skos:Concept skos:ConceptScheme English Heritage Used for recording the techniques, recovery methods and materials associated with archaeological sciences. http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560 2013-07-17T09:02:44 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCES (EH) ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCES (EH) English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142099 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ALTERED BY ANIMALS Modified or damaged by an animal. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142100 2013-07-17T09:02:45 AMINO ACID RACEMISATION The measurement of chemical alterations in the amino acids in protein molecules from bones, shells and teeth. Date range can be between 1,000 and several million years. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142101 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ANCIENT BIOMOLECULAR ANALYSIS Characterisation of organic molecules extracted from fossil or sub-fossil materials, including lipids, DNA etc. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142102 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Waterlogged ANOXIC Material preserved by the exclusion of oxygen usually due to saturation with water which inhibits decay by micro-organisms. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142103 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ANTLER Outgrowths of bone borne by most members of the deer family (Cervidae). They are shed and re-grow each year. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142104 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ARCHAEOMAGNETISM Measures the remanent magnetisation direction of magnetic minerals. Useful for dating fired structures, in-situ since their last firing, and for sediments settling from non turbulent water bodies. In the UK, calibration data extends back to 1000BC. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142105 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ASPECT English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142106 2013-07-17T09:02:45 AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS ANALYSIS The analysis of the amount of phosphorus (P) (liable fraction) available to plants. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142107 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BIOSTRATIGRAPHY A technique in which the date is deduced from the presence of fauna and/or flora considered to be characteristic of a given peirod of time or that gives and indication of a probable date. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142108 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BLOCK LIFTING The removal of fragile or complex remains from an investigation as a block of earth for excavation under laboratory conditions. Typical examples are grave goods and cremation burials. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142109 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BONE Any of the pieces of hard tissue consisting largely of calcium phosphate that make up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142111 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Burnt Deposit BURNT Use for material that has been burnt. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142113 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Cremated CALCINED Material burnt at high temperature (above 700 degrees Celsius) leaving only the mineral component. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142117 2013-07-17T09:02:45 CHARCOAL Wood that has been burnt and largely reduced to carbon as a result of burning in a reducing atmosphere below 500 degress C (Celsius). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142118 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Carbonised CHARRED Material that has been burnt and at least in part reduced to carbon as a result of burning in a reducing atmosphere below 500 degrees Celsius. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142119 2013-07-17T09:02:45 CHEMICAL TECHNIQUES Examination of a material using chemical means. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142120 2013-07-17T09:02:45 CHEMICALLY ALTERED Material that has been altered as a result of chemical action. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142121 2013-07-17T09:02:45 CLAST LITHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS The identification and grouping of stone types in stratigraphy. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142122 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Bulk Sampling COARSE SIEVING The method of retrieving animal remains, artefacts and other remains by dry or wet-sieving whole earth samples, typically over 100 litres, sieved through a 2mm or larger mesh. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142124 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Colored COLOURED Material with evidence of the application of a pigment or dye. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142125 2013-07-17T09:02:45 COPPER ALLOY Use for a combination (alloy) of two or more different metals where copper (Cu) is the principal component. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142126 2013-07-17T09:02:45 COPROLITE Waste material from the digestive tract of animals. The term coprolite comes from the Greek 'kopros' meaning dung and 'lithos' meaning stone, and is used for faecal matter that has been preserved by mineral replacement or dessication. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142128 2013-07-17T09:02:45 DATING TECHNIQUES Techniques applied to a material in order to date it or material associated with it. Use more specific terms. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142129 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Decoration DECORATED Use where decoration is present. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142131 2013-07-17T09:02:45 DENDROCHRONOLOGY The measuring of annual tree-ring growth shown by most tree species in temperated regions. Regional chronoliges are required to date any particular piece of wood, the longest of which, for Germany, works for the present to approximately 14,000 yrs ago. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142132 2013-07-17T09:02:45 DESICCATED Material preserved due to very low humidity which inhibits decay by micro-organisms. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142135 2013-07-17T09:02:45 EGG SHELL Use for the remains of an egg whether from a bird, reptile or amphibian. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142136 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE The measurement of trapped electrons by exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. A useful technique for dating tooth enamel, shells, coral and calcite form 5,000-1,000,000 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142137 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FEATHER Use for feathers, an epidermal growth found in birds consisting of a quill, shaft and two vanes of barbs. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142138 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FERROUS METAL Any metal prinicipally composed of the chemical element Iron (Fe). