A BHPO of my acquaintance once remarked that he preferred "historic refuse deposit," because it was uphill work to get a National Register eligibility evaluation on a "trash scatter."

We mustn't forget the political arena in which we work.

Gwyn Alcock
Riverside, CA




________________________________
From: Adrian Praetzellis <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, May 12, 2010 8:12:44 PM
Subject: Re: terminology

I say "historic artifact concentration."

1. Ever heard a prehistorian call a lithic site "trash"?

2. It's hard to keep a straight face while telling someone that digging up
"trash" is a good use of their money.

3. I don't like the term "scatter." It conjures up the image of a barefoot
maiden broadcasting rose petals from a woven basket tra-la.

Adrian Praetzellis




On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 10:25 AM, Chuck Carrig <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Is there a consensus on the proper terminology for the discussion of
> historic refuse concentrations?
>
> I've always used the terminology historic midden as opposed to historic
> trash dump.
>
> Chuck Carrig - RPA
> Archaeologist
> BLM - Dillon Field Office
> 1005 Selway Drive
> Dillon, MT 59725
> (406)683-8029
>