FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
type: ConceptScheme
issued: 2026-04-09
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: England
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
description: Terminology used for recording the techniques, recovery methods and materials associated with archaeological sciences. Maintained by Historic England on behalf of the FISH Terminology Working Group.
has top concept: Aspect
has top concept: Investigative Techniques
has top concept: Material Type
has top concept: Method Of Recovery
has top concept: Modification State
has top concept: Interpretations

Coarse Sieving
type: Concept
alternative label: Bulk Sampling
broader: Method Of Recovery
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The method of retrieving animal remains, artefacts and other remains by dry or wet-sieving whole earth samples, typically over 100 litres, sieved through a 2mm or larger mesh.

Radiocarbon Dating
type: Concept
alternative label: C14 Dating
alternative label: Carbon 14 Dating
alternative label: Carbon Dating
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of the ratio of the radioactive Carbon 14 (C-14) isotope and non-radioactive carbon isotopes. Useful for dating organic materials such as wood and bone between 500 and 45,000 years old.

Charred
type: Concept
alternative label: Carbonised
broader: Burnt
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Charcoal
scope note: Material that has been burnt and at least in part reduced to carbon as a result of burning in a reducing atmosphere below 500 degrees Celsius.

Coloured
type: Concept
alternative label: Colored
broader: Worked
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material with evidence of the application of a pigment or dye.

Calcined
type: Concept
alternative label: Cremated
broader: Burnt
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material burnt at high temperature (above 700 degrees Celsius) leaving only the mineral component.

Decorated
type: Concept
alternative label: Decoration
broader: Worked
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where decoration is present.

Pathology
type: Concept
alternative label: Disease
alternative label: Diseased
broader: Natural Aspects
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for bone remodelling, new growth, loss or destruction caused by age, activity, disease or trauma during life.

Mineral Replaced
type: Concept
alternative label: Fossilised
alternative label: Mineralised
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Replacement of organic material by minerals, including calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate.

Phytolith
type: Concept
alternative label: Microfossils
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Microscopic mineral body (usually silica) found in many plants.

Scanning Electron Microscopy
type: Concept
alternative label: S.E.M.
alternative label: SEM
broader: Microscopy
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A process using an electron microscope in which the surface of the specimen is scanned by a beam of electrons which are reflected to form an image. Very high magnification is possible.

Thermoluminescence
type: Concept
alternative label: TL Dating
alternative label: TL
broader: Luminescence Dating
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of the light emitted from sedimentary minerals, mineral inclusions in bricks, burnt flint or unburnt calcite when they are heated. The signal relates to their prior exposure to radioactivity. Used to date samples up to 500,000 years old.

Tool Marked
type: Concept
alternative label: Tool Marks
broader: Worked
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where evidence of tool marks is present

Tree-Ring Analysis
type: Concept
alternative label: Tree-Ring Studies
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The use of annual incremental growth in temperate trees to investigate environmental, especially local, parameters and the history of individual trees.

Anoxic
type: Concept
alternative label: Waterlogged
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material preserved by the exclusion of oxygen usually due to saturation with water which inhibits decay by micro-organisms.

X-Ray Diffraction
type: Concept
alternative label: XRD
broader: Multi-Element Analysis
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A surface technique that uses the diffraction of X-rays to examine the mineral composition of a sample. Useful for identifying corrosion products, pigments etc. but of little use with organic compounds which consist largely of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
type: Concept
alternative label: XRF
broader: Multi-Element Analysis
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A surface technique of spectroscopic analysis which relies on the interaction of primary X-rays with the sample to generate a range of secondary X-rays. These have energies characteristic of the elements present in the sample.

Burnt
type: Concept
alternative label: Burnt Deposit
broader: Modification State
narrower: Calcined
narrower: Charred
narrower: Silicified
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for material that has been burnt.

Silicified
type: Concept
broader: Burnt
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for material that has been burnt at high temperature in a good air supply such that only the silica component remains.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence
type: Concept
alternative label: OSL
alternative label: OSL Dating
broader: Luminescence Dating
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The light emitted from sedimentary minerals or mineral inclusions in bricks when stimulated in the laboratory by light of a different wavelength. Used to date samples up to 250,000 years old; especially appropriate for geological sediments.

Infra-Red Stimulated Luminescence
type: Concept
alternative label: IRSL
alternative label: IRSL Dating
broader: Luminescence Dating
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The light emitted from sedimentary minerals or mineral inclusions in bricks when stimulated in the laboratory by infrared light. Used to date samples up to 250,000 years old; especially appropriate for geological sediments containing feldspars

Residue
type: Concept
alternative label: Heavy Residue
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The material that does not float during the floatation of samples as a means of recovering charred plant remains from an archaeological context. Also, the material remaining following wet or dry sieving of course sieved samples.