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142139 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FIBRE Use for any thread-like material. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142140 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FISSION TRACK ANALYSIS A technique for the dating of damage tracks in volcanic materials caused by the fissioning of decaying radioactive uranium (U) isotopes. Useful in samples more than 50,000 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142141 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FLOTATION Method used for the recovering of material by floating large whole earth samples, usually between 40-60 litres per context (or 100% if context contains less than this). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142142 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FLUORINE, URANIUM AND NITROGEN TESTS A relative dating technique for assessing bones from the same deposit. Often used to check for contemporaneity of bones selected for radiocarbon dating or to check for hoaxes such as the Piltdown Man. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142144 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FUNGAL DAMAGE Material that has been damaged by fungal growth or secretions. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142145 2013-07-17T09:02:45 GOLD A precious metal characterised by its yellow colour and resistance to tarnishing. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142146 2013-07-17T09:02:45 HAIR Use for hair, fur etc: filaments growing out of the outermost layer of mammalian skin. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142147 2013-07-17T09:02:45 HAND RETRIEVAL The retrieval of material from deposits by hand, normally large objects visible with the naked eye, eg. Mammal remains and marine molluscs. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142148 2013-07-17T09:02:45 HUMAN ASPECTS Aspects of a material which result from the modification or use of the material by humans. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142149 2013-07-17T09:02:45 HYDROLYSIS The chemical breakdown of a material by water. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142150 2013-07-17T09:02:45 IMPRESSION The negative trace left by an object type or material (eg. animal, plant or textile) on another object type or material, often on ceramics or metal corrosion products. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142151 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Irsl Irsl Dating INFRA-RED STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE The light emitted from sedimentary minerals or mineral inclusions in bricks when stimulated in the laboratory by infrared light. Used to date samples up to 250,000 years old; especially appropriate for geological sediments containing feldspars English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142152 2013-07-17T09:02:45 INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS ANALYSIS The analysis of inorganic phosphorus (P). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142153 2013-07-17T09:02:45 INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142154 2013-07-17T09:02:45 IVORY Use for a tusk or tooth of a mammal large enough to be carved or used to make objects such as those of mammoths, elephants, walruses and whales. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142155 2013-07-17T09:02:45 LEAD ISOTOPE DATING A technique which uses the measurement of decay in radioactive lead (Pb) isotopes to determine a date. Useful for sediments and lead-based paints between 1 and 400 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142156 2013-07-17T09:02:45 LEATHER Animal skin that has been tanned or tawed. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142157 2013-07-17T09:02:45 LOSS ON IGNITION DETERMINATION The weight loss from low-temperature burning of material. It correlates well with organic matter (material derived from living things) content. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142158 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY The degree to which a material will become magnetised when placed in a magnetic field. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142159 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MANUFACTURING DEBRIS Use where the material presents debris or waste from manufacturing. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142160 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MATERIAL TYPE English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142161 2013-07-17T09:02:45 METAL Class of elements and alloys that are characteristically lustrous, ductile, fusible and malleable. These are extracted from ore minerals originally existing in nature and processed before becoming a recognisable metal. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142162 2013-07-17T09:02:45 METHOD OF RECOVERY English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142164 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MICROMORPHOLOGY The microscopic analysis of thin sections of resin impregnated stratigraphy. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142165 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MICROSCOPY The use of magnifying equipment to examine materials not visible to the naked eye. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142166 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MINERAL PRESERVED Preservation of material by toxic effect of corrosion products in the immediate vicinity, or within, the material. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142167 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Fossilised Mineralised MINERAL REPLACED Replacement of organic material by minerals, including calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142169 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MINERALOGY The study of minerals. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142170 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA A dating technique for the founding of individual populations based on the assumption of steady rates of mutation in mitochondrial DNA. Sometimes used to produce dates for stratigraphic layers containing fossil specimens of populations. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142171 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MODIFICATION STATE English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142172 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS Techniques investigating more than one element at a time. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142173 2013-07-17T09:02:45 NATURAL ASPECTS Aspects associated with the genetic make up and/or factors that affected the organism from which the material is derived during its life English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142174 2013-07-17T09:02:45 NON-FERROUS METAL Any metal that does not contain the chemical element Iron (Fe) as a principal component. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142175 2013-07-17T09:02:45 NON-METRIC TRAITS Use for congenital (present at birth) abnormalities (absent/extra or morphologically unusual features) present in an individual or population. