|
Comparative Archaeology Database, University of Pittsburgh
|
|
Upper Daling Region Settlement Dataset |
The data files LITHTOOLEXC.TXT and LITHTOOLEXC.XLS contain complete data on the formal lithic tools recovered from each excavation unit in the stratigraphic tests.
LITHTOOLEXC.TXT is a comma-delimited ASCII text file, which should be easy to import into spreadsheet, database, and statistical programs for manipulation and analysis. LITHTOOLEXC.XLS contains the same data in the form of an Excel spreadsheet which is easier to browse, and can also be imported into many programs. Each line represents one artifact (or, in the case of artifacts with multiple utilized edges, on utilized edge). There are 164 lines, each with 33 variables separated by commas. The variables are, in the following order:
| 1 | Test ID. A two-letter designation that identifies each of the 1 by 2 m stratigraphic tests. The first letter is always X or Y. |
| 2 | Excavation unit. A two-digit number referring to the individual excavation unit within a stratigraphic text. Generally corresponds to a level approximately 10 cm deep, although where stratigraphy indicated, these were subdivided in various ways. The exact form of each excavation unit is shown on the profiles in the Magnetometry and Stratigraphic Testing section of this dataset. In each test, Unit 01 was always a surface collection made before beginning to excavate. Numbers increase downwards in each test. |
| 3 | Key. The Test ID and the Excavation unit number combined into a single string. |
| 4 | Stratum. The number corresponding to the cultural stratum identified in the excavation profile after excavation was completed. These stratum numbers appear in the profiles in the Magnetometry and Stratigraphic Testing section of this dataset. These are the meaningful analytic units into which excavation units were combined following excavation. In some cases there is a one-to-one correspondence between an excavation unit and the cultural stratum to which it is assigned. In most instances, multiple excavation units are combined into a single meaningful cultural stratum. Strata are numbered from top (most recent) to bottom (oldest). Stratum numbers in different tests do not correspond, except for Tests XD and XL, which are adjacent. A blank in this column means that the excavation unit was not assigned to any cultural stratum. Excavation Unit 01 (the surface collection prior to excavation always became Stratum 0. |
| 5 | Artifact sequence number. L followed by a three-digit number. For artifacts with multiple utilized edges, the same artifact number is used on the initial record as well as repeat records for additional utilized edges. When a tool is remanufactured into a new tool separate artifact numbers are assigned to each tool, even though it is only one object. |
| 6 | Raw material of "good" quality (1=yes; recorded only on first record for artifacts having multiple records) |
| 7 | Raw material of "poor" quality (1=yes recorded only on first record for artifacts having multiple records) |
| 8 | Manufactured by flaking (1=yes; recorded only on first record for artifacts having multiple records) |
| 9 | Manufactured by grinding (1=yes; recorded only on first record for artifacts having multiple records) |
| 10 | Manufactured by pecking (1=yes; recorded only on first record for artifacts having multiple records) |
| 11 | Tool type is abrader (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 12 | Tool type is awl or drill (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 13 | Tool type is axe or adze (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 14 | Tool type is blade (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 15 | Tool type is retouched blade (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 16 | Tool type is retouched flaked (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 17 | Tool type is unifacial scraper (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 18 | Tool type is bifacial scrapers (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 19 | Tool type is chopper (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 20 | Tool type is blade core (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 21 | Tool type is unidirectional flake core (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 22 | Tool type is mujltidirectional flake core (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 23 | Tool type is projectile point (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 24 | Tool type is tool blank (1=yes; recorded on all records for each artifact so as to count once for each edge) |
| 25 | Edge angle is less than 25 degrees (1=yes) |
| 26 | Edge angle is 25-44 degrees (1=yes) |
| 27 | Edge angle is 45-65 degrees (1=yes) |
| 28 | Edge angle is greater than 65 degrees (1=yes) |
| 29 | Tool type (name of type written out; included on each record for artifacts with multiple records) |
| 30 | Numeric code for tool condition (6=almost complete; 7=indeterminate; 8=broken [proximal]; 9=broken [distal]; 10=broken [medial]; 11=broken [lateral]; 12=complete) |
| 31 | Edge angle measured in degrees at the midpoint (0 = core or indeterminate) |
| 32 | Repeat ("R" appears on all records except the first for all artifacts with multiple records) |
| 33 | Comments |
The first line of the ASCII text file, for example, looks like this:
XB,9,XB09,XB-2,L444,,,,,,,,,,,1,,,,,,,,,,1,,,retouched flake,8,42,R,
This means that the data belong to stratigraphic test XB, unit 9. Together these two variables combine to make key XB09. The Stratum is XB-2. The artifact sequence number is L444. No details on material quality or manufacturing technique are noted. The tool type is a flake with an acute edge angle. The written designation for this tool type is "retouched flake." The numeric code for tool condition is 8, which stands for "broken [proximal]." The edge angle measurement is 42 degrees. This utilized edge belongs to an artifact with multiple records. There are no additional comments for this utilized edge.
The last, or 164st line of the ASCII text file is:
XY,1,XY01,XY-0,L489,1,,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,,,,,,,"core (flake, unidirection",12,0,,
This means that the data belong to stratigraphic test XY, unit 1. Together these two variables combine to make key XY01. The Stratum is XY-0. The artifact sequence number is L489. The material quality for this artifact is good and the manufacturing technique is flaked. The tool type is a flake core, hence no angle information is provided. The written designation for this tool type is "core (flake, unidirection." The numeric code for tool condition is 12, which stands for "complete." Since this is a core there is no meaningful edge angle, so the value entered is 0. There are no additional comments for this utilized edge.
Click here to download the file LITHTOOLEXC.TXT (12 KB) or the file LITHTOOLEXC.XLS (38 KB).