Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (176 page)

The world view and belief system of a community based upon their understanding of order in the universe.

 
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A type of medieval ceramic flask. The most common types are roughly round in shape with a slight neck into which a stopper was pushed. These were made from the mid 1st millennium
ad
and occur in Merovingian, Carolingian, and later contexts. Rather less common are those shaped like a barrel on its side with a small neck and handles on the top and small stud-like feet on the bottom. The body is often rilled to imitate a barrel. These tend to be later, 13th to 16th century
ad
in date and were probably made in France.

 
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A regional type of middle Neolithic long barrow found on the north Wessex Downs, Cotswold Hills, South Wales coast, and Brecon Beacons in the west of England and eastern Wales. Dating to the 4th millennium
bc
, these long barrows have rectangular or trapezoidal mounds, shallow forecourts at the higher and wider ends of the mounds, and in some cases an elaborated façade of large upright slabs. Two patterns of chamber location are represented: terminal chambers in a simple linear pattern with cells opening off a central passage; and lateral chambers where short passages lead into the body of the mound from the side to give access to a simple polygonal or rectangular chamber. The material used in constructing the mounds was derived from flanking quarries. In the areas where these barrows occur the stone is suitable for dry-stone walling and the outer cairn walls of the barrows themselves are typically well constructed. Burial is by inhumation; grave goods are rare and mainly confined to personal objects. Excavations by Alan Saville at Hazleton, Gloucestershire, in the early 1980s showed that here at least bodies were first placed in the outer part of the entrance passage and that as the corpse decayed and room was needed for new burials parts were gradually moved further and further into the tomb. Also known as Severn–Cotswold long barrows.

 
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A small house of medieval and later date occupied on a permanent basis by a single family. Found in villages, hamlets, and as isolated structures in the open countryside, these dwellings are mainly associated with peasants and landless labourers.

 
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Bushy plant (Gossypinum hirsutum) with seeds covered in a soft white fibrous substance (lint) that can be made into thread. Native to Mesoamerica and parts of South America. Domesticated by
c.
4300 bc.

 
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A membership organization founded in 1944 to represent archaeological opinion in Britain, both professional and amateur. It is an independent charity which works to advance the study and practice of archaeology in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It seeks to educate and inform the public and to publish the results of research. It operates through its council, which embraces archaeological bodies of all kinds and provides a unique forum for British archaeologists to discuss matters of mutual interest. There are thirteen regional groups of the CBA, including the Council for Scottish Archaeology and CBA Wales.

 
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