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142176 2013-07-17T09:02:45 OBSIDIAN HYDRATION A technique used to date obsidian (volcanic glass) of all ages and is thus not commonly used in the UK. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142177 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Osl Osl Dating OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE The light emitted from sedimentary minerals or mineral inclusions in bricks when stimulated in the laboratory by light of a different wavelength. Used to date samples up to 250,000 years old; especially appropriate for geological sediments. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142178 2013-07-17T09:02:45 OXYGEN ISOTOPE ANALYSIS The use of oxygen (O) isotope ratios in ice or ocean sediment cores to date global environmental change. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142179 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS The analysis of the distribution and proportion of sand, silt and clay in a deposit. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142180 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Disease Diseased PATHOLOGY Use for bone remodelling, new growth, loss or destruction caused by age, activity, disease or trauma during life. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142181 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PH DETERMINATION The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a material. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142182 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES The examination of material by physical means, including detailed observation. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142183 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Microfossils PHYTOLITH Microscopic mineral body (usually silica) found in many plants. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142184 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PLANT DAMAGE Material that has been penetrated or disrupted by the roots or rhizomes of plants. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142185 2013-07-17T09:02:45 POLARISED LIGHT MICROSCOPY Light microscopy in which vibration directions of the light are constrained into single planes. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142186 2013-07-17T09:02:45 POLLEN Use for pollen and diaspores. Pollen consists of pollen grains which are the male gametes of flowering plants. Diaspores are the dispersive units of mosses, ferns, fern allies and some plants. To describe the actual object use PLANT REMAINS. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142187 2013-07-17T09:02:45 POTASSIUM ARGON DATING The measurement of the ratio of a radioactive potassium (K) isotope and the argon (Ar) gas produced as a by-product of its decay. Useful for dating volcanic material older than 1,000 years. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142188 2013-07-17T09:02:45 C14 Dating Carbon 14 Dating Carbon Dating RADIOCARBON DATING The measurement of the ratio of the radioactive Carbon 14 (C-14) isotope and non-radioactive carbon isotopes. Useful for dating organic materials such as wood and bone between 500 and 45,000 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142189 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ROUNDWOOD Material comprising entrie or partial transverse sections of stems. Bark may be present or not. Can include complete sections of tree trunk but generally comprises smaller (<20cm diameter) material. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142191 2013-07-17T09:02:45 S.E.M. Sem SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY A process using an electron microscope in which the surface of the specimen is scanned by a beam of electrons which are reflected to form an image. Very high magnification is possible. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142193 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SHELL Use for any shell of an animal, principally, molluscs, crabs etc. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142194 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SILICIFIED Use for material that has been burnt at high temperature in a good air supply such that only the silica component remains. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142195 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SILVER A precious metal of lustrous, white colour with great malleability and ductility. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142196 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SKIN Use for the remains of epidermis or outermost layer. Relates to both animals and plants. If describing the actual object use PLANT REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS or HUMAN REMAINS. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142197 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SOIL PHOSPHORUS ANALYSIS The analysis of the amount of phosphorus (P) present in a soil. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142198 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SPECIALIST SAMPLING The recovery of material from samples collected during field investigations, usually taken by specialists with a particular area of expertise. Normally processed in the laboratory. Also use for the processing of samples subsequent to investigation. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142199 2013-07-17T09:02:45 SPOT TEST The application of a chemical test to a material, usually as a rapid approximation. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142200 2013-07-17T09:02:45 STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS Comparison of different proportions of natural occurring isotopes of lead (Pb), strontium (Sr), oxygen (O), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142201 2013-07-17T09:02:45 STRATIGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION The careful observation and written description of the physical characteristics of stratigraphy. It will normally include information on texture, colour and the nature of the different components. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142202 2013-07-17T09:02:45 TEPHROCHRONOLOGY The use of ash and tephra deposits characteristic of single known-date volcanic eruptions to date stratigraphic sequences. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142203 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Tl Tl Dating THERMOLUMINESCENCE The measurement of the light emitted from sedimentary minerals, mineral inclusions in bricks, burnt flint or unburnt calcite when they are heated. The signal relates to their prior exposure to radioactivity. Used to date samples up to 500,000 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142205 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Tool Marks TOOL MARKED Use where evidence of tool marks is present English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142207 2013-07-17T09:02:45 TOOTH Use for teeth, hard structures found in the jaws of vertebrates used principally for chewing and eating. