Archaeology Object Name List used by the US National Parks Service

The Archaeology Object Name List used by the US National Parks Service is adapted from the Arizona State Museum. The entire list is provided here, with translations into concept strings for the first three dozen entries.

Abrader (tool)(for)(smoothing)

Adobe (clay)(for)(building)

Adze Blade (blade)(of)(tool)(for)(carving)(wood) [there are similar tools like mattock going under quite different names]

Adze Head (head?)(of)(tool)(for)(carving)(wood)

Antler Artifact (artifact)(from)(antler)

Apache Tear (round)(nodules)(obsidian)

Apron [might signal by name, or (clothing)(to protect)(clothing)

Armor Slat [It take a while to find out what this is. They are wooden slats tied together as armor by native Americans. Similar armor may have been used in other parts of the world?] (flat)(wood)(for)(armor) armor is (protection)(for)(war) [There were other kinds of native American armor: some used wooden rods tied together – this similarity will be captured by a synthetic approach; many used hides, sometimes hardened with other substances, sometimes padded with cotton – again a synthetic approach captures similarity and difference.]

Arrow (long)(round)(pointed)(projectile)(weapon) where (projectile) is (object)(propelled) [note that ‘bow’ is harder to describe.] [A good place to talk about how we have to make decisions about when to stop breaking into more basic. It could well be that ‘bow’ and ‘arrow’ are best treated as basic, but defined in terms of other basic concepts]

Arrow Foreshaft (front)(long)(part of)(arrow)

Arrow Shaft (long)(part of)(arrow)

Atlatl (weapon)(for)(throwing)(spear) [Note that a spear is really a big arrow. But they are fired in different ways]

Atlatl Foreshaft

Atlatl Shaft

Awl (long)(pointed)(spike) Note that there are different types of awl, which can be defined by use: (making)(holes)(in)(wood) or (scratching/carving)(wood) or (making)(holes)(in)(leather)

Axe (tool)(for)(cutting)(wood) [Note that it can cut other things; also be used for carving; also as a weapon] [Better perhaps define by form: (sharp)(blade)(with)(long)(handle) Note that the big difference between adze and axe is whether blade is that the head of an adze is perpendicular to the shaft.

Bag [I think this is basic: (flexible)(container)(for)(carrying)] [then distinguish by material.]

Bag Handle (part of)(bag)((for)(carrying)

Bag, Apron

Bag, Awl

Bag, Pipe

Ball

Band (flat)(thin)(strip)(for)(collecting?)

Basket (container)(for)(carrying)(made of)(strips)(intertwined)

Basket, Burden

Basketry Fragment

Basketry Fragment, Cord

Basketry Fragment, Sherd

Baton (short)(stick) (for)(directing)(music) (as)(symbol)(power) etc. [Note that baton on its own tells us little]

Batten (long)(flat)(strip)(wood or metal)(for)(fastening)

Bead (small)(round)(with)(hole) [likely merits its own designation]

Beaker (wide)(glass)(with)(pouring)(lip)

Beam (long)(squared)(wood or metal)(support)(roof or floor)

