Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (114 page)

See
IMPRESSED WARE CULTURE
.

 
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The earliest pottery of the western Mediterranean and parts of Atlantic Europe, named after its characteristic cockle shell (
Cardium) decoration. Also known as impressed ware, this pottery is generally well made and includes other decorative motifs as well as lines made with the edge of shells. Where dated, this ware falls within the period
c.
5000–3500 bc. See also
IMPRESSED WARE CULTURE
.

 
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The four principal directions outwards from any defined spot: north, south, east, and west.

 
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Latin term for the principal street in a fort or town, theoretically running north to south and at right angles to the
decumanus maximus
.

 
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Occupants of the Lesser Antilles at the time of Columbus. Originating in northern Amazonia, the Carib displaced the former occupants of the islands, the Arawak, presumably by force. The Carib had an agricultural subsistence economy and were skilled potters. Their spiritual beliefs focused on warfare and the ritual consumption of human flesh. The word ‘cannibal’ is derived from the word ‘carib’.

 
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North American reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grouped into two subspecies, the barren ground caribou and woodland caribou. The former is only found in Arctic parts of North America and has long, slightly curved antlers. The woodland caribou roams the forest districts of Canada and has shorter, branched antlers. The caribou has never been domesticated, although it has been hunted continuously since Palaeo-Indian times and many communities have subsisted almost exclusively from it.

 
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