Glossary of Terms

ALL 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

Cultural Resource Management:  (CRM) Sometimes referred to as Contract Archaeology, this type of archaeological research is mandated by state and federal legislation for the purposes of protecting and managing archaeological heritage for later generations, e.g. CRM is conducted prior to the construction of highway and utilities. 

Matau:  Samoan for an unfinished stone adze which also called a preform. It defines a stage in the production of an adze where it has been flaked to its general shape, but had not been ground 

Material Culture:  All of the physical objects left by a particular past society. 

Matrix:  The substance within which artifacts and ecofacts are surrounded, e.g. during excavation, the triangular adze was located in the soil matrix. 

Microwear Analysis:  The study of damage patterns to the edges of stone tools, where these patterns give clues to how a tool was used. 

Midden:  The accumulation of household and food debris, which is a nice word for an ancient trash pit.