Zooarchaeology
type: Concept
alternative label: Archaeozoology
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of vertebrate remains, excluding human remains, preserved within archaeological deposits and palaeoenvironmental archives. Use archaeomalacology for the study of mollus remains and palaeoentomology for the study of insect remains.

Human Osteology
type: Concept
alternative label: Bioarchaeology
alternative label: Osteoarchaeology
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of human remains preserved within archaeological deposits and palaeoenvironmental archives.

Traction Animals
type: Concept
alternative label: Draught Animals
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for presence of animals interpreted as having been used to for traction such as pulling ploughs, carts, carriages or canal boats, or powering mills. Evidence may include species, pathology, archaeological context or material culture.

Companion Animals
type: Concept
alternative label: Pets
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for presence of animals interpreted as being kept primarily as companions or for social display rather than as working animals. May include domestic or wild species. Evidence might include depositional context.

Bone Working
type: Concept
alternative label: Tooth Working
alternative label: Antler Working
alternative label: Horn Working
broader: Craft Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for evidence of working of bone, antler, horn or tooth including waste.

Tanning
type: Concept
alternative label: Tawning
broader: Skin Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England

Woodland Management
type: Concept
alternative label: Coppicing
alternative label: Pollarding
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence of woodland management, including coppicing and/or pollarding.

Hunting And Trapping
type: Concept
alternative label: Falconry
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence that hunting or trapping reflects social factors.

Animal Fighting
type: Concept
alternative label: Cockfighting
alternative label: Baiting
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is zooarchaeological evidence for animal types, physical modifications or pathologies, or contextual associations, which suggest use of animals for fighting, such as bear-baiting or cockfighting.

Wattle
type: Concept
alternative label: Hurdle
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there are indicators of woven round wood or split lengths of wood, used for example in hurdles or wattle and daub coinstruction.

Cob
type: Concept
alternative label: Cobb
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Walls composed of clay, earth, straw, lime and sand, mixed with water. Constructed without shutters in layers upon a stone or brick plinth and usually covered with protective limewash.

Skin Processing
type: Concept
narrower: Tanning
alternative label: Skin Working
broader: Craft Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for tanning (could include evidence for use of plant remains such as oak bark or evidence from skeletal element distribution or butchery).

Retting
type: Concept
alternative label: Flax Retting
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains of flax, hemp, or nettle stems, especially of uniform length, are recovered with or without associated fruiting parts.

Importation Of Goods
type: Concept
alternative label: Importation
alternative label: Redistribution
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Importation of animals, animal parts, plants, plant parts

Altered By Animals
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Modified or damaged by an animal.

Modification State
type: Concept
narrower: Altered By Animals
narrower: Anoxic
narrower: Burnt
narrower: Chemically Altered
narrower: Desiccated
narrower: Fungal Damage
narrower: Hydrolysis
narrower: Impression
narrower: Mineral Preserved
narrower: Mineral Replaced
narrower: Plant Damage
narrower: Waterworn
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Chemically Altered
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material that has been altered as a result of chemical action.

Desiccated
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material preserved due to very low humidity which inhibits decay by micro-organisms.

Fungal Damage
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material that has been damaged by fungal growth or secretions.

Hydrolysis
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The chemical breakdown of a material by water.

Impression
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The negative trace left by an object type or material (eg. animal, plant or textile) on another object type or material, often on ceramics or metal corrosion products.

Mineral Preserved
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Preservation of material by toxic effect of corrosion products in the immediate vicinity, or within, the material.

Plant Damage
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material that has been penetrated or disrupted by the roots or rhizomes of plants.

Waterworn
type: Concept
broader: Modification State
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material, especially rock, worn smooth by the passage of water.

Amino Acid Racemisation
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of chemical alterations in the amino acids in protein molecules from bones, shells and teeth. Date range can be between 1,000 and several million years.

Dating Techniques
type: Concept
narrower: Amino Acid Racemisation
narrower: Archaeomagnetism
narrower: Biostratigraphy
narrower: Dendrochronology
narrower: Electron Spin Resonance
narrower: Fission Track Analysis
narrower: Fluorine, Uranium And Nitrogen Tests
narrower: Lead Isotope Dating
narrower: Mitochondrial Dna Dating
narrower: Obsidian Hydration
narrower: Oxygen Isotope Analysis
narrower: Potassium Argon Dating
narrower: Radiocarbon Dating
narrower: Tephrochronology
narrower: Uranium Series Dating
narrower: Luminescence Dating
broader: Investigative Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Techniques applied to a material in order to date it or material associated with it. Use more specific terms.

