Archaeology (also spelled archeology): In the United States, [archaeology] is taught and practiced as one of the four major subfields of anthropology (with anthropological linguistics, physical anthropology, and cultural anthropology). The aim of archaeology is the understanding of past human societies. Archaeologists not only attempt to discover and describe past cultures, but also to develop explanations for the development of cultures.
Archaeologist: Anyone with an interest in the aims and methods of [archaeology]. At a professional level, the [archaeologist] usually holds a degree in anthropology, with a specialization in archaeology (see Archaeology). The professional archaeologist is one who is capable of collecting archaeological information in a proper scientific way, and interpreting that information in light of existing scientific theories and methods.
Archaeological Survey: The [archaeological survey] is a study intended to compile an inventory of archaeological remains within a given area. Usually a survey is an extensive rather than an intensive phase of archaeological study. The objective is to form the most complete and representative picture possible of the archaeological remains found within a defined area. Surveys may be based upon a wide variety of methods, including on-foot examinations of the ground surface, brief digging, talking with people who know where archaeological [sites] are to be found, consulting historical records, and looking at satellite photos of an area.
Archaeological Testing: [Archaeological testing] involves carrying out limited-scale testing of archaeological [sites] (see Site). Testing attempts to dig only enough to determine the extent, content and state of preservation within an archaeological site.
Artifact: Any object that shows evidence of modification by a human agency. Examples of [artifacts] are spear points chipped from flint, animal bones burned during preparation of a meal, fragments of pottery vessels and coins. Whether ancient or recent, artifacts are the traces of human behavior, and therefore one of the prime categories of things studied by archaeologists (see also [Context]).
Conservation Archaeology: A subfield of [archaeology] whose primary objective is informed management of archaeological remains and information. Working with private and public agencies, conservation archaeologists provide information that will allow archaeological properties and information to be effectively managed for the benefit of future generations. In this [context], archaeological values are a natural resource of the nation, to be wisely conserved for the future (see [Cultural Resource Management]).
Context, or Archaeological [Context]: The setting from which archaeological objects (see [Artifacts]) are taken. Usually the meaning of archaeological objects cannot be discerned without information about their setting. One example is determining how old an object is, given that the age of objects excavated from a [site] varies with their depth in the ground. Unless the depth of an object is carefully recorded against a fixed point of reference, it may be impossible to relate objects to the dimension of time.
Cultural Resource Management: Development of programs and policies aimed at conservation of archaeological properties and information. Such programs exist within the federal and state governments, academic institutions and private agencies.
Cumberland Dwelling: An architectural style named for its common occurrence throughout middle Tennessee. These dwellings have two front rooms of about equal size and front doors, with any additional rooms added onto the rear of the building.
Data Recovery: In the [context] of cultural resource management (see definition) studies, [data recovery] refers to relatively large-scale excavation designed to remove important objects and information from an archaeological [site] prior to its planned destruction. Data recovery is only undertaken after it is shown that preservation of the site in place is not a feasible course of action in the project in question. Scientific data are recovered to answer important scientific and cultural questions.