3.7 Cultural/Historic periods

Introduction

Sometimes phases or periods of construction in one part of a site may include the entire lifetime of one building in another. If a project is more complex than a frame of phases/periods of construction can provide, the Cultural/Historic period links even further. This division is based on finds classification, such as:

• Ethnic/cultural artefacts or sub-divided periods of pre-prehistoric times
• Artefacts of historic periods and sub-periods

An archaeological sequence could be divided into periods of occupation according to existing classifications of their finds assemblages. Such cultures could derive from prehistoric to historic times (e.g. Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, Medieval etc). These periods can also be subdivided into 'Early', middle or and 'Late' parts. Or periods could be named more specifically in prehistoric times after finds groups such as the 'Beaker People' or after emperors, such as the (Early Roman) 'Claudian', or the (Late Medieval) 'Elizabethan' period.

• 3.7.1 Forming periods
• 3.7.2 Period plans
• 3.7.3 Numbering periods
• 3.7.4 Period sequence diagram or table
• 3.7.5 Completing the database - period codes