The Bering Land Bridge was a vast landmass, called Beringia, that connected Asia and North America during the Ice Ages when sea levels were lower. It provided a migration route for humans, animals, and plants more than 13,000–16,500 years ago. 🌍 Geological & Environmental Context Formation: During the Pleistocene Ice Age, massive ice sheets locked…

Benton flaking is a distinctive lithic reduction technique associated with Middle Archaic Benton projectile points, characterized by broad percussion flake removals, step fractures, and occasional oblique-transverse flaking. It reflects a high level of craftsmanship and is diagnostic of Benton-style points found in the Tennessee River Valley and surrounding regions. 🌍 Definition Benton Flaking: A flintknapping…

In anthropology, archaeology, and technical fields, a bench mark (often written benchmark) is a fixed reference point used for measurement, orientation, or comparison. Its meaning shifts depending on whether we’re talking about excavation practice, surveying, or broader cultural/economic analysis. 🌍 Definition Bench Mark (Surveying/Archaeology): A permanent point of known elevation or position used as a…

Behavioral thermoregulation is the process by which animals, including humans, regulate their body temperature through actions and behaviors rather than purely physiological mechanisms. It is a key adaptive strategy studied in anthropology, biology, and ecology. 🌍 Definition Behavioral Thermoregulation: Adjusting behavior to maintain optimal body temperature in response to environmental conditions. Contrast: Unlike physiological thermoregulation…

In anthropology, psychology, and human biology, behavioral adjustment refers to the ways individuals or groups modify their behavior in response to environmental, social, or cultural pressures. It is a key concept for understanding adaptation, resilience, and survival strategies across contexts. 🌍 Definition Behavioral Adjustment: The modification of actions, habits, or strategies to cope with new…

In anthropology, “BC” most commonly refers to Before Christ, a chronological marker used in dating historical and archaeological events. It is part of the traditional Western calendar system, though many scholars now prefer the neutral term BCE (Before Common Era). 📜 Chronological Use in Anthropology BC (Before Christ): Marks years before the estimated birth of…

In archaeology, baulks are the unexcavated strips of earth left standing between excavation squares or trenches. They serve as reference walls that preserve the stratigraphy (layering) of a site, allowing archaeologists to study soil profiles and maintain spatial control during excavation. 🌍 Definition Baulk: A vertical section of earth deliberately left unexcavated between dig units.…

In anthropology and archaeology, basket traps are woven fishing devices designed to passively capture fish or aquatic animals. They are among the oldest and most widespread fishing technologies, reflecting ingenuity in material culture and ecological adaptation. 🌍 Definition Basket Trap: A container-like trap, usually woven from plant fibers, reeds, or bamboo, designed with a funnel…

In anatomy and anthropology, the basicranium refers to the base of the cranium (skull), specifically the bones that form the floor of the cranial cavity. It is a critical region for understanding human evolution, comparative anatomy, and functional morphology. 🌍 Definition Basicranium: The cranial base, comprising the bones that support the brain and connect the…

In lithic archaeology, baseward flaking refers to the removal of flakes from a stone tool or projectile point in a direction toward its base (the hafting end), rather than toward the tip. It is a specific flintknapping technique used to shape, thin, or prepare the basal portion of an artifact for hafting. 🌍 Definition Baseward…

In anthropology, archaeology, and technical analysis, a base-line refers to a foundational reference line used for measurement, orientation, or comparison. Its meaning shifts depending on disciplinary context, but it always denotes a starting point or standard against which other data or structures are aligned. 🌍 Definitions Across Contexts Archaeology & Surveying Base-line: A fixed line…

In archaeology, lithics, and anthropology, the base refers to the bottom portion of a tool, artifact, or structure. Its meaning shifts depending on context, but it generally denotes the foundational or lower part that supports function, attachment, or orientation. 🌍 Definitions Across Contexts Lithic Analysis (Projectile Points & Tools) Base: The bottom edge of a…