Site Formation Processes

Definition: In archaeology, the term Site Formation Processes (or more simply formation processes) refers to the events that created an archaeological site. Two classes of processes are recognized, culturally created, and naturally created depositions. Cultural events that affect an assemblage at an archaeological site include purposeful and accidental discard; natural events might be earthquake or rodent burrowing or normal decay.

Site Formation Processes is a core concept in archaeology, developed by Michael Brian Schiffer in the 1970s, and although the pendulum between scientific and cultural archaeology may swing away from process, SFP remains an immensely useful point of discussion.

Sources

Binford, Lewis R. 1981 Behavioral archaeology and the "Pompeii Premise". Journal of Anthropological Research 37(3):195-208.

Binford, Lewis R. 1979 Organization and formation processes: Looking at curated technologies. Journal of Anthropological Research 35(3):255-273.

Binford, Lewis R. 1980 Willow smoke and dog's tails: Hunter gatherer settlement systems and archaeological site formation. American Antiquity 45(1):4-20.

Schiffer, Michael B. 1987 Formation Processes of the Archaeological Record. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Schiffer, Michael B. 1985 Is there a "Pompeii premise" in archaeology? Journal of Anthropological Research 41:18-41.

Schiffer, Michael B. 1983 Toward the identification of formation processes. American Antiquity 48:675-706.

Villa, Paola 1982 Conjoinable pieces and site formation processes. American Antiquity 47:276-310.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.