DelDOT's Cultural Resources -
Archaeology/Historic Preservation
Cultural Resources Glossary
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References ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission) - "A federal agency established by Congress to commemorate the service and achievements of U.S. armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law. The commission is responsible for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries, establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law. Also, the commission is responsible for controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance." (http://www.abmc.gov/home.php 2009) ACHP (Advisory Council on Historic Preservation) - "An independent federal agency established in 1966 that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our nation's historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy" (http://www.achp.gov/aboutachp.html 2009) Adamesque - This refers to the style of the eighteenth century British architect Robert Adam (1728-92). Alluvium - Soil transported by flowing water. Alveolus - The portion of the maxilla or mandible into which the teeth fit. American Stoneware - Highly fired ceramic with a gray, vitrified body, often salt-glazed and painted with a cobalt blue decoration. Though first produced in the early 18th century, it was popular as a utilitarian ware after the turn of the nineteenth century. Andesite - Fine grained, often porphyritic, volcanic rock that is similar to rhyolite, but contains less silica. Annular Decoration - Concentric bands of colored slip applied by lathe to ceramics before glazing, popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Antemortem - Occurring before death. Anvil - Relatively flat stone, often pitted, used to support the core in bipolar stone tool manufacture. The anvil surface alternately may have served in the processing of foods such as nuts. Architecture - When used in the context of database systems, architecture refers to the overall structure of the database, and how it organizes information. Architrave - The lowest member of a classical entablature. A molded lintel spanning between two columns. Archaeology - Study of past cultures through the systematic excavation and analysis of material remains. Archeological Resource - Any material remains of past human life or activity greater than 100 years old which are of archeological interest as defined by Section 4(a) of the Archeological Resources Protection Act and 43 CFR Part 7.3. Argillite - Mildly metamorphosed siliceous rock composed of compact clay or silt-sized particles. ARS (USDA Agricultural Research Service) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) chief scientific research agency, and is one of four agencies in the USDA's Research, Education, and Economics mission area. "ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to ensure high-quality safe agricultural products, assess the nutritional needs of Americans, sustain a competitive agricultural economy, enhance the natural resource base and the environment, and provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole." (http://www.ars.usda.gov/AboutUs/AboutUs.htm 2009) Arthritis (Osteoarthritis) - Degenerative joint disease; remodeled changes in the skeleton which most frequently come about as the result of destruction of weight-bearing joints. Artifact - Any humanly produced or modified material. Assemblage - Collection of artifacts either from a specific area, related to a specific cultural component, or sharing certain physical attributes. Attrition - Occlusal tooth wear. Automatic Machine-Made Glass - Mechanical technique of glass manufacture introduced in the early twentieth century. Axis - An imaginary line to which are referred the parts of an existing building or the relations of a number of buildings to one another. Ballclay - Fine white clay used for making tobacco pipes and marbles. Balloon Framing - A method of timber-frame construction used in the U.S.A. and Scandinavia: the studs or uprights run from sill to eaves, and the horizontal members are nailed to them. Baluster - A short post or pillar in a series supporting a rail or coping and thus forming a balustrade. Balustrade - A railing consisting of a handrail on baluster, sometimes on a base member and sometimes interrupted by piers, columns or posts. Basalt - Fine-grained, dark-colored, volcanic rock rich in ferromagnesian minerals. Baseboard - A molding that conceals the joint between an interior wall and a floor. Bay - A vertical division of the exterior or interior of a building marked not by walls but by fenestration or door openings. Bay Window - An angular or curved projection of a house front filled by fenestration. Bead Molding - A small cylindrical molding enriched with ornament resembling a string of beads. Bellflower - Any of various plants of the genus Campanula, characteristically having blue, bell-shaped flowers. Bentware - The wooden rims for carriage wheels. BEP (Bureau of Engraving and Printing) - "A federal bureau within the Department of the Treasury tasked with the design and manufacture of official US security documents including Federal Reserve Notes, identification cards, naturalization certificates, and other special security documents." (http://www.www.bep.treas.gov/2009) BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) - "A federal management and regulatory bureau within the Department of the Interior (DOI) responsible for the administration and management of land held in trust by the United States for American Indian, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives." The BIA's mission is to: "...enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives." (http://www.doi.gov/bia/2009) Biface - Flaked stone which has been worked on both faces. A biface may have been used as a cutting, scraping, or chopping tool or may represent a tool that was in the process of being manufactured. Bipolar Percussion - Method of tool production in which the core is rested on an anvil and struck from above, resulting in the splitting or shattering of the core. Bipolar percussion produces blocky, often wedge-shaped debitage with crushed proximal and/or distal ends. Blade - Thin, parallel-sided flake that is at least twice as long as it is wide. