Material culture

All the man-made artefacts found on an archaeological site. Archaeological material comprises numerous object categories which are often designated by the material used in their manufacture, such as ceramics, glass, and metals. Some of these categories, such as pottery, are useful chronological markers and provide information for dating the context in which they were discovered. As a source of historical knowledge, material culture is of primary importance because it has much to say about daily life, trade, cultural traditions and technical expertise.