Virtual Dig: A Simulated Archaeological Excavation of a Middle Paleolithic Site in France

by Dibble, Harold Lewis; McPherron, Shannon P.; Roth, Barbara J.

• ISBN13: 9780767402453
• ISBN10: 0767402456
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-23
• Publisher: McGraw Hill College Div

Summary

This combination of workbook and CD-ROM functions as a "virtual field school" that gives students the opportunity to carry out an excavation using real data. Based on excavations at the Middle Paleolithic site of Combe-Capelle in France, the exercises included in Virtual Dig ask students to access the CD's database to analyze and interpret findings.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
PART I INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Overview of Virtual Dig	1	(6)
Installing the Virtual Dig Software	2	(1)
How to Use the Virtual Dig Software	3	(3)
Background	4	(1)
Setup	4	(1)
Excavation	5	(1)
Lithics Lab	5	(1)
Analysis	5	(1)
A Word about the Data Used in Virtual Dig	6	(1)
Background to the Middle Paleolithic	7	(9)
The Middle Paleolithic	7	(1)
Dating and Environment	7	(3)
Neandertals	10	(1)
Mousterian Stone Tools	10	(3)
Life in the Middle Paleolithic	13	(2)
Suggested Readings	15	(1)
Combe-Capelle	16	(5)
Suggested Readings	20	(1)
PART II SETUP
Research Design	21	(6)
What Is Research Design?	21	(1)
Formulating a Research Design	22	(1)
Background Research	22	(1)
Permits or Permission to Excavate a Site	22	(1)
Writing a Research Design	23	(1)
Research Design at Combe-Capelle	23	(1)
Suggested Readings	24	(3)
Defining Research Questions for Your Virtual Project	25	(2)
Unit Definition and Placement	27	(10)
Site Grid	27	(1)
Excavation Units	28	(2)
Test Pits	28	(1)
Trenches	29	(1)
Squares	30	(1)
Features	30	(1)
Unit Placement	30	(2)
Research Goals	31	(1)
Sampling Strategy	31	(1)
Site Topography	31	(1)
Site Vegetation	32	(1)
Deposit Depth	32	(1)
Unit Definition and Placement at Combe-Capelle	32	(1)
Overview of the Unit Definition Screen	33	(1)
Suggested Readings	33	(4)
Learning the Unit Definition Screen	35	(1)
Virtual Project	35	(2)
Excavation Methods and Artifact Recovery	37	(4)
Excavation Methods	37	(1)
Excavation Tools	37	(4)
Learning the Methods Screen	39	(1)
Virtual Project	40	(1)
Mapping and Proveniencing	41	(10)
Datums	41	(1)
Methods for Recording Provenience	42	(2)
Manual Proveniencing	42	(1)
Instrument Maps	43	(1)
Recording Provenience during Excavation	44	(1)
Point Proveniencing	44	(1)
Bulk Proveniencing	44	(1)
Screening	45	(1)
Artifact Recovery and Proveniencing at Combe-Capelle	46	(2)
Suggested Readings	48	(3)
Virtual Project	49	(2)
Personnel	51	(6)
Field and Lab Crew	51	(1)
Specialists	52	(1)
Budget Considerations in Planning Personnel	53	(1)
Personnel at Combe-Capelle	54	(3)
Virtual Project	55	(2)
Living Expenses, Equipment, and Supplies	57	(6)
Living Expenses	57	(2)
Where to Live?	57	(1)
Where to Eat?	58	(1)
Vehicles	58	(1)
Personal Effects	59	(1)
Equipment and Supplies	59	(1)
Living Expenses, Equipment, and Supplies at Combe-Capelle	60	(3)
Living Expenses	61	(1)
Virtual Project	61	(1)
Equipment and Supplies	61	(2)
Developing a Field Budget	63	(4)
Virtual Project	65	(1)
Optional Exercise for Setting Up Your Virtual Project	65	(2)
PART III EXCAVATION
Overview of Excavation	67	(7)
The Day-to-Day Routine during an Excavation	67	(2)
Stratigraphy	69	(2)
Excavation Strategies for Recording Strata	71	(1)
Excavation at Combe-Capelle	72	(1)
Suggested Readings	73	(1)
Excavation in Virtual Dig	74	(7)
Equipping Your Virtual Project	74	(1)
Using the Interactive Excavation Screen	74	(2)
Using the Automatic Excavation Screen	76	(5)
Interactive Excavation	77	(2)
Automatic Excavation	79	(2)
Field Documentation and Mapping	81	(14)
Field Documentation	81	(1)
Databases	82	(1)
Archiving and Curating Field Records	83	(1)
Field Documentation at Combe-Capelle	84	(1)
Mapping	85	(1)
Screening	86	(1)
Suggested Readings	86	(9)
Site Notebook	87	(2)
Mapping	89	(2)
Proveniencing	91	(1)
Screening	92	(1)
Excavation of Your Virtual Project	93	(2)
PART IV LITHICS LAB
Flintknapping: The Making of Stone Tools	95	(6)
Terminology and Flake Landmarks	96	(1)
Flaking Techniques	96	(1)
Lithic Analysis	97	(1)
Suggested Readings	97	(4)
Flintknapping Primer	99	(2)
Basics of Lithic Analysis I: Lithic Measurements	101	(4)
Suggested Readings	102	(3)
Lithic Measurements	103	(2)
Basics of Lithic Analysis II: Lithic Attributes	105	(6)
Common Lithic Attributes	105	(1)
Other Lithic Attributes in the Combe-Capelle Data	106	(1)
Analyzing Lithic Attributes	107	(4)
Lithic Attributes	109	(2)
Basics of Lithic Analysis III: Lithic Typology	111	(10)
The Typology of Francois Bordes	111	(4)
Scrapers	112	(1)
Notches and Denticulates	112	(1)
Technologically Defined Types	113	(1)
Bifaces	113	(2)
Bordian Graphs and Indices	115	(2)
Typology at Combe-Capelle	117	(4)
Learning Bordian Typology	119	(1)
Learning Bordian Type Lists and Cumulative Graphs	119	(2)
PART V ANALYSIS
Overview of Archaeological Analysis	121	(4)
Day-to-Day Practices in a Lab	121	(2)
Analysis at Combe-Capelle	123	(2)
Analyzing Lithic Data with Virtual Dig	125	(8)
Statistics, Tables, and Graphs	125	(2)
Analyzing Type Counts and Typological Indices	127	(6)
Character Variables	129	(1)
Numeric Variables	130	(1)
Virtual Project	131	(2)
Evaluating Taphonomy and Site Formation	133	(8)
Damage	133	(2)
Size Distributions	135	(1)
Artifact Orientations	136	(1)
Site Taphonomy at Combe-Capelle	136	(1)
Suggested Readings	137	(4)
Site Taphonomy	139	(2)
Writing a Site Report	141	(2)
References	143	(2)
Index	145