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) - "A federal management bureau of the Department of the Interior responsible for the management and conservation of public surface acreage as well as subsurface mineral estate, and cultural resources within public land. These public lands make up more than 40 percent of all land managed by the Federal government." (http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM.html 2009) Blown-in-Mold - Process of glass contained manufacture in which glass was forced by means of air pressure from a blowpipe into a mold. This method was commonly used prior to the advent of machine-molded glass in the early twentieth century. Board-and-Batten - A type of wall cladding for wood-frame houses; closely spaced, applied boards or sheets of plywood, the joints of which are covered by narrow strips of wood. Bolection Molding - A molding used to cover the joint between two members with different surface levels. It projects beyond both surfaces. Box Cornice - A hollow cornice, built up of boards, moldings, shingles, etc. Bracket - A supporting member projecting from the face of a wall. In American architecture it is frequently used for ornamental as well as structural purposes. Broadcloth - A densely textured woolen cloth with a plain or twill weave and a lustrous finish. Bulb of Force - Small swelling on the ventral surface at the proximal end of a flake, resulting from the conchoidal fracture of the stone core. The bulb is a characteristic of human alteration of stone, and therefore important in the identification of lithic artifacts. Bulkhead - A horizontal or sloping structure providing access to a cellar stairway or to an elevator shaft. Bull's Eye - A circular window or louver. Butted - To be joined at the ends. Butt Hinge - A hinge composed of plates attached to abutting surfaces of a door and door jamb and joined by a pin. Cantilever - A horizontal projection (e.g., a step, balcony, beam or canopy) supported by a downward force behind a fulcrum. It is without external bracing and thus appears to be self-supporting. Capital - The moldings and carved enrichment which form a finish to the top of a column, pilaster, pier, or pedestal. Carding Mill - A mill which refines wool. Casement - The hinged part of a window, attached to the upright side of the window-frame. Celt - Ungrooved, wedge-shaped, ground and often polished stone tool, used as an ax or adze. Cemento-Enamel Junction - The line at the base of the crown of a tooth, between the enamel of the crown and the cementum of the root. CFA (Commission of Fine Arts) - "The Commission is authorized to advise on the location of statues, fountains and monuments in public areas in the District of Columbia, advise on plans for public buildings erected by the Federal Government within the District of Columbia and to regulate the height, exterior design and construction of private and semipublic buildings in designated historic areas. The Commission of Fine Arts is composed of seven members. They are appointed by the President a serve without compensation for four-year terms." (http://www.cfa.gov/about/index.html 2009) Chalcedony - Transparent or translucent, microcrystalline silica rock. Iron-rich cherts are referred to as jasper. Chert - Compact, opaque to slightly translucent, microcrystalline silica rock. Iron-rich cherts are referred to as jasper. Chimney Stack - A group of flues contained within a common covering. Chip - Form of debitage, sometimes referred to as shatter, that does not possess flake attributes such as a bulb of force or striking platform. Client-Server Architecture - A software model whereby, in the case of database systems, data are stored and processed centrally on a server, while functions such as data entry or reporting take place on distributed client computers. Servers typically are enterprise database systems, such as Oracle ©, PostgreSQL ©, or Microsoft SQL Server ©, while clients are normally lighter-weight systems such as Microsoft Access © that are specialized for interface design. Clinker -Burned or partially burned pieces of coal or coal impurities. Coarse Earthenware - Ceramic with a soft, non-vitreous paste fired at 1000-1900oF. Coarse wares, whether red or buff bodied, usually were used in food preparation and storage. Colonnade - A row of columns carrying an entablature or arches. Common Rafters - Rafters of equal size found along the length of a roof or sometimes interrupted by main trusses containing principal rafters. Computerized Data - Data that are collected, stored, and accessible through a computer or other electronic means. Console - A projecting, scroll-shaped member usually used for support but also for ornament. Core - Stone which serves as the parent material or nucleus from which flakes are removed by the application of controlled force. Cornice - The crowning member of a wall or entablature. Cortex - Outer weathered surface of stone, usually exhibiting a different color and texture from the interior material. The presence of cortex on a lithic artifact is usually an indicator of an early stage of manufacture. Coursed Rubble - Rough unhewn building stones that are roughly dressed and are laid in deep courses. Creamware - Refined earthenware with a buff body and clear lead glaze producing a cream colored surface. Creamware was originally manufactured in England in the mid-eighteenth century, and continued to be made into the nineteenth century. Cribra Orbitalia - Porosity in the upper surfaces of the orbits which may be related to anemia or other deficiency. Crossette - The side projections at the top of an architrave. Crown - To surmount or be the highest part of. Cupola - A small structure built on top of a building, usually for ornamental purposes. Cut Nail - Nail cut from sheet iron, first produced in the late eighteenth century, that gradually replaced the hand wrought nail. Cyma Recta - A double-curved molding, convex above and concave below. Data - Any documentary, tabular, or locational information collected, maintained, and/or disseminated by a SHPO, THPO, or FPO, either manually or through electronic means, that contributes to documentation of an historic property or properties for the purpose of historic designation, preservation, or protection. Database Management System (DBMS) - A program or collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database. DBMS can have different types of structures and usually include ways of managing both the input and output of information within the database. Datum - Fixed zero point used to maintain vertical control in excavation. Debitage - Residual products of stone tool manufacture, including cores, flakes, and chips. Deciduous Dentition - The primary dentition which are shed as the permanent dentition erupts ("milk teeth") Dental Caries - Lesions on the enamel surface of teeth which are the result of decay. Dentil - A small ornamental block, forming one of a series set in a row. A dentil molding is formed by such a series. Dentin - The main tissue of the tooth which surrounds the pulp cavity and is covered with enamel. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) - A federal security and law enforcement agency established for the enforcement of the United States' domestic borders, provide relief in the event of natural disaster, and administer immigration into the United States. The department consolidates the functions and facilities of several previous federal agencies, including U.S. Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Diaphysis - The mid-portion of a long bone (shaft) which is one of the primary centers of ossification. Digital - Information that can read, write, or be stored in a numerical format for the purposes of being accessed, stored, or modified through the use of electronic equipment such as a computer, scanner, GPS unit, or other device. Digitize - The conversion of one type of media (text, image, audio, video) to a digital format for the purposes of being viewed, modified, or stored by electronic equipment such as a computer, scanner, GPS unit, or other device. Discriminant Function - A linear equation that assigns an unknown case to one of a number of categories (such as sex or population). Distal - Portion of the flake farthest from the striking platform; or, the pointed end of a biface. DOD (Department of Defense) - The federal agency that manages the facilities, operations, and personnel of the various armed forces of the United States through the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, along with the Commander-in-Chief and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. DOE (Department of Energy) - "A federal management agency established to defend energy security, maintain the safety, security and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile, clean up the environment from the legacy of the Cold War, and develop innovations in science and technology through research and development. The Department now operates research laboratories and facilities, power marketing administrations, and an energy information administration, as well as managing the environmental cleanup from 50 years of nuclear defense activities in communities across the country." (http://www.energy.gov/organization/index.htm 2009) DOI (Department of the Interior) - The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation's principal conservation and land-management agency. The DOI is a large decentralized federal agency that administrates public surface land use, cultural resources management, reclamation projects, conservation projects, energy development projects, mining projects, and federal tribal relations. In addition, the DOI raises revenues collected from energy, mineral, grazing, timber, recreation, land sales, and other revenue producing activities. A number of Bureaus and Services are administrated by the DOI, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, Minerals Management Service, and the Office of Surface Mining. (http://www.doi.gov/facts.html 2009) Doric Order - The column and entablature developed by the Dorian Greeks, sturdy in proportion, with a simple capital, a frieze and a cornice. Dormer Window - A window in a sloping roof, with vertical sides and front. Dorsal - Outer surface of a flake. The dorsal surface exhibits the remnant flake scars of prior flake removals and/or cortex. DOT (Department of Transportation) - "A federal regulatory agency that aims to serve the United States by promoting a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets the vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people. Leadership of the DOT is provided by the Secretary of Transportation, who is the principal adviser to the President in all matters relating to federal transportation programs. The Office of the Secretary (OST) oversees the formulation of national transportation policy and promotes inter-modal transportation. Other responsibilities range from negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation." (http://www.dot.gov/summary.htm 2009). In some references "DOT" also refers to a state Department of Transportation, usually cooperating with USDOT. Eaves - The edge of a roof that projects over an outside wall. Eclectic - Architecture that is based on, or imitative of, many styles selected by personal preferences. EDA (Economic Development Administration) - A federal regulatory agency developed in 1965 in accordance within the U.S. Department of Commerce pursuant to the Public Works and Economic Development Act to "generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States." The administration works in partnership with state and local governments, regional economic development districts, public and private nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes in order to achieve their goals. (http://www.eda.gov/AboutEDA/Mission.xml) Ell - A wing of a building at right angles to the main structure. Elliptical - An arch that is a half ellipse from a center on the spring line. Embossed - Having letters, numbers, or designs molded in relief. Embrasure - A recess for a window, door, etc., or a small opening in the wall. Enamel - The hard substance that covers the dentin and forms the outer surface of a tooth crown. Enamel Hypoplasia - Lines of disrupted development in the enamel surface of teeth. Entablature - The top member of a classic order, being a continuous lintel supported on columns. It is divided horizontally into three main parts: the uppermost is the cornice, the middle one the frieze, and the lowest the architrave. Each has the moldings and decorative treatment that are characteristic of the particular order. Enthesophytes - Ossified projections or spurs at the points of ligamentous and tendinous attachment. Epiphysis - One of the ends of a long bone which is one of the secondary centers of ossification. FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) - A federal regulatory agency that is responsible for the enforcement of civil aviation safety regulations, the development of civil aeronautics, the operation and development of both civil and military air traffic control, the regulation of United States commercial space transportation, and the control and mitigation of environmental factors associated with aviation. Facing - The finishing applied to the outer surface of a building. False Plate - A plate which has no structural usage. See Plate. Fanlight - A window, often semi-circular, over a door with radiating glazing bars suggesting a fan. Fascia - A horizontal band of vertical face, usually in combination with moldings, as in the lowest member of a cornice. Fauna - Animal life. Bone and shell are faunal remains often found on archaeological sites. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) - "An independent regulatory federal agency established to regulate both interstate and international communications via radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable." (http://www.fcc.gov/aboutus.html 2009) Feature - Non-portable evidence of human activity, such as a hearth, pit, or soil stain. Federal Style - The dominant architectural style of the United States from about 1780-1820. Exhibits exterior symmetry, pedimented doorways, semi-circular or elliptical fanlights with or without sidelights, and decorated cornices, especially with dentils. Felloes - Wooden materials manufactured for use in the building of carriage wheels. