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Ancient Town and City Sites: A View from the Microscope

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Arlene Miller Rosen
Arlene Miller Rosen*
Affiliation:
Israel Department of Antiquities, Archaeological Division, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84 105 Israel
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Abstract

Archaeological studies concerned with reconstructing activity areas, room functions, and site-formation processes can benefit greatly from analyses of the microartifacts found on and within occupation surfaces. These remains are often primary refuse directly related to activities, and can be used to identify such locations as food-preparation areas, flint-knapping stations, and storage facilities. In addition, certain microartifacts are informative about site-formation processes. For example, the grain-size distribution of charcoal may be indicative of primary vs. secondary refuse, high percentages of corroded and crushed bone from scavenger feces may indicate locations of secondary refuse, and many small sherds could point to heavily trampled areas. A case study from the Iron Age city site of Tel Miqne-Ekron in central Israel demonstrates the use of microarchaeology at a complex sedentary site.

Résumé

Résumé

Los estudios arqueológicos interesados en la reconstrucción de áreas de actividades, funciones de lugares, y procesos de formación de sitios, pueden verse profundamentes beneficiados por el análisis de microartefactos hallados sobre y entre las superficies de ocupación. Estos restos son a menudo deshechos primarios relacionados directamente con actividades, y pueden ser utilizados para identificar dichos sitios como áreas de preparacion de alimentos, estaciones de lascado depedernal, o instalaciones de almacenamiento. Además, ciertos microartefactos constituyen fuentes de información sobre el proceso de formación del sitio. Por ejemplo, la distribución de granos de carbon por tamaño puede indicar deshechos primarios o secundarios, altos porcentajes de huesos corroidos y triturados en las heces de comedores de carroña pueden indicar la ubicación de deshechos secundarios, y gran cantidad de pequeños fragmentos podrián señalar áreas abundantemente holladas. Un caso de la Edad del Hierro estudiado en Tel Miqne-Ekron en la zona central de Israel, demuestra la aplicación de la microarqueología en un sitio complejo y sedentario.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 54 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 564 - 578
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1989

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