Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (563 page)

The last of five general cultural stages proposed by G. Willey and P. Phillips in 1958 as a framework for the study of ancient communities in the Americas. The Post-Classic, which directly follows the
CLASSIC
, embraces communities that can be identified with an imperialistic state organization. Its application is therefore highly restricted within Mesoamerica and the central and west coasts of South America, where such societies were present in the period from about ad 900 down to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. During this time the high civilizations of earlier periods declined and changed as in a cyclical pattern of conquest and collapse. Many of the societies that lived in this period were strongly militaristic and warfare was widespread. The principal Post-Classic groups of the period include the Inca, Toltec, and Aztec.

 
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Various styles of pottery circulating in southern England from the first half of the 1st millennium
bc
, superseding the previously common and widespread
DEVEREL–RIMBURY
traditions. Post-Deverel–Rimbury wares include a fineware component comprising mainly thin-walled plain jars, bowls, and cups, together with a wide range of coarsewares including large storage vessels. From the 8th century onwards there is an increase in the amount of decoration applied, especially incised lines, fingertip impressions, and slight cordons.

 
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Minor gate or door in the defensive wall of a town or fortification.

 
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Describing the set of tasks, analysis, and operations carried out following the fieldwork stage of an archaeological project in order to bring about an understanding of the material, the publication of the results, and the deposition of the records and original material in a formal archive of some kind for future reference.

 
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General term for the period after the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age, from about 9000 bc through to the present.

 
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A rock or earth-cut socket which at one time held an upright timber post. Commonly found on excavations, such holes usually comprise several distinct elements. The
post pit
is the original hole dug to receive the post; once the post is inserted and positioned it is usually fixed in place by the insertion of
post packing
round about. Stones are often used to make a strong setting. Because timber posts rarely survive archaeologically the centre of a posthole is usually a negative impression of the post that once stood there, and this is known as the
post pipe
.

 
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