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) - A federal regulatory agency under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security that represents the federal response to natural disasters that may occur within the domestic borders of the United States in the form of coordinating disaster relief, reconstruction, and the restoration of ravaged areas. Fenestration - The arrangement in a building of its windows, especially the more important and larger ones. FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) - A federal administrative agency that is organized under the U.S. Department of Transportation. The primary responsibility of the FHWA is to enforce and develop highway safety legislation as well as maintain and improve the nation's extensive surface transit corridor network. The agency provides financial and technical support for the construction, improvement, and preservation of highways owned by state, local, and tribal governments. This budget is divided between two major programs: the Federal-Aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/whoweare/whoweare.htm 2009) Fieldstone - Rough building stones generally not laid in regular courses. May be finished or uncut stones. Fire-Cracked Rock - Stone which has been exposed to extreme heat, producing spalling, cracking and/or reddening of its interior and exterior surfaces. Flake - Form of lithic debitage resulting from the manufacture of stone tools, or struck from a core for use as an expedient tool. Flakes are formed by either a controlled act of pressure, or a striking action of percussion. They are distinguished from natural spalls by the presence of attributes such as a striking platform and bulb of force. Flintknapping - Stone tool manufacture, consisting of a process of reduction in which the knapper removes flakes from a stone in a sequential manner to form a tool. Floodplain - Level or nearly level ground bordering a stream and subject to repeated flooding. Flora - Plant life. Seeds and charcoal are floral remains often found on archaeological sites. Flotation - Method used to separate floral and faunal remains from the soil and other artifacts. A soil sample is immersed in water and the organic remains float to the surface, where they are collected for analysis. Flow Blue - Form of transfer printing in which an excessive amount of link was employed and allowed to bleed beneath the glaze. FPO (Federal Preservation Officer, or Office) - Historic Preservation Officers designated to federal agencies in accordance to Section 110 of the NHPA 1966 (amended 1992) who serve to administer the preservation programs attached with the activities of various federal agencies as mandated in NHPA 1996. Frame House - A timber house of frame construction usually covered with shingles or weatherboarding. Frieze - Any long and narrow horizontal architectural member, especially one which has chiefly decorative purpose. FSA (USDA Farm Service Agency) - "A federal regulatory and management agency regulated by the Department off Agriculture (USDA) that administers and manages farm commodity, credit, and conservation, disaster and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices." (http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=about&subject=landing&topic=sao 2009) FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) - "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal conservation bureau within the Department of the Interior. Their mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. FWS manages the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) of more than 520 National Wildlife Refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. Under the Fisheries program they also operate 69 National Fish Hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations." Gable - A triangular-shaped piece of wall closing the end of a double pitched roof. Gazebo - A small look-out tower or summerhouse with a view, usually in a garden or park. Geoarchaeology - Study of archaeological soils and site formation processes. Geocoding - The process of assigning a location, usually in the form of coordinate values (points), to an address by comparing the descriptive location elements in the address to those present in the reference material. With geocoded addresses, address locations can be spatially displayed and patterns within the information recognized. German Siding - Drop siding with a concave upper edge which fits into a corresponding groove in the siding above. Drop siding is an exterior wall cladding of wooden boards which are tongued and grooved or rabbeted and overlapped so that the lower edge of each board interlocks with a groove. GIS (Geographic Information System) - A realm of computerized theory and methods, as well as a set of software tools, GIS enables the processing, storing, maintenance, management, analysis, and visualization of digital geographic data. Gothic Revival - A movement originating in the eighteenth and culminating in the nineteenth century, flourishing throughout Europe and the United States, which aimed at reviving the spirit and forms of Gothic architecture. GPS (Global Positioning System) - A device that uses satellite signals to determine precise geographic positions on the earth. GPS is used for navigation as well as data collection. Gray Literature - Documentary material that is not commercially published and therefore is not available through conventional sources. These documents are typically technical reports, working papers, business documents, and conference proceedings and are often kept in the various offices to which they are submitted. Archeological reports, architectural surveys, and historic contexts fall under this category of document. Greek Revival - A period of English architecture extending from approximately 1750 to 1850, marked by interest in Greek antiquities. It was popular in America at the beginning of the nineteenth century and continued throughout the century. Grist Mill - A mill for grinding grain. GSA (General Services Administration) - The GSA is a federally funded management agency that provides workplaces by constructing, managing, and preserving government buildings and by leasing and managing commercial real estate. In addition the GSA offers private sector professional services, equipment, supplies, telecommunications, and information technology to government organizations and the military. (http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=7 2009) Haft - Handle or shaft, usually made of bone or wood. Ethnographic studies and residue analysis indicate that hafting was attached to stone tools with vegetal cordage or sinew, often using glues derived from horn or bone. Hafting Element - Proximal end of a projectile point or other stone tool fashioned to receive a half. The hafting element was often ground