Site Types

Label			Definition
Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex			The locations and/or archaeological remains of a building or buildings used for human habitation. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Settlements		Locations, or the remains of multiple structures or features, that were inhabited by humans in the past. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Encampment	A relatively small, short-term human habitation occupied by a relatively small group.
		Hamlet / Village	Relatively small, self-contained groups of dwellings and associated structures providing shelter and a home base for its human inhabitants. Typically occupied for a number of years or decades, and in some cased for centuries.
		Town / City	Larger settlements with more dwellings and a wide variety of other kinds of structures. These settlements typically have internally organized infrastructure of streets or walkways and water and waste-disposal systems. Typically occupied for decades or centuries.
	Domestic Structures		Locations, or the remains of buildings that were inhabited by humans in the past. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Brush Structure	A temporary structure, made out of brush, with a roof and walls, built to provide shelter for occupants or contents (e.g., wikieup, ki).
		Cave	Natural hollow or opening beneath earth's surface, with an aperture to the surface, showing evidence of human use. Caves may or may not have been modified for or by human use. A cave differs from a rockshelter in depth, penetration, and the constriction of the opening.
		House	A relatively small dwelling occupied by a single nuclear or extended family. May appear archaeologically as a stone foundation or pattern of post molds.
		House Mound	A slightly raised, mounded area of earth or rock built to provide a platform for a single domestic structure.
		Wattle & Daub (jacal) Structure	The remains of a small surface structure constructed of brush (wattle) and mud (daub).
		Long House	A long, relatively narrow multi-family dwelling, best known as a typical village dwelling used by Iroquois Confederacy tribes.
		Pit House / Earth Lodge	Semi-subterranean habitation that may have an oval, round or rectangular shape. Typically with a dome-like covering constructed using a wood frame covered by branches, reeds, other vegetation and earth.
		Room Block / Compound / Pueblo	Remains of a contiguous, multi-room habitation structure. Typically constructed of stone, mud brick or adobe. Usually manifests archaeologically as a surface mound of construction debris, sometimes with visible wall alignments.
		Rock Shelter	Overhang, indentation, or alcove formed naturally by rock fall or in a rock face; generally not of great depth. Rockshelters may or may not be modified with structural elements for human use.
		Shade Structure / Ramada	All temporary shelters (e.g. lean-tos, windbreaks, brush enclosures, sun shades etc.).
		Tent Ring / Tipi Ring	Circular pattern (sometimes outlined with rocks) left when a tipi or tent is dismantled.
		Platform Mound	A relatively high (over 1 meter), flat-topped mound, frequently constructed in several stages on which one or more structures were placed. Platform mounds are constructed using soil, shell, or refuse. They may incorporate earlier, filled-in structures in their substructure.
		Shell Mound	A low mounded area of shell built to provide a platform for one or more domestic structures.
		Wigwam / Wetu	Relatively small dwellings, typically circular or rectangular and about 3 meters tall, made of wooden frames with bases dug into the soil and covered with woven mats or sheets of birch bark. The frames could be shaped like a dome, a cone, or a rectangle with an arched roof.
		Plank House	Relatively large, rectangular dwellings made of long, flat planks of cedar wood lashed to a substantial wooden frame. Typical of permanent villages of Indian tribes living in the American Northwest during the historic contact period and earlier.
Resource Extraction/Production / Transportation Structure or Features			The locations and/or archaeological remains of features or sites related to resource extraction, commerce, industry, or transportation. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Agricultural or Herding		Locations, or the remains of features or facilities, that were used for horticulture, agriculture, or animal husbandry. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Agricultural Field or Field Feature	An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation. Fields are not necessarily formally bounded, and may be identifiable based on diagnostic features such as boundary markers or raised beds.
		Canal or Canal Feature	Ditch or interrelated group of ditches, acequias, head gates, and drains that constitute an irrigation system for individual watering and irrigation features.
		Corral	An enclosure for confining livestock. May be constructed of any material and incorporate natural features or vegetation as part of the enclosure.
		Reservoir	Natural or artificial lake in which water can be stored for future use.
		Terrace	An artificially created, more or less level area cut into the side of a hill. The edge may be bordered by stone or other material to prevent erosion.
		Water Control Feature	A device which controls the flow of water, particularly run-off. Includes check dams, flumes, gabions, head gates, drop structures, and riprap.
	Commercial or Industrial Structures		Locations, or the remains of features or facilities, that were used for commercial or industrial purposes. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Factory / Workshop	A relative large structure in which goods were manufactured or prepared for commercial distribution.
		Mill	A relatively small facility (one or a few rooms) for processing grain, wood, or other materials.