Archaeomagnetism
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Measures the remanent magnetisation direction of magnetic minerals. Useful for dating fired structures, in-situ since their last firing, and for sediments settling from non turbulent water bodies. In the UK, calibration data extends back to 1000BC.

Biostratigraphy
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique in which the date is deduced from the presence of fauna and/or flora considered to be characteristic of a given peirod of time or that gives and indication of a probable date.

Dendrochronology
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measuring of annual tree-ring growth shown by most tree species in temperated regions. Regional chronoliges are required to date any particular piece of wood, the longest of which, for Germany, works for the present to approximately 14,000 yrs ago.

Electron Spin Resonance
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of trapped electrons by exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. A useful technique for dating tooth enamel, shells, coral and calcite form 5,000-1,000,000 years old.

Fission Track Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique for the dating of damage tracks in volcanic materials caused by the fissioning of decaying radioactive uranium (U) isotopes. Useful in samples more than 50,000 years old.

Fluorine, Uranium And Nitrogen Tests
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A relative dating technique for assessing bones from the same deposit. Often used to check for contemporaneity of bones selected for radiocarbon dating or to check for hoaxes such as the Piltdown Man.

Lead Isotope Dating
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique which uses the measurement of decay in radioactive lead (Pb) isotopes to determine a date. Useful for sediments and lead-based paints between 1 and 400 years old.

Mitochondrial Dna Dating
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A dating technique for the founding of individual populations based on the assumption of steady rates of mutation in mitochondrial DNA. Sometimes used to produce dates for stratigraphic layers containing fossil specimens of populations.

Obsidian Hydration
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique used to date obsidian (volcanic glass) of all ages and is thus not commonly used in the UK.

Oxygen Isotope Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The use of oxygen (O) isotope ratios in ice or ocean sediment cores to date global environmental change.

Potassium Argon Dating
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of the ratio of a radioactive potassium (K) isotope and the argon (Ar) gas produced as a by-product of its decay. Useful for dating volcanic material older than 1,000 years.

Tephrochronology
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The use of ash and tephra deposits characteristic of single known-date volcanic eruptions to date stratigraphic sequences.

Uranium Series Dating
type: Concept
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The measurement of the decay of radioactive uranium (U) isotopes. Particularly useful for dating calcite and sometimes bone, tooth and shell up to 70,000 years old.

Ancient Biomolecular Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Characterisation of organic molecules extracted from fossil or sub-fossil materials, including lipids, DNA etc.

Chemical Techniques
type: Concept
narrower: Ancient Biomolecular Analysis
narrower: Multi-Element Analysis
narrower: Ph Determination
narrower: Soil Phosphorus Analysis
narrower: Spot Test
narrower: Stable Isotope Analysis
narrower: Gamma Spectrometry
narrower: Alpha Spectrometry
narrower: Peat Humification
broader: Investigative Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Examination of a material using chemical means.

Ph Determination
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a material.

Spot Test
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The application of a chemical test to a material, usually as a rapid approximation.

Stable Isotope Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Comparison of different proportions of natural occurring isotopes of lead (Pb), strontium (Sr), oxygen (O), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N).

Gamma Spectrometry
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique that uses the emission of gamma rays of specific energies to identify the presence and concentration of certain radioactive isotopes in a sample

Alpha Spectrometry
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A technique that uses the emission of alpha particles of specific energies to identify the presence and concentration of certain radioactive isotopes in a sample

Peat Humification
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A method of determining peat degradation; quantified as the percentage light transmission value of the extracted humic acids, measured at a specific wavelength.

Antler
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Outgrowths of bone borne by most members of the deer family (Cervidae). They are shed and re-grow each year.

Material Type
type: Concept
narrower: Antler
narrower: Bone
narrower: Coprolite
narrower: Egg Shell
narrower: Feather
narrower: Fibre
narrower: Hair
narrower: Leather
narrower: Metal
narrower: Phytolith
narrower: Pollen
narrower: Shell
narrower: Skin
narrower: Tooth
narrower: Wood
narrower: Estuarine Deposit
narrower: Tufaceous Deposit
narrower: Peat Deposit
narrower: Beach Deposit
narrower: Brick
narrower: Pottery
narrower: Burnt Flint
narrower: Geological Sediment
narrower: Biogenic Carbonate
narrower: Flot
narrower: Residue
narrower: Slag
narrower: Plant Macrofossil
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Bone
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any of the pieces of hard tissue consisting largely of calcium phosphate that make up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal.