to reduce abrasion on cordage. Hall-Parlor Plan - A house containing two rooms side by side, with the ridge of the roof running parallel to the long wall of the structure. Hammerstone - Tough, usually round or ovoid stone exhibiting worn or pitted surface areas from use as a percussor in the production of stone tools. Hewn - Of wood, roughly dressed by ax or adze. Hipped Roof - A roof which pitches inward from all four sides. Historic Property - A building, archeological resource (site), structure, object, or district that a SHPO, THPO, or FPO maintains or seeks to maintain information about, for the purposes of historical designation, preservation, or protection at the federal, state, tribal, or local level. This includes artifacts and remains within such properties, but not separate records or artifact collections. Historic Property Inventory - A list (or group of lists) of historic or potentially historic properties, including various types of property-based data collected and maintained by SHPOs, THPOs, or FPOs for the purpose of designation, preservation, or protection. Historic Property Survey - The systematic gathering and recording of predesignated or designated documentation on a potential historic property or properties. HUD (Housing and Urban Development) - A federal regulatory agency established to increase home ownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing, free from discrimination. This department is headed by the U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development and is supported by many program and support offices throughout the federal and state governments. (http://www.hud.gov/about/index.cfm 2009) IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services:) - The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal management and regulatory agency that is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development of library and museum professionals. (http://www.imls.gov/about/about.shtm 2009) In situ - Position of an artifact or feature as encountered in the soil. Interproximal - Between the teeth. Inventory - Information retained in an agency's files or records, either gathered manually or in electronic format survey forms related to historic properties. Ironstone - Sedimentary rock of iron-cemented sand, sometimes referred to as ferruginous quartzite. 2 Hard, refined earthenware with a white body under a clear glaze, introduced in the early nineteenth century and still manufactured today. Italianate - The eclectic form of country-house design, fashionable in England and in the United States in the 1840's and 1850's, characterized by low-pitched, heavily bracketed roofs, asymmetrical informal plan, square towers, and often round-arched windows. Jasper - Ferruginous chert, whose usual brownish red color is imparted by quantities of limonite and goethite. Iron Hill Jasper is chlorite rich, often exhibits hydrous chalcedonic banding, and is typically yellow-brown in color, but ranges from yellow to black. Joist - Any horizontal beam intended primarily for the construction or support of a floor or ceiling. Jurisdiction - FPO - properties owned/managed by the federal agency; THPO - properties owned/managed by the tribe or that the tribe feels responsible for; SHPO - the state boundaries. Keystone - The central wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch. Lap - To overlap one surface with another, as in shingling. Lateral - Marginal portion of a flake or tool, on either side of the longitudinal axis. Lath - A riblike support of wood or metal upon which plaster is spread. Lathe - A machine on which a piece is spun on a horizontal axis and shaped by a fixed cutting or abrading tool. Lattice - An open framework made of strips of metal, wood, or the like interwoven to form regular, patterned spaces. Legacy Data - Historic property inventory data not currently accessible by electronic means. Level - Arbitrary depth of soil within a natural stratum. Lintel - The horizontal structural member which supports the wall over an opening, or spans between two adjacent piers or columns. Lithic - Relating to or made of stone. Loam - Soil composed of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. Louver - One of a series of overlapping boards or slips of glass to admit air and exclude rain. Macrobotanical Analysis - Study of plant remains for information on past environments and foodways. Medial - Central portion of a flake or tool, between the proximal and distal ends. Metadata - Data that are used to characterize other data. In the case of digital images or spatial data, it is commonly a file that contains the reference or contextual information for those data. Modillion Cornice - A cornice supported by a series of small ornamental brackets under the projecting top moldings. Molding - A deviation from a plain surface, involving rectangular or curved profiles, or both, with the purpose of effecting a transition or of obtaining a decorative play of light and shade. Mullion - An upright post or similar member dividing a window into two or more units or lights, each of which may be further subdivided into panes. NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) - A federal administrative agency responsible for the safeguarding and preserving of Government records and developing educational programs and services built around this documentary heritage. NARA works in coordination with the Information Security Oversight Office, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the Office of the Inspector General. (http://www.archives.gov/about/organization/2009) NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) - A federal agency established for the research, development, implementation, and administration of space exploration, multidisciplinary scientific research, and aeronautics research, NASA maintains numerous facilities throughout the United States to achieve these goals including NASA Headquarters in Washington, 10 field centers, and a variety of installations including laboratories, air fields, wind tunnels, and control rooms. (https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html 2009) NCSHPO (National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers) - "The National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) is the professional association of the State government officials who carry out the national historic preservation program as delegates of the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA) (16 USC 470)." (http://www.ncshpo.org/about/index.htm 2009) Newel - The principal post at the end of a flight of stairs; it carries the handrails and the strings which support the steps. NIGC (National Indian Gaming Commission) - "As an independent federal regulatory enforcement agency established pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (Act). The Commission's primary responsibility is to regulate