Virtual Dig: A Simulated Archaeological Excavation of a Middle Paleolithic Site in France, with Student CD-ROM (Win-PC only)

PART I INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND1 Overview of Virtual Dig Installing and Running the Virtual Dig Software A Word about the Data Used in the Virtual Dig2 Background to the Middle PaleolithicThe Middle PaleolithicDating and EnvironmentNeandertals Mousterian Stone Tools Life in the Middle Paleolithic Suggested Reading 3 Combe-Capelle Suggested Reading

PART II SETUP4 Research DesignWhat Is a Research Design?Formulating a Research DesignWriting a Research DesignResearch Design at Combe-CapelleSuggested ReadingsExercise: Defining Your Research Questions for Your Virtual Project5 Unit Definition and PlacementSite GridExcavation UnitsUnit PlacementUnit Definition and Placement at Combe-CapelleOverview of the Unit Definition ScreenSuggested ReadingsExercise: Learning the Unit Definition Screen Exercise: Virtual Project6 Excavation Methods and Artifact RecoveryExcavation MethodsExcavation ToolsExercise: Learning the Methods ScreenExercise: Virtual Project7 Mapping and ProveniencingDatumsMethods for Recording ProvenienceRecording Provenience during ExcavationScreeningArtifact Recovery and Proveniencing at Combe-CapelleSuggested ReadingsExercise: Virtual Project8 PersonnelField and Lab CrewSpecialistsBudget Considerations in Planning PersonnelPersonnel at Combe-CapelleExercise: Virtual Project9 Living Expenses, Equipment, and SuppliesLiving ConditionsEquipment and SuppliesHandling Logistics at Combe-CapelleExercise: Living ExpensesExercise: Virtual Project10 Developing a Field BudgetExercise: Virtual ProjectFinal Exercise for Setting Up Your Virtual Project

PART III EXCAVATION11 Overview of ExcavationThe Day-to-Day Routine during an ExcavationStratigraphyExcavation Strategies for Recording StrataExcavation at Combe-CapelleSuggested Readings12 Excavation in Virtual DigEquipping Your Virtual ProjectUsing the Interactive Excavation ScreenExercise: Automatic ExcavationExercise:Automatic ExcavationExercise: Interactive Excavation13 Field Documentation and MappingField DocumentationDatabasesArchiving and Curating Field RecordsField Documentation at Combe-CapelleExercise: Site NotebookExercise: MappingExercise: Excavation of Your Virtual Project

PART IV LITHICS LAB14 Flintknapping:The Making of Stone ToolsTerminology and Flake LandmarksFlaking TechniquesLithic AnalysisSuggested ReadingsExercise 14.1: Flintknapping Primer15 Basics of Lithic Analysis I: Lithic MeasurementsSuggested ReadingsExercise: Lithic Measurements16 Basics of Lithic Analysis II: Lithic AttributesCommon Lithic AttributesOther Lithic Attributes in the Combe-Capelle DataAnalyzing Lithic AttributesExercise:Lithic Attributes17 Basics of Lithic Analysis III: Lithic TypologyThe Typology of Francois BordesBordian Graphs and IndicesTypology at Combe-CapelleExercise: Learning the Bordian TypologyExercise: Learning the Bordian Type Lists and Cumulative GraphsExercise: Making ScrapersPART V ANALYSIS

18 Overview of Archaeological AnalysisDay-to-Day Practices in a LabAnalysis at Combe-Capelle19 Analyzing Lithic Data with Virtual DigStatistics, Tables, and GraphsAnalyzing Type Counts and Typological IndicesExercise: Character VariablesExercise: Numeric Data20 Evaluating Taphonomy and Site FormationDamageSize DistributionsArtifact OrientationExercises: Site TaphonomySuggested Reading21 Writing a Site Report