Notes on LC Classification of Archaeological Works

Introduction

As a discipline, archaeology is related to or has affinities with both anthropology and history.  This mixed nature is reflected in the treatment of archaeology in the LC Classification System, which is not altogether straightforward.

The first step in classifying an archaeological work is to identify the category and areas into which it falls.

Distinction between categories:

1. Works about discipline of archaeology, including methodology, works on archaeologists, etc.; works on antiquities in general

   vs

2. Reports, discussion on archaeology of particular places, peoples, periods, etc.

   Within the latter category, there are two broad areas of division to consider:

   • Eastern Hemisphere vs Western Hemisphere (“Old World” vs “New World”)

   • Prehistoric vs historical

     The term “prehistoric” applies to a culture prior to the existence of writing in that culture.

     The term “historical” here, applying to cultures with writing, includes protohistoric periods, i.e., periods that shade into the verge of history (with limited availability of written records).

Classification patterns

Broadly speaking:

• Works about discipline, very general works:      CC

  E.g.		History of the science of archaeology:  General works		CC100
  E.g.		Directories [of archaeologists]:  General		CC120
  E.g.		Boundary stones:  General works		CC600

• Prehistoric archaeology not limited by place:      GN 700-802

  Can be further broken down by period or topic

  E.g.		Mesolithic period:  General works		GN773
  E.g.		Lake dwellings and lake dwellers		GN785
  E.g.		Petroglyphs.  Rock paintings		GN799.P4

• Archaeology of Western Hemisphere, both prehistoric and historical:      E-F

  Further distinctions may be based on whether the focus is on an indigenous Indian group or groups, e.g., Precolumbian sites

  E.g.		Antiquities of America in general, non-Indian		E21.5
  E.g.		Antiquities of North America, non-Indian		E43
  E.g.		Precolumbian America:  the Indians		E51-74
  		Archaeology of the Americans		E61
  E.g.		Archaeology of Indians of North America		E77.8-94
  E.g.		Central America:  Antiquities.  Indians (Ancient and modern): Mayas:  Local, A-Z:  Tikal		F1435.1.T5

• Archaeology of Eastern Hemisphere:

  Prehistoric:      GN700-890

  Further broken down by prehistoric period (including place or culture by period) or place (general prehistory)

  E.g.		Mesolithic Period:  Europe:  By region or country		GN774.22.A-Z
  E.g.		Mesolithic Period:  Germany		GN774.22.G4
  		covers Germany in general and local places in Germany
  		also covers special topics, e.g., pottery in Mesolithic Germany
  E.g.		Neolithic Period:  Special cultures, peoples, etc., A-Z:  Beaker		GN776.2.B4
  E.g.		Prehistoric archaeology:  By region or country:  Germany:  General works		GN813.A5-Z
  		also covers special topics, e.g., pottery in prehistoric Germany

  For works on prehistoric archaeology of the Eastern Hemisphere, then, the order of preference in classification is:

  1. period
  2. place     i.e., not limited by period
  3. topic     i.e., not limited by period or place

  Historical:      D

  By broad period or place (under history and description of that place; sometimes also by period under place)

  E.g.		Medieval antiquities		D125
  E.g.		India:  Antiquities:  General works		DS418
  E.g.		England:  History:  Saxons, 445-1066:  Antiquities		DA155
  E.g.		Italy:  Ancient Italy; Rome to 476:  Local history and description:  Chiusi		DG70.C44

  If coverage includes both prehistoric and historical periods, the work should generally be classified as historical (unless there is only very small amount of coverage on the historical).

Some problems and exceptions

One common error is the classification of a work on prehistoric archaeology as historical.  The reverse error is also found.  Works on Bronze Age and Iron Age sites can be tricky, since those periods are not automatically prehistoric -- it depends on the culture.

There are also some exceptions to the general pattern.  For example:

• While works about archaeologists specialising in historical periods in one country are to be classified under that country, in D-F,
  directories of archaeologists by country of residence are classified in CC (CC123-125).

• Works on certain specific types of antiquities are classified under CC (CC200-960) even when they are located in one country.

  E.g.

  Boundary stones:  By region or country, A-Z

  CC605.A-Z

HTML document last reviewed:  20 April 2004