Natural Science in Archaeology

320 Glossary
Celadon Chinese stonewares with a opaque green-gray glaze, first made in the
Sung Dynasty [ 969–1279 CE].
Celt A prehistoric axe-like tool.
Chlorite A mica-like sheet silicate that derives its name from its green color. It is a
common accessory mineral in low-grade metamorphic rocks.
Clastic Pertaining to a rock or sediment composed of particles derived from preexisting
rocks and transported some distance from their origin.
Coccolith A general term for various microscopic calcareous skeletal remains of
fossils found in chalk.
Colloidal This term refers to a state of suspension of very small particles in a liquid.
The particles are in a size range smaller than clays and tend not to sediment out
from the liquid.
Compressive strength The maximum stress that pushes a material together from
opposite sides that can be applied to a material before rupture occurs.
Cretaceous The final system in the Mesozoic Era. It follows the Jurassic and precedes
the Tertiary period.
Cupellation Used in the recovery of silver from lead minerals, it involves smelting
the lead mineral in a shallow crucible to oxidize the lead to litharge. Any other base
metals dissolve in the litharge while silver (and any gold) remains in the metallic
state.
Cyclopean Formed with, or containing, large undressed stone (as in a wall).
Detrital Pertaining to detritus, particles (such as sand, silt, or clay) or fragments of
preexisting rocks formed by erosion or weathering.
Diagenetic Pertaining to those physical, chemical, and biological processes undergone
by a sediment after its initial deposition and during lithification.
Dimensional stone Building stone that is quarried and prepared in regularly shaped
blocks.
Dimorph Having two distinct forms.
Dolomitic Containing a significant amount of the mineral dolomite CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 .
Eolian Pertaining to the wind, especially wind-formed deposits such as sand
dunes.
Epidosites Metamorphic rocks composed of epidote, quartz, and generally chlorite.
Exfoliation The process by which concentric layers or shells of rock are spalled or
stripped from the surface of a rock mass.
Facies The characteristics of a rock that differentiate it from adjacent rock units,
and usually reflecting its origin.