MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

ASM265  2006 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Laboratory Methods in Archaeology

1.

Review the purposes for laboratory analysis. (I)

2.

Define the basic principles behind analysis. (I)

3.

Examine primary steps for handling artifacts. (II)

4.

Explain ways to analyze ceramic artifacts. (III)

5.

Describe the elements of analysis of chipped stone artifacts. (IV)

6.

Trace the needs for specialized artifact analysis. (V)

7.

Examine the basis for analysis of historic artifacts. (VI)

8.

Critique the methods for statistical analysis of artifacts. (VII)

9.

Integrate analysis with report preparation. (VIII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

ASM265  2006 Fall – 2011 Summer II

Laboratory Methods in Archaeology

I. Framework for analysis of material culture

A. Design of analysis-purposes & principles

B. Description through attribute recording

C. Classification and typology

II. Laboratory handling and processing

A. Inventory and cataloging

B. Standard artifact processing

C. Special artifact processing

III. Ceramic artifact analysis

A. Attribute definition

B. Ceramic design analysis

C. Typologies

D. Specialized analysis

IV. Chipped stone analysis

A. Attribute definition

B. Use and war analysis

C. Specialized analysis

V. Specialized artifact analysis

A. Shell

B. Ground Stone

C. Selected artifact categories

VI. Historic Artifact Analysis

A. Classification

B. Dating

VII. Statistical methods for analysis

A. Basic descriptive statistics

B. Introduction to hypothesis testing

C. Nonparametric statistics (nominal and ordinal scaled data)

D. Correlation

VIII. Report writing

A. Technical writing

B. Report formats

C. Use of tables and figures

D. Use of artifact illustrations