Ecofacts Animal bones or other faunal remains (e. g., fish scales and mussel shell), charred plant parts or ancient pollen, and geological data (e. g., from analyses of sediments in or near sites, or from study of regional landforms) that provide information about the floral, faunal, ecological, and physical contexts of archaeological sites.
Jump site A specific kind of ‘kill-site’ where wild herd mammals were driven or stampeded off cliffs or over the steep sides of incised water courses.
Kill-site A single-activity or limited-activity site where animals were killed and processed for storage or consumption. Usually an unmounded open site containing fragmented faunal remains and few artifacts (see ‘jump site’).
Lithic scatter A thin array of chipped stone tools covering only a limited area and not found below the surface, represents a temporary camp or other short-term use of a specific locale.
Shell mound, shell midden An open site, either mounded or unmounded, near a river, lake, or seacoast where the cultural deposits contain conspicuous remains of shellfish. stratification Layering of cultural deposits at mounded open sites (and many rock shelters). Unless there has been significant disturbance of the original deposits, the earliest material is at the bottom of the sequence, with successively younger remains higher up. In large mounded sites, for example, the remains of ancient towns and cities, the earliest deposits may be completely buried, or may be accessible only on the periphery of the mound.
Sumer, Sumerians The earliest complex, urban, literate, state-based society in the world was created by the Sumerians (their name for themselves: ‘black-headed people’) in southern Mesopotamia (which they called ‘Sumer’) between 5500 and 5100 years ago.
World History