gaming activities on Indian lands for the purpose of shielding Indian tribes from organized crime and other corrupting influences; to ensure that Indian tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming revenue; and to assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both operators and players." (https://www.nigc.gov/AboutUs/tabid/56/Default.aspx 2009) Non-Spatial Data - Data that are essentially documentary in nature, including text, photographs, or other graphics, such as scanned text and maps. NPS (National Park Service) - The National Park Service is a management bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior organized for the maintenance of the U.S. National park system and the preservation of natural and cultural resources for the purposes of recreation and education. NPS staff cooperate with internal (e.g., the parks) and external (e.g., the SHPOs) partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. (http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/mission.htm) NRCS (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) - "The Natural Resources Conservation Service is a federal conservation agency operated under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources." (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/2009) NRHP (National Register of Historic Places) - "The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worth of preservation regulated by the National Park Service (NPS). Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archaeological resources." (http://www.nps.gov/nr/about.htm 2009) Occlusal - The biting surface of the tooth that contacts the teeth from the opposing jaw. Osteophytes - Growths on the surfaces of bones associated with degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or trauma. Osteoporosis - Bone loss, usually associated with aging. Outbuilding - A minor structure separated from a building of which the former is a dependency. Pane - A sheet of glass for a comparatively small opening in a window or door. Parturition Scars - Modifications of the surface of the bony pelvis (on the dorsal surface of the pubic symphysis or the preauricular region of the ilium) which may be the result of pregnancy and/or childbirth. Pathology - The study of disease. Peak - A tapering, projecting point; pointed extremity as in the peak of a roof. Pearlware - Refined earthenware containing a small amount of cobalt in the glaze, giving the ware a slightly blue-tinted color. Pearlware was made from the 1770s to the 1830s. Pediment - The low triangular gable formed by the roof slopes on top and the horizontal enclosing member, generally a cornice, beneath. Penciled - In brickwork, the painting (especially in white) of the mortar joints. Pendant - An ornamental member suspended from above. Pent Roof - A roof of a single sloping plane projecting from a wall, usually of small size. Pier - A freestanding mass, generally rectilinear in shape, supporting one side of an arch or one end of a beam, lintel, or girder. A thickening of a wall in the form of a vertical strip to strengthen it or to carry a heavy load for which the wall would not be strong enough. Pilaster - The projecting part of a square column which is attached to a wall; it is finished with the same cap and base as a freestanding column. Pile - Refers to the floor plan of a building; the number of rooms deep. Plank - A long, wide, sawn piece of timber, usually used for flooring. Plaster - A mixture of lime, sand, and water, sometimes with hair or other fiber added, applied as a thick paste upon a firm base of masonry or lath to form, when hard, a smooth and nearly impervious surface for wall or ceiling. Plate - In wood-frame construction, the horizontal member capping the range of exterior wall studs, supporting the rafters. Plinth - The projecting base of a wall or column pedestal, generally molded at the top. Plow Zone - Layer of soil that has been disturbed by plowing. Point - Thin, symmetrical tool form, usually bifacially flakes, having one end pointed and the other modified for hafting. Regularities in morphological design, or style, are recognized, and comparisons with radiocarbon dated materials provide an important tool for chronological analysis. This term includes tools that may have been used as spear points, arrow points, or knives. Porcelain - High-fired, vitreous ceramic that is translucent in strong light. Chinese porcelain is found on colonial sites from the mid-sixteenth century onward, however European porcelain was not produced until the mid-eighteenth century. Porotic Hyperostosis - Porosity in the outer surface and thickening of the bony table of the cranium which may be related to anemia or other nutritional deficiency. Postcranial - That portion of the human skeleton below the skull. Potlid - Thin, round fragment of stone which has spalled of the main body due to extreme change in temperature. Prehistoric - Time period before written records; in the Mid-Atlantic region, generally before ca. 1600 AD. Projecting - To extend forward or out; protrude. Provenience - Vertical and horizontal location in which an artifact or feature was found. Proximal - Portion of a flake retaining the striking platform and bulb of force; or, the basal portion of a biface. Pubic Symphysis - The joint at the front of the pelvis where the two innominate bones articulate at the midline. Pyramidal - Having the shape of a pyramid. Quarry - Locale at which stone, in suitable form for tool manufacture, was extracted. Quartz - Extremely hard, transparent or translucent mineral of silicon dioxide, having a vitreous luster and occurring in both crystal and massive form. Quartzite - Tough rock of welded, metamorphosed sandstone (metaquartzite), or sedimentary sandstone cemented by silica (orthoquartzite). Quoin - The bricks or stones laid in alternating directions, which bond and form the exterior corner angle of a wall. A structural element often used purely for ornament. Quarter-round - A molding having a profile of a quadrant of a circle. Radiocarbon Dating - Method used to date organic material based on the measured decay of radioactive carbon in an organism (also known as C14 dating). Rail - A horizontal member in the frame of a door, window, panel, etc. Redware - Red bodied earthenware. Reeding - Decoration consisting of a parallel convex moldings touching one another. Refined Earthenware - Ceramic with a soft, non-vitreous body fired between 1400-1900oF. Refined earthenwares are used commonly as tableware. Residue Analysis - Chemical study of the organic remains adhering to artifacts. Resorption - The process of bone destruction. Retouched Flake - Flake with a trimmed or sharpened edge. Return - The right-angled change of direction of a molding or group of moldings. RD (USDA) Rural Development) - "The Rural Development agency is a federal management