Coprolite
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Waste material from the digestive tract of animals. The term coprolite comes from the Greek 'kopros' meaning dung and 'lithos' meaning stone, and is used for faecal matter that has been preserved by mineral replacement or dessication.

Egg Shell
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for the remains of an egg whether from a bird, reptile or amphibian.

Feather
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for feathers, an epidermal growth found in birds consisting of a quill, shaft and two vanes of barbs.

Fibre
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for any thread-like material.

Hair
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for hair, fur etc: filaments growing out of the outermost layer of mammalian skin.

Leather
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Animal skin that has been tanned or tawed.

Pollen
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for pollen and diaspores. Pollen consists of pollen grains which are the male gametes of flowering plants. Diaspores are the dispersive units of mosses, ferns, fern allies and some plants. To describe the actual object use PLANT REMAINS.

Shell
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for any shell of an animal, principally, molluscs, crabs etc.

Skin
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for the remains of epidermis or outermost layer. Relates to both animals and plants. If describing the actual object use PLANT REMAINS, ANIMAL REMAINS or HUMAN REMAINS.

Estuarine Deposit
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An alluvial deposit laid down in an estuary.

Tufaceous Deposit
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A naturally occuring deposit of calcareous tufa ('shell marl') sometimes found in alluvial deposits.

Peat Deposit
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A naturally occurring deposit formed by the decomposition and partial carbonisation of vegetable matter in waterlogged conditions.

Beach Deposit
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A deposit formed by wave and tidal action on an estuarine or marine beach.

Brick
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material used for construction, commonly fired in its manufacture.

Pottery
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Object produced commonly by firing clay, but can include coarser material to temper it.

Burnt Flint
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A form of silica, similar to quartz. Commonly black or white in colour and used for tool manufacture. Flints heated in antiquity may be dated using thermoluminescence.

Biogenic Carbonate
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any carbonate material produced by biological activity, for instance operculae of snails.

Flot
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The material which floats during the floatation of samples as a means of recovering charred plant remains from an archaeological context.

Slag
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A by-product usually from the smelting process.

Plant Macrofossil
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for seeds, fruits, buds etc. To describe the actual object use Plant Remains

Available Phosphorus Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Soil Phosphorus Analysis
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The analysis of the amount of phosphorus (P) (liable fraction) available to plants.

Soil Phosphorus Analysis
type: Concept
narrower: Available Phosphorus Analysis
narrower: Inorganic Phosphorus Analysis
narrower: Total Phosphorus Analysis
broader: Chemical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The analysis of the amount of phosphorus (P) present in a soil.

Inorganic Phosphorus Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Soil Phosphorus Analysis
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The analysis of inorganic phosphorus (P).

Total Phosphorus Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Soil Phosphorus Analysis
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The analysis of organic plus inorganic phosphorus (P).

Block Lifting
type: Concept
broader: Method Of Recovery
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The removal of fragile or complex remains from an investigation as a block of earth for excavation under laboratory conditions. Typical examples are grave goods and cremation burials.

Method Of Recovery
type: Concept
narrower: Block Lifting
narrower: Coarse Sieving
narrower: Flotation
narrower: Hand Retrieval
narrower: Specialist Sampling
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Flotation
type: Concept
broader: Method Of Recovery
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Method used for the recovering of material by floating large whole earth samples, usually between 40-60 litres per context (or 100% if context contains less than this).

Hand Retrieval
type: Concept
broader: Method Of Recovery
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The retrieval of material from deposits by hand, normally large objects visible with the naked eye, eg. Mammal remains and marine molluscs.

Specialist Sampling
type: Concept
broader: Method Of Recovery
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The recovery of material from samples collected during field investigations, usually taken by specialists with a particular area of expertise. Normally processed in the laboratory. Also use for the processing of samples subsequent to investigation.

Charcoal
type: Concept
broader: Wood
narrower: Micro-Charcoal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Charred
scope note: Wood that has been burnt and largely reduced to carbon as a result of burning in a reducing atmosphere below 500 degress C (Celsius).

Micro-Charcoal
type: Concept
broader: Charcoal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Microscopic charcoal fragments that are concentrated and counted as part of standard pollen preparation techniques.