Beamer (bone)(implement)(for)(cutting or scraping) Mississippian

Bell

Belt

Biface

Blade

Blank

Blank, Disk

Blanket

Blouse

Blubber Hook Prong

Blubber Scraper

Bola

Bola Weight

Bone Artifact

Bottle

Bottle, Water Bow

Bow

Bowl

Bowl, Effigy

Bowl, Rattle

Bowl, Seed

Bowl, Sherd

Box

Bracelet

Brush

Buckle

Building Material

Bull Roarer

Bundle

Bundle, Cord

Burin

Button

Cane

Cane Cigarette

Canteen

Canteen, Effigy

Cauldron

Censer

Censer, Effigy

Chisel

Chopper

Cigarette

Clasp

Clay Artifact

Cleaver

Club

Colander

Comb

Concretion

Container

Coprolite

Cord

Cord/Bead

Cordage

Core

Core, Chopper

Core, Hammerstone

Core Fragment

Core/Microblade

Core Tool

Corn Husk Knot

Corn Leaf Knot

Cover

Cover, Pot

Cradle

Cradle Board

Cradle Board Belt

Cradle Board Frame

Crystal

Cup

Cylinder

Dart, Atlatl

Debitage

Die

Digging Stick

Dipper

Dipper Handle

Dipper Sherd

Discoid

Discoid/Hammerstone

Dish

Disk

Drill

Endblade

Effigy, Animal

Effigy, Bird

Effigy Jar, Horned Lizard

Faunal Material

Fetish

Figurine

Fire Drill

Fire Drill Shaft

Flake

Flake, Retouched

Flake Tool

Flake, Utilized

Flake, Waste

Flaker

Flesher

Float

Floral Material

Flute

Gaming Piece

Gouge

Gourd

Gourd Jar

Graver

Grinding Slab

Guard, Wrist

Hairpin

Hammerstone

Handle

Harpoon Foreshaft

Harpoon Head

Harpoon Part

Harpoon Point

Heddle Stick

Hoe

Hook

Hoop

Human Remains

Ivory Artifact

Jar

Jar Base

Jar, Cord

Jar, Effigy

Jar, Gourd

Jar, Sherd

Jar, Seed

Jar, Seed, Bird Effigy

Kiaha

Kiaha Helping-stick

Kilt

Knife

Knife Handle

Knife, Tabular

Knot

Labret

Ladder

Ladle

Ladle Rattle Handle

Ladle, Effigy

Lamp

Leather Artifact

Leister

Lid

Lime Container

Line Weight

Lintel

Loom Anchor

Loop

Mano

Mat

Mat Fragment

Mat/Basketry Fragment

Mat/Cord

Mattock Blade [like adze but blunter blade]

Maul

Medal

Medicine Box

Medicine Stone

Metate

Microblade

Moccasin

Mug

Nail

Necklace

Necklace/Bracelet

Needle

Needle Case

Net

Net Float

Net, Burden

Ojos de Dios

Pad

Paddle

Palette

Patch

Pebble

Pebble Tool

Peg

Pendant

Pestle

Pick

Pick, Ice

Pigment

Pipe

Pitcher

Pitcher, Effigy

Plank

Plaque

Plate

Plate, Jar Base

Plate, Legged

Plate, Tripod

Point, Bird

Poncho

Pot, Bird

Pot Rest

Pot Ring

Pouch and Contents

Prayer Feather

Prayer Plume

Prayer Stick

Preform

Projectile Point

Punch

Quid

Quiver

Rabbit Stick

Rasp

Rattle

Raw Material

Ring

Ring Vessel

Robe

Robe/Belt

Robe/Textile Fragment

Rod

Rope

Rope/Cord

Rope/Cord/Yarn

Sample

Sandal

Sandal Last

Sandal/Cord

Saucer

Scalp Lock

NPS Museum Handbook, Part II (2000) E:13

Scat

Scoop

Scoop, Effigy

Scraper

Scraper, End

Scraper, Side

Seed Beater

Shaft

Shaft Smoother

Shawl

Shell

Sherd Artifact

Sherd Disc

Sherd

Sherd, Worked

Shirt

Shovel Blade

Sinew Twister

Sinker

Slab

Sled Runner

Sling

Snare

Snare Stick

Snowshoe

Sock

Soil

Spall

Spear Point

Spindle

Spindle Stick

Spindle Whorl

Split Twig Figurine

Spoon

Stone Artifact

Stone, Polishing

Stopper

Strainer

Strip

Tablita

Textile

Textile Artifact/Plaster Cast

Thread

Throwing Stick

Tinkler

Toggle

Tooth Artifact

Tooth Fragment

Torch

Tray

Tube

Tumbler

Tump Strap

Ulu Blade

Ulu Handle

Unidentified Artifact

Vase

Vegetal Artifact

Vegetal Material

Vessel

Vessel, Effigy

Weaving Stick

Whetstone

Whistle

Wig/Cord

Winged Object

Wood Artifact

Wristlet

Yarn

Yarn/Cord

Yucca Knot

Yucca Knot/Raw Material