Archaeological culture

An archaeological culture is a recurring pattern of artifacts, architecture, and other material remains used to group sites across a region or period. The pattern does not by itself prove that its makers shared an identity or language.

Artifact (archaeology): An object made, modified, or used by humans and recovered through archaeological study. Artifacts provide many of the recurring traits used to define an archaeological culture.
Seriation (archaeology): A method that orders archaeological assemblages by changes in the frequency of artifact types. Seriation can reveal patterned sequences used to distinguish cultural phases.
Bell Beaker culture: A widespread Late Neolithic and Copper Age archaeological phenomenon marked by distinctive bell-shaped pottery and associated objects. Its broad distribution raises questions about migration, exchange, and shared practices.
Archaeological horizon: A widespread archaeological pattern that appears across multiple regions during a relatively limited period. A horizon emphasizes broad, time-specific connections rather than a culture's full duration.
Migration (human): The movement of people from one region or settlement to another. A new material pattern may reflect incoming populations, but artifacts alone cannot establish migration.
Archaeological site: A place containing material evidence of past human activity. Sites are the spatial units archaeologists group when mapping cultural patterns.
Diffusion (anthropology): The spread of cultural traits between societies through contact and exchange. Shared artifact styles may spread across groups without indicating a single community.
Corded Ware culture: A Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age archaeological culture known for pottery decorated with cord impressions. Its material pattern is mapped across a large area despite substantial local variation.
Archaeological phase: A unit of archaeological classification defined by a relatively consistent assemblage in a particular place and period. Phases can describe local sequences more narrowly than archaeological cultures.
Ancient DNA: Genetic material recovered from ancient human, animal, or plant remains. Ancient DNA can test population histories that artifact-based cultural maps cannot resolve alone.

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