Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (49 page)

A review of the known archaeology in a known area based on searches and checks through available records and documentation such as those in the relevant sites and monuments record, national monuments record, local record offices, museum archives, and other sources such as historic maps and aerial photographs. An assessment may also, however, involve some non-destructive methods of site reconnaissance such as earthwork surveys and geophysical surveys. In Britain, assessments are regarded as an essential preliminary stage in identifying whether there is an archaeological dimension to a development proposal. They are also used in preparing research designs. Also known as archaeological assessments and desk-top assessments.

 
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The absorption of a minority group into a majority population, during which the group takes on the values and norms of the dominant culture.

 
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The relationship between an artefact and other archaeological finds and a site level, or other artefact, structure, or feature in the site. See
CLOSED ASSOCIATION
,
SPATIAL ASSOCIATION
,
STRATIGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION
.

 
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Solar deity, chief god of the city of Assur and Assyria.

 
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A city-state in the northern part of Mesopotamia with its capital at
ASSUR
. From about 1300 bc the Assyrian kings, all great warriors, developed an empire that, at its maximum, included Egypt, much of the area west of Mesopotamia as far as the Mediterranean, Elam to the east and parts of Anatolia to the north. Assurnasirpal II transferred the centre of government to Calah (
NIMRUD
) where he rebuilt the city;
NINEVEH
and for a while Khorsabad were co-capitals. He was also the first king to create pictorial reliefs to supplement
CUNEIFORM
inscriptions. The fortunes of the empire were fairly turbulent between the 9th and 7th centuries
bc
and in 614 bc the empire collapsed when the Medes invaded Assyria capturing Calah and destroying Assur.

 
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Goddess of love and war, the mythical mother and fertility goddess of the
PHOENICIANS
and Canaanites, variously equated with the Egyptian Isis, Babylonian
ISHTAR
, Carthaginian
TANIT
, and Greek
APHRODITE
.

 
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