		Grist Mill	A mill for processing grain, typically powered by water or wind.
		Saw Mill	A mill for processing timber or wood.
	Fish Trap / Weir		A structure designed for catching fish. Sometimes constructed as a fence or enclosure of wooden stakes or stones, placed in a river, lake, wetland or tidal estuary.
	Hunting / Trapping		Locations, or the remains of features or facilities, that were used for hunting or trapping animals. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Butchering / Kill Site	Concentration of faunal remains resulting from human hunting activity.
		Hunting Blind	Small, unroofed structure expediently constructed out of natural rock and/or wood as camouflage.
		Large Game Jump	A cliff or other natural drop off where large game can be stampeded over the edge.
	Mine		Locations used for the extraction of metals, ores, minerals, or other materials.
		Mine Tunnels	An excavation made in the earth for the purpose of digging out metallic ores, coal, salt, precious stones or other resources. Includes portals, adits, vent shafts, prospects, and haulage tunnels.
		Mine-related Structures	The remains of facilities or equipment, usually above ground, used for processing or storing mined materials.
	Quarry		Outcrops of lithic material that have been mined or otherwise utilized to obtain lithic raw materials.
	Road, Trail, and Related Structures or Features		The archaeological remains of identifiable paths or routes between two or more locations. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Bridge	A structure with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space.
		Causeway	A road or pathway constructed from packed earth, stone, or shell, usually across a wetland or small water body.
		Linear Feature	Identifiable, linear archaeological remains of unknown function.
		Railroad	Segment(s) of railroad tracks or railroad bed.
		Road	A prepared, formal way used for the passage of humans, animals, and/or vehicles. These include examples such as Chacoan roads.
		Trail	An informal foot path used for the passage of humans, animals, and/or vehicles, defined and worn by use without formal construction or maintenance.
Funerary and Burial Structures or Features			The archaeological features or locations used for human burial or funerary activities. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Cemetery		A formal location for burying the dead.
	Burial Mound		An artificial mound constructed using earth, shell, or stone for the purpose of holding one or more burials. Frequently containing several episodes of construction and burials from different periods of time.
	Charnel House		A structure in which recently deceased human bodies were placed so that the flesh and other soft tissue would decompose prior to final interment of the remains.
	Isolated Burial		A location containing a human burial, spatially removed from other archaeological evidence.
	Ossuary		A secondary burial of multiple individuals.
	Burial Pit		An unmarked human interment in a subterranean pit.
	Tomb		A prepared, architecturally distinctive structure, normally sub-surface, often containing multiple interments. Use for features such as shaft tombs.
Non-Domestic Structures			The locations and/or archaeological remains of a building or buildings used for purposes other than human habitation. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Ball Court		An unroofed structure associated with the playing of the Mesoamerican ball game, found in the American southwest and parts of Mesoamerica.
	Church / Religious Structure		Buildings, or the archaeological remains of features or facilities, that were used for religious purposes. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Ancient Church / Religious Structure	Remains of a prehistoric building or location designed for public religious services.
		Historic Church / Religious Structure	Remains of a historic building or location designed for public religious services.
	Communal / Public Structure		Locations, or the remains of buildings that were associated with communal or public activities.
		Ancient Communal / Public Structure	Specified area containing evidence that is associated with prehistoric communal or public activity.
		Historic Communal / Public Structure	Specified area containing evidence that is associated with historic communal or public activity.
	Great House / Big House		A multi-story building with massive masonry or adobe walls, found in the Chacoan and Hohokam regions of the American southwest.
	Governmental Structure		Locations, or the remains of buildings that were associated with governmental activities.
		Ancient Governmental Structure	Specified area containing evidence that is associated with prehistoric governmental activity.
		Historic Governmental Structure	Specified area containing evidence that is associated with historic governmental activity.
	Kiva / Great Kiva		Circular or rectangular ceremonial structure. May be subterranean or part of a surface room block.
	Military Structure		Military-related structure constructed for various purposes (personnel barracks, testing, aircraft storage or landing, etc.).
	Mound / Earthwork		An above ground construction of earth, shell or other material, undifferentiated as to function.
		Building Substructure	An above ground prepared surface on which a non-residential structure is built.
		Ancient Earthwork	A non-residential cultural construction made from earth, shell or other materials, often formed to enclose or demarcate an area, or, in the case of causeways, to link areas. Examples include shell rings.
		Military Earthwork	A defensive construction made from earth, shell or other materials.
		Geometric / Effigy / Zoomorphic Mound	An above ground construction of earth, shell or other material, built in the shape of geometric, animal or other symbolic forms. Prominent examples include Effigy Mounds National Monument and Serpent Mound.
