DelDOT's Cultural Resources -
Archaeology/Historic Preservation
Cultural Resources Glossary
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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z References Dames Quarter Black Stone Tempered - A Woodland I (1200 B.C. - 700 B.C.) modeled and possibly coiled ceramic characterized by flat bottoms and tempered with crushed black hornblende or gneiss. Surfaces are usually smooth and occasionally the flat bases are mat impressed. 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. A datum line is a horizontal reference line for making scaled drawings of excavations. Deadwood - The reinforcing structure at the stern of a vessel built in between the keel and the upper part of the hull, at the place where the rudder was mounted. Debitage - Waste material from the manufacture of stone tools, including cores, flakes, and chips. Decidious - Leaf-bearing trees that shed in autumn. Deciduous Dentition - The primary dentition which are shed as the permanent dentition erupts ("milk teeth") Decortication - Removal of the cortex from a piece of stone. De Facto - In reality or fact. Demography - The size, density, distribution, and vital statistics of a human population; also refers to the study of these population characteristics. Dental Caries - Lesions on the enamel surface of teeth which are the result of decay. Denticulate - Finely toothed; minutely dentate. A tool with small (toothlike) projections on the edge. 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. Detritus - Particles of rock or other material worn or broken away from a mass, as by the action of water or glacial ice; any disintegrated material; debris. 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. Diachronic - Referring to two or more reference points in time. 2 The study of a discrete area through time, i.e. culture history. Diagnostic - Artifact with identifying traits that categorize the item to a specific time period. 2 An artifact that can clearly be dated and/or identified as to maker, date, place or origin. Diagnostic Artifacts - An artifact with specific temporal or cultural significance. Diaphysis - The mid-portion of a long bone (shaft) which is one of the primary centers of ossification. Dietary Refuse - Bone that comes from the table; food scraps. Difference-of-Means Test - A statistical test that determines if the means (averages) of variables, or measurements are different. Difference-of-Proportion Test - A statistical test that measures the degree of difference between samples from two different populations of things. 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. Dipt - The Staffordshire potters' term for refined earthenwares that are slip decorated such as mocha, common cable, varigated, and blue banded. These wares were the cheaptest types of bowls, mugs, and pitchers available with color decoration from ca. 1790 to 1860. Direct Percussion - Part of the lithic reduction process, a percussor is directly applied to the worked material with a sharp blow. Discards - Stone tools that are too heavily reshaped and modified to be further used. Discriminant Function - A linear equation that assigns an unknown case to one of a number of categories (such as sex or population). Displacement Tonnage - The amount of water in tons displaced by the underwater volume of a vessel; abbreviated "displ." Distal - Portion of the flake farthest from the striking platform; or, the pointed end of a biface. Distal End - The pointed end of a projectile point. 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. 2 A window which projects from a sloping roof. Dorsal - Outer surface of a flake. The dorsal surface exhibits the remnant flake scars of prior flake removals and/or cortex. 2 Facing side; outer surface. 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. Double Hung Window (d.h.) - A window having two vertical sliding sashes, each closing a different part of the opening. Double Pile - Two rooms deep. Dower - The portion of the estate of a deceased person that the law allocates to the surviving spouse. Dripline - A slight trench or depression left in the soil where a roof overhang was present. |
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