Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (5 page)

A group of Persian communities that moved into western Iran during the early 1st millennium
bc
. The founding father of the ruling house was Achaemenes who lived in the 7th century
bc
, his descendants expanding the area of influence to create an empire that extended from central Asia and northern India to France and Egypt in the 6th century
bc
. Notable later rulers of the Achaemenids include Cyrus II (559–530 bc), Darius (522–486 bc), and Xerxes I (485–465 bc). The Achaemenid period was an important one for Iranian civilization and was one of the richest in terms of contacts between the classical world and the Near East. It saw the appearance and spread of Zoroastrianism, and some spectacular architecture at, for example, Darius' capital at Persepolis. However, tensions between the Achaemenids and the Greeks were always in the background, and erupted into several key battles: Darius was defeated by the Greeks at Marathon in 490 bc and the same fate befell Xerxes ten years later. In 330 bc Alexander the Great conquered and destroyed the Achaemenid empire.

 
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Lower Palaeolithic toolmaking tradition, found throughout Europe, western Asia, and Africa, which is closely associated with
Homo erectus
. The tradition was initially named, after the type-site assemblage from
ST ACHEUL
, Amiens, France, as the Epoque de St Acheul by de Mortillet in 1872, and after 1925 as the Acheulian. The most distinctive stone tools were ovate and pear-shaped handaxes, but assemblages also include flake tools and waste flakes which show considerable regional variation. In Europe the Acheulian Tradition spans the period from about 1 million years ago down to about 100000 years ago. In Africa the Acheulian follows the
OLDOWAN
and spans the period 1.5 million years ago down to 150000 years ago.

 
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Tropical plant with bright flowers (Canna edulis), native to the Caribbean and lower eastern slopes of the Andes. Domesticated from
c.
3000 bc and used as a food source.

 
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See
AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
.

 
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Hill-top enclosure found in classical Greek cities to give protection to the temple of the patron deity and, in early times, to the king's palace. The acropolis was the nucleus of a community living outside its walls, although it might provide refuge in times of danger. The most famous acropolis is the one in Athens, which was of ancient foundation as a fortified site. Through the influence of Pericles in the 5th century
bc
it was adorned with a number of exceptional buildings including the Erechtheum and the
PARTHENON
.

 
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The sculptured figure, tripod, disc or urn, of bronze, marble, or terracotta, placed on the apex of the pediment of a Greek temple or other substantial building; sometimes also above the outer angles of the pediment triangle.

 
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