Archaeological Analysis

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Archaeological Analysis

• Quick Introduction to Typology

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Typology

• System for organizing data using attributes or
  observable aspects of artifacts.
• Aspects identifiable nominal variables.
• May or may not have meaning or relevance in real
  world.

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Eye of the beholder

• Stylistic attributes
• Form attributes
• Technological attributes
• Functional categories

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Categories (refer to pages 142-159 in your
textbook)

• Material and form
• Aspects (ratios)

• Place of use and context for meaning

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• Archaeologists apply typological analysis to
  artifacts when trying to make sense of a class of
  objects that seem to cluster or form groups with
  variation.
• Example smoking pipes, footwear, projectile
  points, beads, bowls, ceramic temper, color
• Can be extended to features...

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• What distinguishes a wine bottle from a milk
  bottle?
• What is it that makes a tea cup not a coffee mug?
  What distinguishes cup from mug?
• When is a shoe formal or casual?
• What is a porringer?

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By date period and attributes.
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Smoking pipe typology arranged by mean
manufacturing date.
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Analysis of sherds using clay source and temper.
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Footwear.
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Artifact and Meaning
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Navajo silversmith wearing Naja necklace.
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Medicine man with Naja
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Historic 19th century Naja
Recent Naja 1940
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Simulation Exercise 2

• Naja typology
• Identify attributes of several Naja and organize
  by typological branching.
• Ideally, when finished, you should be able to
  create a sequential chart that would allow
  someone to place a new Naja into the chart based
  on your attribute (criteria) analysis.

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Procedures

• Cooperative groups of two.
• Each group to produce a single typological chart
  for assessment.
• Chart should be presentable.
• Individual synthesis papers describing and
  validating (defending) typology criteria.