20 An archaeological glossary related to my future bachelor's degree in history. terms
This glossary contains words related to my future job as an archaeologist.
antique
noun
Character of which is very old.
Example: This pottery is a real antique.
fr: Antiquité
Artifact
Noun
An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.
Example: Scientists have discovered ancient artifacts in ruins.
fr: Artéfact
Bones
noun
Any of the pieces of hard whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates.
Example: An archaeologist found some dinosaur's bones in the desert.
fr: Ossements
civilization
noun
The society, culture, and way of life of a particular area.
Example: Remains of an ancient civilization have been found.
fr: civilisation
Dating
Verb
Establish or ascertain the date of an object or event.
Example: Archaeologists must make precise dating of objects.
fr: Datation
Discovery
noun
The action or process of discovering or being discovered.
Example: They made a new discovery.
fr: découverte
excavations
Noun
The action of excavating something, especially an archaeological site.
Example: Many scientists are doing archaeological excavations in Antarctica.
fr: Fouilles
hieroglyph
noun
A stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems.
Example: Only a few people are able to interpret hieroglyph.
fr: hiéroglyphe
History
Noun
The study of past events, particularly in human affairs.
Example: It is important to learn about indigenous people's history.
fr: Histoire
museum
noun
A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.
Example: Archaeologists sometimes have to work in a museum
fr: Musée
paleontology
noun
The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.
Example: paleontology is a very meticulous science
fr: paléontologie
Patient
adjective
Patient
Example: An archaeologist needs to be a patient person.
fr: patient
Pickaxe
Noun
Tool with a handle resembling an adze used to dig into hardened soil or to break up stone.
Example: They are using a pickaxe to break stone.
fr: Pioche
Pottery
Noun
Pots, dishes, and other articles made of earthenware or baked clay. Pottery can be broadly divided into earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware.
Example: These old potteries are very fragile.
fr: Poterie
Preservation
Noun
The principle by which the total value of a physical quantity or parameter (such as energy, mass, linear or angular momentum) remains constant in a system which is not subject to external influence.
Example: this fossil has a very good preservation
fr: Conservation
Pyramid
noun
A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top, especially one built of stone as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
Example: You can explore a pyramid.
fr: pyramide
Research
noun
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Example: They are doing some research about a new treatment
fr: Recherche
Theodolite
Noun
Apparatus measuring angles in both planes, horizontal and vertical, in order to determine a direction.
Example: The theodolite is an essential instrument in geodesy, cartography, engineering, and archaeology.
fr: Théodolite
Tomb
noun
A large vault, typically an underground one, for burying the dead.
Example: They found a new tomb in Jerusalem.
fr: Tombeau
Trowel
Noun
A small handheld tool with a flat, pointed blade, used to apply and spread mortar or plaster.
Example: Archaeologists use trowels to dig into the ground
