Description
Object ID
SignBase collects abstract motifs on mobile objects from the Paleolithic. In contrast to parietal art, often found on rock walls in caves or in rock shelters, mobile objects usually come excavated stratigraphical units. The objects are the key elements in SignBase. All types of artifacts are possible carriers for abstract motifs, but usually we are dealing with artifacts made from osseous material, as these are the objects that are mostly decorated. The object ID is constituted by the abbreviation of the site name, followed by a running number within this collection: La Ferrassie – laf0001, laf 0002, …
Site and Location
All the objects in SignBase are finds from archaeological excavations. These may be caves, or open-air sites. The archaeological site (site name) is indicated, as well as the closest community or town (location) and the country. For an exact location, the latitude and longitude are given. The precision of the location is: precise, if the coordinates correspond with the exact location of the site; approximate, if only the coordinates of the closest community or town are available. The coordinate reference is gives as well, which might be the excavation report, or an internet site.
Techno-complex
Entities in Prehistory are based on the material culture. An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place that may constitute the material culture remains of a past human society. For the Paleolithic, there are mostly artifacts made from lithic or organic material. Characteristic artifact types or assemblages of artifacts define the entity, here referred to as techno-complex. In the Paleolithic this might be for example the Aurignacian, the Gravettian, or the Magdalenian in Europe, or the Middle Stone Age or the Later Stone Age in Africa.
Layer
In archaeological excavations objects are found in units of sediments, which are called stratigraphical units. These units are usually defined by the archaeologists during excavation and give information about the provenience of the object and its assignment to a particular techno-complex.
Dating (Date BP max-min)
Maximum and minimum dates obtained through direct dating of layers or objects, or from the given techno-complex. BP is the abbreviation for “before present” and is a time scale used mainly in archaeology. The commencement date of the age scale (“present”) is 1 January 1950, reflecting the origin of practical radiocarbon dating in the 1950s. Here, uncalibrated dates are given.
Dating Method
This describes the method that has been used for dating the find. For absolute dating in Prehistory mainly radiocarbon dating is used (14C). Other often used methods are Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), Thermoluminescence (TL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), or Uranium–thorium dating.
Material
Raw material of the object. For the Paleolithic, mostly osseous material, like ivory, bone, or antler is used. Other organic materials, like shells of mollusks, egg shells, or teeth, but also inorganic materials like rocks, pigments, or ceramics might appear.
Object type
Typological determination of the object, usually as indicated in the literature, or revised, if needed. Might be tools, personal ornaments, art figurines, or any other archaeological type of object.
Size (Length, width, depth)
Gives the dimension of the object in millimeter. Usually as indicated in the literature.
Preservation
Conservation state of the object. Complete – the whole object is preserved; almost complete – the whole form of the object is preserved, with some damage; fragmented – only a partly preserved, the original dimension and shape of the object is not preserved.
References
References about the object, its provenience, excavation report or dating of the object/stratigraphical unit.