		Shell Ring	A large, circular area defined by a perimeter of mounded shell (often several meters in height, for example, Archaic Period shell ring sites in the American southeast).
	Palace		A large and/or ornate building, normally associated with a high ranking family or individual.
	Palisade		An enclosure, constructed of timbers or posts driven into ground, or otherwise walled.
	Plaza		An area which may be partially or completely enclosed by structural remains (standing or collapsed), used for community activities. May contain temporary structures (e.g., sun shades or ramadas) as well as special activity areas (e.g., milling bins, hearths).
	Pyramid		A massive structure, typically with triangular outer surfaces that converge at the top. Often flat-topped to accommodate public gatherings and/or buildings.
	Stairway		A series of steps allowing access to a different level. Use for toe/hand holds, stairs, ladders, etc.
	Structure		Architectural remnant of a building of unknown form or function.
		Ancient Structure	Architectural remnant of a prehistoric building of unknown form or function. Use more specific term if possible.
		Historic Structure	Architectural remnant of a historic building of unknown form or function. Use more specific term if possible.
	Sweat House / Sweat Lodge		Small enclosure or hut used for steam baths, usually ephemeral in construction. Often with fire-cracked rock and/or hearths in association.
	Temple		Monumental architecture constructed from stone or other materials and used for religious and/or political purposes.
Archaeological Feature			A localized area containing evidence of human activity. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Artifact Scatter		Prehistoric lithic and/or ceramic scatters with no features.
	Cairn		Mound or stack of rocks used to mark significant locations (e.g., boundaries or claims).
	Fence		A structure that creates a boundary, barrier, or enclosure. Construction materials can vary widely and may include unmodified natural materials (such as brush).
	Hearth		Discolored area of soil, often including charcoal, ash deposits or fire cracked rock, exhibiting evidence of use in association with fire. May be bounded (e.g., rock ring) or ill-defined.
	Isolated Artifact		A find spot containing a single artifact.
	Isolated Feature		A find spot containing a single cultural feature.
	Kiln		Oven used to bake food, fire pottery, or thermally alter other materials (e.g., bricks, lithic materials).
	Midden		An archaeological refuse deposit containing the broken or discarded remains of human activities. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Burned Rock Midden	A large, dense concentrations, often mounded, of fire cracked rock (FCR), usually associated with large scale plant processing. Although other cultural materials may be present in the midden, FCR is usually predominant.
		Sheet Midden	A surficial archaeological deposit containing discarded artifacts and other cultural materials. Midden deposits normally contain ashy or charcoal-stained sediments, and domestic-related items such as sherds, lithic debitage, and bone.
		Shell Midden	An archaeological deposit composed primarily of discarded mollusk shells.
		Trash Midden	A substantial concentration of refuse, built up as a result of multiple episodes of deposition.
	Milling Feature		A facility made or used for grinding or processing plant materials. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Bedrock Grinding Feature	A pecked or ground concavity in a large boulder or outcrop, including both bedrock mortar and bedrock metate.
		Milling Bin	An enclosed container used for milling plant material. May be above ground or partially or completely underground.
	Pit		A discrete excavation directly attributable to human activity. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
		Refuse Pit	A discrete excavation directly attributable to human activity that was used for the disposal of discarded artifacts, ecofacts and other cultural materials.
		Roasting Pit / Oven / Horno	An enclosed space used to heat objects placed within its bounds. Includes earth ovens, oven pits, mud ovens, and bread ovens.
		Storage Pit	A discrete excavation directly attributable to human activity used for storing artifacts, ecofacts and other cultural materials.
	Post Hole / Post Mold		One or more upright posts, remains of posts, or sockets usually associated with a larger feature or structure such as a building, fence, corral, stockade, pen, etc.
	Rock Alignment		Group of rocks which appear to have some cultural association. Use for possible walls, wall-like phenomena, human produced architectural oddities, rock piles, etc.
Rock Art			Designs, whether carved, scraped, pecked or painted, applied to free-standing stones, cave walls, or the earth’s surface. Use more specific term(s) if possible.
	Intaglio / Geoglyph		Designs created on the ground surface by arranging rocks or other materials, or by scraping or altering the earth surface. Usually on a large scale.
	Petroglyph		Design scratched, pecked, or scraped into a rock surface.
	Pictograph		Design drawn in pigment upon an unprepared or ground rock surface.
Water-related			The locations and/or archaeological remains of ships, boats, or other vessels, or the facilities related to shipping or sailing.
	Shipping-related Structure		The remains of facilities or equipment related to boats, ships, or shipping. Use for dock, wharf, etc.
	Shipwreck		The remains of a ship, boat or other vessel.
	Submerged Aircraft		The underwater remains of an aircraft.