Hey Erich, interesting query and I hope you find an answer. If you do, *please* let me know. In fact, this would be a good question for our professionals in this forum. Chester Bateman Oregon State University [log in to unmask] >Hi, > This is one of those goofy word questions that can raise a tempest in a >teapot. I'm working on finishing up a large report. The primary editor >is a prehistorical archaeologist, and I am trying to explain what I >believe is the correct usage of historic versus historical. > >I use "historic" to refer to subject matter, for example; historic >Euroamerican sites, not historical Euroamerican sites. Historic artifact >assemblage, not historical artifact assemblage. Historic county plat >maps... > >I also tend to view "historic" as short hand for "historic period", >meaning in our case of central Illinois post 1673. > >I use "historical" to refer to study or interpretation of the subject >matter. Hence; historical archaeology, Francis Parkman's historical >analysis, or "because of the potential of association with Abraham >Lincoln, this site may have historical significance." > >The other view here is that "historic" means associated with an important >person or event, and "historical" means not prehistoric. > >I have looked through the "Publication and Style Guide for _Historical >Archaeology_" from 1993, and I don't find a definite reference to the >usage of these words. Is there a consensus on these terms. Better yet, >is there a reference that will settle the matter. > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >Erich Schroeder Phone: (217)785-5996 >Research Associate FAX: (217)785-2857 >Illinois State Museum GIS Lab Internet: [log in to unmask] >http://www.museum.state.il.us/0h/ismdepts/anthro/staff/erich/erich > >These are my opinions, not those of the State of Illinois. >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chester P. Bateman Email: [log in to unmask] PO BOX 1558 Fax: (503) 752-4024 Corvallis, Oregon 97339 USA CompuServe: 75271,552