Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (783 page)

Type of timber-framed building, usually a farmhouse, found widely over the southeast of England. Dating to the 15th century, Wealden houses have a distinctive open hall in the centre flanked at either end by multi-storeyed wings. In the most classic example the wings are jettied at the front while the central section is recessed.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

The erosion of archaeological materials and deposits through natural fluvial and aeolian processes caused by wind, rainfall, groundwater changes, freezing and thawing, river action, ocean currents and tides, glacial action, gravity, and abrasion. Such processes may result in the physical loss, peneplaining, fragmentation, or reduction in the size of structures, deposits, or single artefacts; these are described as ‘weathered’.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

The use of wool, cotton, silk, flax, or some other plant or animal fibre yarn or thread to produce textiles of various sorts by criss-crossing the yarns together in at least two directions.
Warp
threads are those which run up and down the length of a piece of textile,
weft
threads are those that run across the weave at right angles to the warp. Many different patterns are possible, producing different kinds of textile and styles of weave. Patterns can be introduced by using different coloured threads in a set order. The earliest evidence of weaving is that represented as textile and flexible basketry impressions on burnt clay from Pavlov in the Czech Republic which date to between 25000 and 23000 bc. The oldest woven cloth so far discovered is made from flax, dates to about 7000 bc, and comes from Çayönü, Turkey.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Bone or wooden implement with a handle at one end and a toothed edge at the other. The tool is used during weaving to pack the weft together tightly; the prongs of the weaving comb fit between the warp threads, so allowing the weaver to exert considerable downward or lateral pressure on the accumulating weft. See also
PIN BEATER
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Stone, wood, or metal tool with parallel sides and tapering faces that meet as a straight blade at the thin end while the thicker end has a flat striking platform for direct percussion with a hammer or mallet. Wedges are traditionally used to split tree trunks to form planks or beams.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Irish megalithic tomb consisting of a rectangular, trapezoidal, or D-shaped cairn with a long narrow chamber opening into the cairn from the wider higher side. With no separate entrance passage, the chamber is typically constructed of orthostatic walls supporting massive capstones forming the roof. Generally the chamber decreases in height towards the back. There is a slight tendency for the tombs to face west. Burials are mainly multiple cremation; grave goods are rare. Dated examples cluster in the period 2300–1800 bc, the late Neolithic, although many were later re-used as burial places.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search