Periphery—In archaeological usage, a marginal area, a region lying immediately beyond the boundaries of a specific area.
Pilaster—A square column forming part of a wall.
Phase—This term is used in different ways by different archaeologists. For the purposes of this book, it may be defined as an interval of [culture] occurring in a specific area at a specific time and associated with a particular culture. It may also be defined as a group of sites with similar determinants.
Polychrome Pottery—Pottery bearing three or more colors.
Plaza—A public square.
Projectile Point—An arrow point, spear point, or dart point.
Reducing Atmosphere—Pottery is said to have been fired in a [reducing atmosphere] when air is not allowed to circulate around it during the firing process. This results in a reduction of the oxygen content of the atmosphere and produces pottery in shades of white and gray.
Sherd—A fragment of a broken, pottery vessel.
Sipapu—A hole commonly found in the floors of kivas which is symbolic of the mythological place from which, according to creation myths, the first people emerged from the underworld.
Slip—A coating of very fine clay applied to a vessel before firing to give a smooth finish.