Sometimes used as a raw material for lithic tools.
ROCK-ART:: An inclusive term for PETROGLYPHS and PICTOGRAPHS.
ROCK-SHELTER:: A shallow cave or rock overhang large enough to have allowed human occupancy at some time.
ROOFING NAIL:: A short wire nail with a large flat head; used in attaching asphalt shingles to roofs.

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SALVAGE ARCHAEOLOGY (Also "Rescue Archaeology", or "Crisis Archaeology"):: Archaeological research carried out to preserve or rescue sites, materials and data from areas threatened by man-made or natural disturbance. It is the most common type of archaeological fieldwork conducted in North America at the present time.
SCRAPER:: A tool presumably used in scraping, scouring, or planing functions. Most frequently refers to flaked stone artifacts with one or more steep UNIFACIALLY RETOUCHED edge(s).
SETTLEMENT PATTERN:: The spatial distribution of cultural activities across a landscape at a given moment in time.
SHELL-MIDDEN:: A site formed of mainly concentrated shellfish remains.
SHOVEL-SCREENING:: A rapid excavation procedure in which the site matrix is shovelled directly through a screen (usually 1/4" mesh).
SITE:: Any location with detectable evidence of past human activity. Includes HABITATION SITES, KILL-SITES, QUARRY SITES, ROCK-ART sites, BURIAL sites, etc.
SITE SURVEY:: The process of searching for and describing archaeological sites in a given area.
SOIL-SAMPLE:: A quantity of soil, site matrix, or sediments collected for physical, or chemical analysis.
SPECIES:: A group of organisms that are similar or closely related. All members of a species have a similar appearance and other similar traits.
STADIA ROD (Also "Surveyor's Staff'):: A long brightly painted rod accurately calibrated in metric units (or feet and inches), used for obtaining ELEVATIONS and STADIA measurements of distance in mapping with a major surveying instrument.
STORAGE-PIT (Also called CACHE-PITS):: Circular excavations usually less than 3 m in diameter assumed to have aboriginally functioned as storage "cellars".
STRATA:: Depositional units or layers of sediment distinguished by composition or appearance. (Singular: "stratum").
STRATIGRAPHY:: The study of various deposits, built up over time, which form delineated layers (such as ash, charcoal or crushed shell) in the earth walls of a pit.
SUBSISTENCE PATTERN:: The basic means by which a human group extracted and utilized energy from its environment.
SURVEY(ING):: (1) In Archaeology, the process of locating archaeological sites. (2) More generally, the process of mapping and measuring points on the ground surface.
SURVEY AREA:: The region within which archaeological sites are to be located.

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TEST PIT (Also "Test Excavation"):: A small exploratory "dig" designed to determine a site's depth, and contents prior to a major excavation.
TINE:: The prong of an antler branching off the beam.
TOGGLING HEAD OR TOGGLE HEAD:: Detachable harpoon head that becomes separated from its haft and turns at right angles to the pull, after entering the quarry's flesh.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP:: A map which accurately depicts the physical features and relief of an area.
TRADITION:: A continuum of gradational culture-change through time representing the unbroken development of a single culture.
TRAIT:: Any discrete cultural element.
TRIBE:: A relatively large group possessing a distinctive language or dialect. May consist of 2 or more BANDS.
TYPE:: A distinctive formal artifact class restricted in space and time, e.g. the "Folsom Point" is a projectile point "type".
TYPOLOGY:: The classification of artifacts according to analytical criteria, to determine and define significant trends or variations in time and space.

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UNIFACE:: A stone artifact flaked only on one surface.
UNIFACIAL FLAKING:: The removal of secondary flakes from only one surface of a stone nucleus.
UNILATERALLY BARBED:: A projectile point or harpoon with barbs on one edge.
UNIPOINT:: A bone or stone artifact pointed on one end.
UNIVALVE:: A shelled animal having only one valve, e.g. a barnacle.
USE-WEAR:: Polish, striations, breakage, or minor flaking which develop on a tool's edge during use. Microscopic examination and study of the wear may indicate the past function of tools.
UTILIZED FLAKE:: A stone flake used for a tool without deliberate retouch, but exhibiting USE-WEAR.

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WEDGE:: A piece of bone or antler that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting wood.
WIRE NAIL:: A nail manufactured in a mold, like the modern ones today.
WORKED:: Having chips, flakes, scratches or other evidence of deliberate modification on stone, bone, antler, shell, etc.

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ZOOARCHAEOLOGY:: The study of faunal remains found in archaeological sites and their cultural significance.
ZOOMORPHIC:: Having the shape or features of an animal such as a whale, bird, fish, frog, etc.