Wood
type: Concept
narrower: Charcoal
narrower: Roundwood
narrower: Twig
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, compact, unprocessed, fibrous cellulose substance. The roots, trunks and branches of trees and shrubs consist of this tissue.

Roundwood
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Material comprising entrie or partial transverse sections of stems. Bark may be present or not. Can include complete sections of tree trunk but generally comprises smaller (<20cm diameter) material.

Twig
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Small (<2cm diameter) roundwood often complete with buds or leaf scars.

Investigative Techniques
type: Concept
narrower: Chemical Techniques
narrower: Dating Techniques
narrower: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Clast Lithological Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The identification and grouping of stone types in stratigraphy.

Physical Techniques
type: Concept
narrower: Clast Lithological Analysis
narrower: Loss On Ignition Determination
narrower: Magnetic Susceptibility
narrower: Micromorphology
narrower: Microscopy
narrower: Mineralogy
narrower: Particle Size Analysis
narrower: Stratigraphic Description
narrower: Tree-Ring Analysis
narrower: X-Radiography
narrower: Moisture Content
narrower: Palynology
narrower: Palaeoenvironmental Analysis
narrower: Diatom Analysis
narrower: Archaeomalacology
narrower: Zooarchaeology
narrower: Archaeobotany
narrower: Foraminifera Analysis
narrower: Palaeoentomology
narrower: Human Osteology
narrower: Mortar Analysis
narrower: Archaeometallurgy
broader: Investigative Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The examination of material by physical means, including detailed observation.

Loss On Ignition Determination
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The weight loss from low-temperature burning of material. It correlates well with organic matter (material derived from living things) content.

Magnetic Susceptibility
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The degree to which a material will become magnetised when placed in a magnetic field.

Micromorphology
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The microscopic analysis of thin sections of resin impregnated stratigraphy.

Mineralogy
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of minerals.

Particle Size Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The analysis of the distribution and proportion of sand, silt and clay in a deposit.

Stratigraphic Description
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The careful observation and written description of the physical characteristics of stratigraphy. It will normally include information on texture, colour and the nature of the different components.

X-Radiography
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The production of an image on a photographic plate as a result of X-rays (very short wavelength electromagnetic radiation) being passed through an object.

Moisture Content
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A measure of the proportion of water within a sample.

Palynology
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of pollen and non-pollen palyomorphs preserved within deposits, including peat.

Palaeoenvironmental Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of biological remains preserved within deposits, including peat.

Diatom Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of diatoms preserved in deposits.

Archaeomalacology
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of mollusca remains preserved within archaeological deposits and palaeoenvironmental archives.

Archaeobotany
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of plant remains, typically seeds, fruits, wood, leaves etc, preserved within archaeological deposits and palaeoenvironmental archives. Use palynology when pollen and spores are being analysed as opposed to macroscopic plant remains.

Foraminifera Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of foraminifera preserved in deposits.

Palaeoentomology
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The study of insect remains preserved within archaeological deposits and palaeoenvironmental archives.

Mortar Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Sampling and analysis of historic mortars to determine mortar composition. For radiocarbon dating of organic traces within the mortar (relict mortar fuel), use Radiocarbon Dating.

Archaeometallurgy
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The the study of metalworking structures, tools, waste products and finished metal artefacts, from the Bronze Age to the recent past. It can be used in the field and in post excavation to identify and interpret metalworking structures, tools, waste etc.

Worked
type: Concept
narrower: Coloured
narrower: Decorated
narrower: Tool Marked
narrower: Carved
broader: Human Aspects
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for any material that shows evidence of modification by humans.

Carved
type: Concept
broader: Worked
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England

Copper Alloy
type: Concept
broader: Non-Ferrous Metal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for a combination (alloy) of two or more different metals where copper (Cu) is the principal component.

Non-Ferrous Metal
type: Concept
narrower: Copper Alloy
narrower: Gold
narrower: Silver
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any metal that does not contain the chemical element Iron (Fe) as a principal component.

Gold
type: Concept
broader: Non-Ferrous Metal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A precious metal characterised by its yellow colour and resistance to tarnishing.

Silver
type: Concept
broader: Non-Ferrous Metal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A precious metal of lustrous, white colour with great malleability and ductility.

Ferrous Metal
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any metal prinicipally composed of the chemical element Iron (Fe).

Metal
type: Concept
narrower: Ferrous Metal
narrower: Non-Ferrous Metal
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Class of elements and alloys that are characteristically lustrous, ductile, fusible and malleable. These are extracted from ore minerals originally existing in nature and processed before becoming a recognisable metal.

