In anthropology and primatology, the phrase “by troop” usually refers to studying or describing social organization at the level of a troop. A troop is the basic social unit of many nonhuman primates, especially monkeys and baboons. 🌍 Definition of Troop Troop: A cohesive social group of primates, typically consisting of multiple adult males, multiple…

Butchering station in anthropology and archaeology refers to a location where animals were systematically processed for meat, hides, and other resources. These sites are identified through characteristic bone assemblages, tool marks, and spatial organization, and they provide crucial evidence about subsistence strategies and social organization in past societies. 🌍 Definition Butchering Station: A designated area…

Burin is a specialized stone tool type in lithic technology, widely studied in archaeology and anthropology. It is characterized by a chisel-like edge used for engraving, carving, or working softer materials like bone, antler, and wood. 🌍 Definition Burin: A flake tool modified to produce a sharp, narrow, chisel-like edge. Name Origin: From French burin…

Burials in anthropology and archaeology refer to the practices and material remains associated with disposing of the dead. They are one of the richest sources of information about past societies, revealing beliefs, social structures, and cultural identities. 🌍 Definition Burial: The intentional placement of human remains in a specific location, often accompanied by ritual or…

Burial mound (also called a tumuli, barrow, or kurgan) is an earthen or stone structure built over graves, widely studied in archaeology and anthropology as a form of funerary architecture. These monuments are found across the world and provide crucial evidence of ritual, social hierarchy, and cultural identity. 🌍 Definition Burial Mound: A raised structure…

Bulrush is a common name applied to several tall, grasslike wetland plants, especially in the genera Scirpus and Typha. In anthropology and ethnobotany, bulrushes are significant because they have been widely used by human societies for food, material culture, and symbolic purposes. 🌍 Definition & Ecology Bulrush (Scirpus, Typha, Schoenoplectus): Perennial wetland plants with tall…

In anthropology and archaeology, the term bulbous is usually descriptive rather than technical—it refers to rounded, swollen, or convex forms in human anatomy, lithic technology, or material culture. Its meaning depends on context: 🌍 General Definition Bulbous: Having a rounded, swollen, or convex shape, resembling a bulb. Usage in Anthropology: Applied to anatomical features, stone…

In anthropology and archaeology, a bulbar depression is a diagnostic feature of stone tool production, referring to the concavity left on a core after a flake has been struck off. It is closely associated with the bulb of percussion and helps specialists identify intentional knapping versus natural breakage. 🌍 Definition Bulbar Depression: A distinctive mark…

Bulb of percussion is a key diagnostic feature in lithic technology and archaeology, referring to the swelling or convexity that appears on a flake just below the point of impact where it was struck from a core. It is one of the most important attributes used to identify human-made stone tools. 🌍 Definition Bulb of…

The Brunton compass (often called the Brunton Pocket Transit) is a precision field instrument widely used in geology, archaeology, anthropology, and surveying. It was invented in 1894 by David W. Brunton, a Canadian mining engineer, and has become iconic for field sciences because it combines multiple functions in a compact, durable design. 🌍 Definition &…

Brow ridge (also called the supraorbital ridge or supraorbital torus) is a prominent bony ridge located above the eye sockets, forming part of the frontal bone of the skull. In anthropology, it is a key morphological feature used to study human evolution and variation among primates and hominins. 🌍 Definition Brow Ridge: The bony protrusion…

The Bronze Age was a major prehistoric era (c. 3300–1200 BCE in the Near East, c. 3200–600 BCE in Europe) defined by the widespread use of bronze tools, weapons, and ornaments, marking the transition from stone technologies to complex urban societies. 🌍 Definition & Chronology Bronze Age: Archaeological term for the period when societies produced…