subsidiary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for the development of rural areas in the US. The RD uses its financial programs to support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. The promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed landing pools, as well as offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. They also provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs." (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/2009) Real Property - Property that includes land, improvements to land, or anything attached to the land. This includes buildings, fences, ditches, trees, and any land improvements. Reclamation (Bureau of Reclamation) - A federal management bureau administered by the Department of the Interior responsible for public waterway management including the construction and maintenance of water diversion and storage facilities and the sale of water usage rights. In addition, Reclamation is responsible for the production of hydroelectric power in several western states. (http://www.usbr.gov/main/about/2009) Relational Database Management System: (RDBMS) - A database consisting of a set of linked (related) two-dimensional data tables. Common examples of relational database platforms include Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Microsoft Access, although there are many more. Rhyolite - Fine-grained, highly siliceous, usually porphyritic volcanic rock, generally light gray in color and often banded. Ridge - The horizontal length of the peark of a roof above the shingling or other roofing material. Ridgepole - The top horizontal member of a sloping roof, against which the upper ends of the rafters are fixed. Risers - The vertical face of a step. Rockingham/Bennington - Refined earthenware with a mottled brown glaze, first made in England during the late eighteenth century and manufactured in North America from the 1840s into the twentieth century. Rolling Mill - A machine used for rolling metal. Rosette - A painted, carved, or sculptured ornament having a circular arrangement of parts resembling the petals of a rose. Rubble Masonry - Rough unhewn building stones generally not laid in regular courses. Sandstone - Common sedimentary rock composed of concreted sand grains. Sash - A frame for glass to close a window opening or as part of greenhouse construction. Scanned - Any text, map, etc, recorded in an electronic format. Schist - Medium-grade, foliated metamorphic rock, usually containing mica. Scoliosis - Lateral curvature of the spine. Scraper - Bifacially or unifacially worked tool with a steep-angled working edge used for scraping various materials, including fleshy material from hides. Scrapers are described as end scrapers or side scrapers, depending on whether the working edge is found on the distal or lateral margin of the tool. Segmental Arch - An arch formed on a segment of a circle or an ellipse. Serrated - Having a saw-like edge with regular notched indentations. Shapefile - A file format developed by ESRI, Inc. that is used to store the geometry, geographic location, and attribute information for geographic data. Shapefiles contain data for polygon, line, or point features. Shed Roof - The roof of an addition to a building having only one sloping plane. Shelf - A horizontal board or slab of other material to serve as a resting place for small objects, as a bookshelf, a mantel shelf, a linen shelf. Sherd - Fragment of broken pottery. Shovel Test Pit - Small test excavation used in archaeological surveys to evaluate artifact density and determine the vertical and horizontal dimensions of sites. SHPO (State Historic Preservation Officer, of Office) - "State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) administer the national historic preservation program at the State level, review National Register of Historic Places nominations, maintain data on historic properties that have been identified but not yet nominated, and consult with Federal agencies during Section 106 review. SHPOs are designated by the governor of their respective State or territory. Federal agencies seek the views of the appropriate SHPO when identifying historic properties and assessing effects of an undertaking on historic properties. Agencies also consult with SHPOs when developing Memoranda of Agreement." (http://www.schp.gov/shpo.html 2009) Sidelight - One of a pair of narrow windows flanking a door. Sill - The horizontal member immediately supported by a foundation. Site - Location where archaeological remains are found. Slate - Low-grade metamorphosed shale or mudstone that cleaves into thin sheets due to the parallel alignment of minerals. Slip - Mixture of fine clay and water used in decoration and luting. Slitting Mill - A mill that cuts iron into rods of varying lengths and widths; often in conjunction with rolling mills and nail factories, or in iron wheel manufacturing. Snuff - A preparation of finely pulverized tobacco usually inhaled through the nostril or "dipped" (placed between the cheek and gum). Soil Profile - Vertical cut in the soil, revealing the sequence of horizontal layers, or soil stratigraphy. Solarized - Feature of certain late nineteenth and early twentieth century glass in which manganese was added to enhance clarity; exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight tints the glass a distinctive amethyst color. Spatial Data - Usually stored as coordinates and topology; data that can be mapped; often accessed, manipulated, or analyzed through GIS. Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis - The articulation between the sphenoid and occipital bones at the base of the skull. Spondylosis Deformans - A degenerative spine disease in which there are osteophytes bridging between the ventebral discs. It is found most often in elderly individuals and more commonly in males than in females. SQL (Structured Query Language) - A standardized computer language for interacting with relational databases. Steatite - Soft, chemically weathered volcanic rock, usually a greenish gray color, composed primarily of talc and serpentine. Steatite is also known as soapstone due to its soapy feel, and was used to carve into bowls and other implements. Stem - Projection at the proximal end of certain lithic points, shaped to attach the tool to a haft. Sterile Soil - Soil that contains no trace of human activity. Stratigraphy - Sequence of geologically or culturally deposited layers, or strata. Stratum - Relatively homogeneous layer visible in the soil profile, distinct from the layers directly above or below. Striking Platform - Stone surface area which receives the force that detaches a flake from a core. The remnant platform is found on the proximal end of the flake, and can be described as bifacial, faceted, simple, or cortical. Stringcourse - A narrow horizontal band of masonry which projects slightly from the wall. It is used primarily as a space