Human Aspects
type: Concept
broader: Aspect
narrower: Manufacturing Debris
narrower: Worked
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Aspects of a material which result from the modification or use of the material by humans.

Manufacturing Debris
type: Concept
broader: Human Aspects
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where the material presents debris or waste from manufacturing.

Aspect
type: Concept
narrower: Human Aspects
narrower: Natural Aspects
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Luminescence Dating
type: Concept
narrower: Infra-Red Stimulated Luminescence
narrower: Optically Stimulated Luminescence
narrower: Thermoluminescence
broader: Dating Techniques
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A range of techniques that use the build up of charge stored within a crystalline material to estimate its age

Ivory
type: Concept
broader: Tooth
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for a tusk or tooth of a mammal large enough to be carved or used to make objects such as those of mammoths, elephants, walruses and whales.

Tooth
type: Concept
narrower: Ivory
broader: Material Type
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for teeth, hard structures found in the jaws of vertebrates used principally for chewing and eating.

Microscopy
type: Concept
broader: Physical Techniques
narrower: Polarised Light Microscopy
narrower: Scanning Electron Microscopy
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The use of magnifying equipment to examine materials not visible to the naked eye.

Polarised Light Microscopy
type: Concept
broader: Microscopy
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Light microscopy in which vibration directions of the light are constrained into single planes.

Multi-Element Analysis
type: Concept
broader: Chemical Techniques
narrower: X-Ray Diffraction
narrower: X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Techniques investigating more than one element at a time.

Natural Aspects
type: Concept
broader: Aspect
narrower: Non-Metric Traits
narrower: Pathology
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Aspects associated with the genetic make up and/or factors that affected the organism from which the material is derived during its life

Non-Metric Traits
type: Concept
broader: Natural Aspects
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for congenital (present at birth) abnormalities (absent/extra or morphologically unusual features) present in an individual or population.

Geological Sediment
type: Concept
broader: Material Type
narrower: Quartz
narrower: Feldspar
narrower: Zircon
narrower: Polymineral
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A material composed of mineral grains derived from the breakdown of rocks by environmental processes.

Quartz
type: Concept
broader: Geological Sediment
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A mineral composed of SiO2. Commonly clear or milky in appearance. A common constituent of rocks and sediments.

Feldspar
type: Concept
broader: Geological Sediment
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A group of aluminosilicate minerals with varying compositions. The most common mineral in igneous rocks, and common in other rocks and sediments.

Zircon
type: Concept
broader: Geological Sediment
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A mineral of the composition Zr[SiO4]. Commonly brown or yellow in colour. May contain high levels of uranium and thorium. Can be used for dating using luminescence or fission track methods.

Polymineral
type: Concept
broader: Geological Sediment
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A general term to describe a sediment or sample that contains a variety of different minerals.

Animal Roles
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Companion Animals
narrower: Traction Animals
narrower: Guard Animals
narrower: Pack Animals
narrower: Riding Animals
narrower: Animal Fighting
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for specific roles being performed by animals.

Guard Animals
type: Concept
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for presence of animals interpreted as performing a guarding function for example, sheep dogs or guard dogs, geese. May be based on morphological characteristics, archaeological context or material culture.

Pack Animals
type: Concept
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for presence of animals interpreted as having been used to carry loads, for example equids. May be based on species and pathological evidence, or material culture.

Riding Animals
type: Concept
broader: Animal Roles
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for the presence of animals interpreted as having been ridden e.g. horses with pathology or associated with riding paraphernalia.

Interpretations
type: Concept
narrower: Animal Roles
narrower: Construction Materials
narrower: Craft Working
narrower: Deposition
narrower: Husbandry
narrower: Infestation
narrower: Processing
narrower: Social Behaviour
narrower: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
top concept of: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus

Construction Materials
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Caulking
narrower: Cereal Thatchng
narrower: Non-Cereal Thatching
narrower: Packing Material
narrower: Turves
narrower: Structural Timber
narrower: Cereal Thatching
narrower: Organic Additive
narrower: Wattle
narrower: Daub
narrower: Cob
narrower: Plaster
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence materials have been used in construction, including decoration.

Caulking
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where the presence of mosses, plant or animal fibres is interpreted as caulking material (including oakum, specifally hemp or flax fibres), used to fill gaps between timbers, particularly on ships (Cappers et al 2000), especially from in situ contexts or if coated or impregnated with tar or pitch.

Cereal Thatchng
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England

Non-Cereal Thatching
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there heather, turfs or reeds are present and where other proxies or the context suggest the presence of roofing material.