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142208 2013-07-17T09:02:45 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS ANALYSIS The analysis of organic plus inorganic phosphorus (P). English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142209 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Tree-Ring Studies TREE-RING ANALYSIS The use of annual incremental growth in temperate trees to investigate environmental, especially local, parameters and the history of individual trees. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142211 2013-07-17T09:02:45 TWIG Small (<2cm diameter) roundwood often complete with buds or leaf scars. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142212 2013-07-17T09:02:45 URANIUM SERIES DATING The measurement of the decay of radioactive uranium (U) isotopes. Particularly useful for dating calcite and sometimes bone, tooth and shell up to 70,000 years old. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142214 2013-07-17T09:02:45 WOOD Hard, compact, unprocessed, fibrous cellulose substance. The roots, trunks and branches of trees and shrubs consist of this tissue. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142215 2013-07-17T09:02:45 WORKED Use for any material that shows evidence of modification by humans. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142216 2013-07-17T09:02:45 X-RADIOGRAPHY The production of an image on a photographic plate as a result of X-rays (very short wavelength electromagnetic radiation) being passed through an object. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142217 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Xrd X-RAY DIFFRACTION A surface technique that uses the diffraction of X-rays to examine the mineral composition of a sample. Useful for identifying corrosion products, pigments etc. but of little use with organic compounds which consist largely of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142218 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Xrf X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETRY A surface technique of spectroscopic analysis which relies on the interaction of primary X-rays with the sample to generate a range of secondary X-rays. These have energies characteristic of the elements present in the sample. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142977 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ESTUARINE DEPOSIT An alluvial deposit laid down in an estuary. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142979 2013-07-17T09:02:45 TUFACEOUS DEPOSIT A naturally occuring deposit of calcareous tufa ('shell marl') sometimes found in alluvial deposits. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142980 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PEAT DEPOSIT A naturally occurring deposit formed by the decomposition and partial carbonisation of vegetable matter in waterlogged conditions. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/142981 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BEACH DEPOSIT A deposit formed by wave and tidal action on an estuarine or marine beach. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144511 2013-07-17T09:02:45 LUMINESCENCE DATING A range of techniques that use the build up of charge stored within a crystalline material to estimate its age English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144513 2013-07-17T09:02:45 GAMMA SPECTROMETRY A technique that uses the emission of gamma rays of specific energies to identify the presence and concentration of certain radioactive isotopes in a sample English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144514 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ALPHA SPECTROMETRY A technique that uses the emission of alpha particles of specific energies to identify the presence and concentration of certain radioactive isotopes in a sample English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144515 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BRICK Material used for construction, commonly fired in its manufacture. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144516 2013-07-17T09:02:45 POTTERY Object produced commonly by firing clay, but can include coarser material to temper it. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144517 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BURNT FLINT A form of silica, similar to quartz. Commonly black or white in colour and used for tool manufacture. Flints heated in antiquity may be dated using thermoluminescence. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144518 2013-07-17T09:02:45 GEOLOGICAL SEDIMENT A material composed of mineral grains derived from the breakdown of rocks by environmental processes. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144519 2013-07-17T09:02:45 BIOGENIC CARBONATE Any carbonate material produced by biological activity, for instance operculae of snails. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144520 2013-07-17T09:02:45 QUARTZ A mineral composed of SiO2. Commonly clear or milky in appearance. A common constituent of rocks and sediments. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144521 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FELDSPAR A group of aluminosilicate minerals with varying compositions. The most common mineral in igneous rocks, and common in other rocks and sediments. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144522 2013-07-17T09:02:45 ZIRCON A mineral of the composition Zr[SiO4]. Commonly brown or yellow in colour. May contain high levels of uranium and thorium. Can be used for dating using luminescence or fission track methods. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/144523 2013-07-17T09:02:45 POLYMINERAL A general term to describe a sediment or sample that contains a variety of different minerals. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/147276 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MICRO-CHARCOAL Microscopic charcoal fragments that are concentrated and counted as part of standard pollen preparation techniques. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/147277 2013-07-17T09:02:45 MOISTURE CONTENT A measure of the proportion of water within a sample. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/147278 2013-07-17T09:02:45 PEAT HUMIFICATION A method of determining peat degradation; quantified as the percentage light transmission value of the extracted humic acids, measured at a specific wavelength. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/148327 2013-07-17T09:02:45 CARVED English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/148328 2013-07-17T09:02:45 WATERWORN Material, especially rock, worn smooth by the passage of water. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/148433 2013-07-17T09:02:45 FLOT The material which floats during the floatation of samples as a means of recovering charred plant remains from an archaeological context. English Heritage http://purl.org/heritagedata/schemes/560/concepts/148434 2013-07-17T09:02:45 Heavy Residue RESIDUE The material that does not float during the floatation of samples as a means of recovering charred plant remains from an archaeological context. Also, the material remaining following wet or dry sieving of course sieved samples.