divider. Stoneware - Vitreous, opaque ceramic fired at 210-0-2400oF. Stucco - Plaster for exterior walls. Stud - An intermediate vertical member of a wooden frame. Summer Beam - In early New England house construction, a large horizontal beam which runs from the chimney girt at right angles to the main girder in the outer frame, at a point opposite to the chimney. Sunburst - A pattern or design consisting of a central disk with radiating spires projecting in the member of sunbeams. Surround - Materials, usually wooden moldings, that frame wall openings. Suture - An interlocking joint between two cranial bones. Tablet - An enframed or otherwise limited space, usually for an inscription. Tabular Database - A database consisting of a single two-dimensional array of columns and rows (i.e., a table). Spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel © files are the most common example of this type. Teamster - A person who drives a team of horses and wagon. Temper - Material added to clay in the manufacture of pottery to prevent cracking and shrinking during firing and use. In the Mid-Atlantic region, common tempering materials included crushed steatite, quartz, shell, and sand. Test Unit - Area of standard size (e.g. 1m x 1m square) in which soils are excavated systematically by natural strata and/or arbitrary levels. A group of contiguous test units is referred to as an excavation block. THPO (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, or Office) - Historic Preservation Officers designated by Indian tribes delimited in the National park Service list of tribal offices in accordance with Section 101(d)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 for the purposes of Section 106 compliance. THPOs are empowered with the same responsibilities as SHPO and are consulted with by federal agencies in lieu of SHPO when a Section 106 compliance undertaking that either occurs on or may affect cultural resources located on tribal lands. (http://www.achp.gov/thpo.html 2009) Tongue-and-Grove - Applied to boards having a tongue formed on one edge and a groove on the other for tight jointing; also called matched boarding, matched flooring, and the like. Traditional Cultural Property/Place (TCP) - Places or resources that are deemed to be important and integral to maintaining a Native American tribal group's traditional culture or religion. TCPs may not be necessarily associated with easily definable sites or objects, such as is the case with mountain peaks or landscapes that may be considered sacred by Native American tribal groups. Transfer Print - Design from an inked copper engraving which is transferred to a ceramic surface. This technique for mass production was first used in the 1750s and continues today. Transom - An opening over a door or window, usually for ventilation, and containing a glazed or solid sash, usually hinged or pivoted. Treads - The horizontal part of a step. Treasury (Department of the Treasury) - "The Treasury Department is the executive agency responsible for the operation and maintenance of systems that are critical to the nation's financial infrastructure. The Department works with other federal agencies, foreign governments, and international financial institutions to encourage global economic growth, raise standards of living, and to the extent possible, predict and prevent economic and financial crises. The Department of the Treasury is organized into two major components the Departmental offices and the operating bureaus." (http://www.ustreas.gov/education/duties/2009) Trimble Unit - A brand of GPS. Most popular are the various Trimble handheld GPS units that combine the data collector and the GPS receiver into one device. Tripartite - Composed of or divided into three parts. Tuscan Order - A simplified version of the Doric order, having a plain frieze. Uniface - Flaked stone tool which has been worked on only one surface. A uniface may have been used as a tool, such as a scraper, or represent a tool in the process of manufacture. Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) - Standardized coordinate system based on the metric system and a division of the earth into 60, 6-degree-wide zones. Each zone is projected onto a Transverse Mercator projection, and the coordinate origins are located systematically. Both civilian and military versions exist. USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) - The USDA is a federal management and regulatory agency headed by the Secretary of Agriculture, responsible for the regulation and management of the food and agricultural industries, natural resources, agricultural scientific research, the improvement of rural areas in the United States, and the conservation of existing natural environments and resources. The agency works in coordination with many other federal offices, including the Inspector General, the General Counsel, the Office of the Secretary for Civil Rights, and the Office of the Secretary for Administration, among others. Several additional agencies fall under the auspices of the USDA including Rural Development, Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Agricultural Research Stations, and the USDA Forest Service. (http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal 2009) USDAFS (USDA Forest Service) - "The Forest Service was established as a federal management agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for managing public lands and facilities within national forest and grasslands." (http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/mission.shtml 2009) Utilized Flake - Flake with a dulled or damaged edge, consistent with having been used as a tool. Ventral - Inner surface of a flake. The bulb of force is visible on the ventral surface of a flake. Veranda - A long gallery-like porch, sometimes two-storied. Vernacular - Pertaining to the style of architecture and decoration peculiar to a specific culture. Vestibule - A small room between an outside door and an inside one, the latter frequently opening into a hall. Volumetric - Pertaining to a measurement of volume. Wainscot - An overlining for interior wall surfaces, usually less than the full height of the story. Weatherboard - A horizontal exterior wall board laid with the lower edge overlapping the next board below. Whiteware - Refined earthenware with a white body and clear glaze, introduced in the 1820s and still produced today. Wing - A secondary mass of a building, sometimes an addition, often at right angles to the main portion of the building and forming an ell. Yellow-Glazed Earthenware - White bodied earthenware with a bright yellow lead glaze made in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Yellow Ware - Buff-yellow bodied refined earthenware with a clear glaze, first produced in the late 1820s and manufactured into the twentieth century. |
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