Giorgio Buccellati, Critique of Archaeological Reason
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| Site-Unit: pages 7, 9-19 | "Is a site or an occupation level in a site which is sufficiently homogeneous to be regarded as representing the culture of a single place at a single time". | Type A1 - Retention of cultural identity with little trait change: In an Area of more or less homogeneous culture, Culture A, a different culture, Culture B, appears as one or more site-units. Subsequently, the two cultures remain identifiable over a long period of time, but a few types of artifacts and design features characteristic of each culture are found in sites of the other.
Type A2 - Fusion with Dominance of the Resident Culture: In an Area of more or less homogeneous culture, Culture A, a different culture, Culture B, appears as one or more site-units. Subsequently only one culture is identifiable in the area, representing a fusion of elements found in both of the earlier cultures but with elements of Culture A predominating. Type A3 - Fusion with Dominance of the Intruding Culture: In an area of more or less homogeneous culture, Culture A, a different culture, Culture B appears as one or more site-units. Subsequently only one culture is identifiable in the area, representing a fusion of elements found in both of the earlier cultures but with elements of Culture B predominating. Type A4 - Fusion Followed by Revival of the Resident Culture: In an Area of more or less homogeneous culture, Culture A, a different culture, Culture B, appears as one or more site-units. Subsequently a fusion of the two cultures occurs. Still later all elements of the intrusive culture of both pure and fused form disappear, and the fusion product is replaced by a culture in the old resident tradition. |
| Trait-Unit: pages 8, 19-23 | "Is an object modified or transported by human agency, a stylistic or technological feature or complex, or a characteristic archaeological association". | Type B1 - Adoption of the Trait-Unit without Modification and Without Fusion of the Introduced Trait-Unit with Corresponding Elements in the Receiving Culture:Two or more distinct cultures, Culture A, Culture B, Culture C, etc. exist in separate areas. One or more trait-units previously limited to Culture B are now found in Culture A, C, etc. These trait-units are virtually identical everywhere they occur and there is little or no modification of Cultures A and C in those aspects of Culture with which the intrusive trait-unit is related. The intrusive trait-unit remains a self-contained entity and there is little or no fusion of it with corresponding elements of the receiving culture. It may become a permanent part of the receiving cultures or after a period of time disappear.
Type B2 - Fusion with Dominance of the Corresponding Part of the Receiving Culture: Two or more distinct cultures, Cutlure A, Culture B, Culture C etc., exist in different areas. One or more trait-units previously limited to culture B are now found in Cultures A, C etc., occurring in combination with traits of the corresponding part of the recipient cultures. In these fusions the traits of the receiving culture dominate. Type B3 - Fusion with Dominance of the Intruded Trait-Unit in the Aspect of Culture Involved: Two or more cultures, Culture A, Culture B, Culture C, etc. exist in separate areas. One or more trait-units previously limited to culture B are now found in Cultures A, C etc., occurring in combination with traits of the corresponding part. Type B4 - Fusion with Emergence of New Traits which have no Obvious Antecedents in the Trait-Units or the Receiving Culture: Two or more distinct cultures, Culture A, Culture B Culture C etc., exist in separate areas. One or more trait-units previously limited to Culture B are now found in Cultures A, C etc. These trait-units occur in combination with the corresponding elements of the receiving cultures. During and after their appearance in these combination a marked increase in the quantity and variety of other elements of the receiving culture s can be noted. Many of the new elements have no obvious antecedents in Culture B or in the receiving cultures. |