Packing Material
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where plant material is present in a container (context) or associated with artefacts that suggest it was used as packing.

Turves
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where indicators of turves are present, including the roots and basal plants of grasses and/ or heathers, Cenococcum sclerotia, and earthworm egg capsules (Hall 2003).

Structural Timber
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Evidence for the presence of structural timber. Can include possible re-use as fuel. This interpreatation might be put forward where there is evidence of working and insect infestation.

Cereal Thatching
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for straw/ whole sheavesand where other proxies or the context suggest the presence of roofing material.

Organic Additive
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where plant or animal material is visibly contained within a lime based or unbaked clay matrix, such as daub, plaster or cobb (including in situ remains).

Daub
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An earth based plaster the mixture of which may contain clay, dung, straw, lime putty, sand or horsehair.

Plaster
type: Concept
broader: Construction Materials
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster can refer to gypsum plaster (also known as plaster of Paris), lime plaster, or cement plaster. Lime plaster, consisting of lime and sand, is the oldest type of render. Applied externally to walls or onto laths for infill panels and usually limewashed.

Craft Working
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Basketry
narrower: Bone Working
narrower: Skin Processing
narrower: Textile Production
narrower: Wood Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the use of plants and animals in the manufacture of objects. Use more specific terms where known.

Basketry
type: Concept
broader: Craft Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is visible indicators of woven plant material indicative of basketry (including matting).

Textile Production
type: Concept
broader: Craft Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where textile production is indicated e.g. by presence of dye plants, stems or bast fibres of textile plants, or animal fibres. May be evidenced through artefacts or archaeological features.

Wood Working
type: Concept
broader: Craft Working
narrower: Wood Working By-Product
narrower: Wood Working Product
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is general evidence for wood working. Use a narrow term where possible

Wood Working By-Product
type: Concept
broader: Wood Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence of wood chips, off cuts or other by-products of wood working.

Wood Working Product
type: Concept
broader: Wood Working
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence of tool marks, turned wood and other indicators of working but not necessarily obviously objects/artefacts.

Deposition
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Kitchen Waste
narrower: Stable Waste
narrower: Structured Deposition
narrower: Table Waste
narrower: Sewage
narrower: Natural Plant Accumulation
narrower: Natural Faunal Accumulation
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for the deposition of material that has a documented signature in the archaeological record. Can include both natural deposition or depostion by people or other organisms.

Kitchen Waste
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains suggest discard during the preparation of food. Evidence might include animal species, butchery mark and skeletal representation profiles, and/or archaeological context.

Stable Waste
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for a mixture of animal bedding and dung.

Structured Deposition
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains, including Associated Bone Groups (ABGs), in their own right, or in association with other remains indicate carefully considered placement, suggesting the act of depositing the material held significance to those involved. Use for deliberate deposits in sacred spaces.

Table Waste
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains suggest discard following consumption rather than during the preparation of food. Evidence might include animal species, butchery mark and skeletal representation profiles, and/or archaeological context.

Sewage
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Human waste, often in association with other refuse and liquid. Use where mineralised or waterlogged plants and/or invertebrate and other remains such as highly fragmented bone, partially digested bone, mineral concretions or coprolites, indicate sewage.

Natural Plant Accumulation
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for non-anthropogenic accumulations of plants, for example pitfalls, natural infilling, vegetation succession, peat growth.

Natural Faunal Accumulation
type: Concept
broader: Deposition
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where local habitat characteristics or site use are interpreted from non-anthropogenic accumulation of animals, for example pitfall, predator or littoral accumulations.

Husbandry
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Dairying
narrower: Egg Production
narrower: Fodder Production
narrower: Manuring
narrower: Meat Production
narrower: Nutritional Stress
narrower: On-Site Breeding
narrower: Selective Breeding
narrower: Transhumance
narrower: Wool Production
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where the remains of plants and animals indicate husbandry regimes, including the care and raising of animals and the cultivation of plants for food and other uses. Use a narrow term where possible.

Dairying
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains suggest husbandry of mammals for milk production. Evidence may include species and age profiles in bone assemblage or material culture including its chemical analysis.

Egg Production
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains suggest husbandry of birds for egg production. Evidence may include eggshell from domestic species, or sex profile of domestic bird bone assemblage.

Fodder Production
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is clear evidence for the production of fodder. Use hay where this is indicated and stable waste where the remains of animal bedding and animal dung are present.

