Type site facts for kids

A type site is a very important place in archaeology. It's a specific site that helps experts understand a whole archaeological culture. Think of it as the best example of a certain ancient way of life.

This site contains special objects, called artifacts, that are typical of that culture. Often, a type site is the first or most important place discovered about the culture it represents.

What is a Type Site?

A type site is like a "model" or "standard" for a specific ancient culture. When archaeologists find a new culture, they often name it after the first or most important site where they found its unique artifacts. This helps everyone know what kind of culture they are talking about.

Type Sites in Archaeology

In archaeology, a type site shows us what a particular group of people was like in the past. It helps us understand their tools, their art, their homes, and how they lived.

For example, the famous city of Jericho in the West Bank is the type site for the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture. This means that the discoveries at Jericho helped archaeologists define and understand this early farming culture.

Another example is the Hallstatt culture, which existed during the Bronze Age before the Celtic people. Its type site is the lakeside village of Hallstatt in Austria. The finds at Hallstatt showed archaeologists what was typical for this culture.

Type Sites in Geology

The term "type site" is also used in geology. In this field, it refers to a place that is a perfect example of a certain rock formation, a type of soil, or a geological event. It helps geologists study and compare different parts of the Earth.