Manuring
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where manuring is interpreted on the basis of arable weed assemblage (Stroud et al 2024) and/or stable crop isotopes (Fraser et al 2011).

Meat Production
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where meat production is interpreted as a primary economic focus for species which may have multiple functions or products e.g. sheep, rabbits, pigeons.

Nutritional Stress
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where palaeopathological evidence suggests nutritional stress within human or animal populations.

On-Site Breeding
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where evidence of foetal or neonatal animals or of hatched domestic eggshell suggests local breeding of livestock.

Selective Breeding
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for change in size and shape or other characteristics (e.g. coat colour), through intended manipulation or introductions.

Transhumance
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the seansonal movement of livestock across a landscape. Evidence may include animal species, bone morphology and biochemistry, or archaeological features.

Wool Production
type: Concept
broader: Husbandry
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where remains suggest husbandry of sheep for wool production. Evidence may include age or sex profiles of sheep remains.

Infestation
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Fungal Infestation
narrower: Insect Infestation
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is clear evidence of the presence of pests or other detrimental organisms.

Fungal Infestation
type: Concept
broader: Infestation
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use when ergot or other fungi are present and associated with a particular taxa.

Insect Infestation
type: Concept
broader: Infestation
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use when either the remains of insect pests are presencet or there is clear evidence of their presence such as holes or frass

Processing
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Brewing
narrower: Crop Processing By-Product
narrower: Crop Processing Product
narrower: Retting
narrower: Malting
narrower: Bone Processing
narrower: Food Preservation
narrower: Roasting
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the processing of plants and animals to produce different types of product. Use terms under craft working where manufacture of objects is evidenced.

Brewing
type: Concept
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where brewing waste and/or the presence of beer additives are present after K E Behre (1999). Use malting where sprouted grain or detached sprouts are present.

Crop Processing By-Product
type: Concept
alternative label: Cereal Processing By-Product
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for use (eg as fuel, temper, thatch, fodder) or discard of crop processing by-products including cultivated legumes, fibre crops and cereals (especially from early crop processing stages, or of free-threshing varieties).

Crop Processing Product
type: Concept
alternative label: Cereal Processing Product
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where crop product (the seeds, grain etc) is present with an absence or rarity of chaff, pods, stems, or arable weed seeds, suggesting crops arrived or were stored in a processed state.

Malting
type: Concept
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for the remains of sprouted grain and/or large numbers of detached coleoptiles (comings) are present. Van der Veen (1987) suggests a percentage of sprouted grain >75% can be taken as conclusive, though lower percentages may be more typical.

Bone Processing
type: Concept
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the extraction of non-muscle meat components from bones, e.g. marrow, fats, collagen, including soup kitchen assemblages.

Food Preservation
type: Concept
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the preservation of food, including salting, smoking, drying of meat or fish.

Roasting
type: Concept
broader: Processing
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for evidence of roasting meat, nuts etc including in situ deposits.

Social Behaviour
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Feasting
narrower: Funerary Use
narrower: Hunting And Trapping
narrower: Importation Of Goods
narrower: Seasonality
narrower: Social Differentiation
narrower: Storage
narrower: Medicinal Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where the remains of plants and animals can be interpreted as evidence for a specific social behaviour.

Feasting
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where evidence suggests consumption of unusual or high-status foods, or of a large quantity of foods, suggestive of social activity rather than everyday sustenance. Evidence may also come from archaeological context or associated finds.

Funerary Use
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use for pyre material, pyre goods, grave goods or components.

Seasonality
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for activities happening at a particular time of year (season).

Social Differentiation
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence that allows the distinction of social status, e.g. elite, ecclesiastical, impoverished.

Storage
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where storage of material is implied, usually due to association of context (eg granary structure, storage jar, storage pit) and assemblage composition (eg processed product, or by-product), and possibly including evidence of pests of storage.

Medicinal Use
type: Concept
broader: Social Behaviour
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where plants or animal parts have been interpreted as used for medicinal purposes by the specialist, because of context or associated finds, or because of concentrations of a limited range of taxa with known properties.

Wild Plant Use
type: Concept
broader: Interpretations
narrower: Charcoal Production
narrower: Woodland Management
narrower: Fuel Use
narrower: Gathering
narrower: Hay
narrower: Peat Burning
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where there is evidence for the use of wild resources by people as opposed to evidence for the presence of a particular type of habitat or vegetation.

Charcoal Production
type: Concept
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Evidence for the on-site production of charcoal from wood, traditionally made in pits or in stacks. Primarily charcoal would have been used as fuel, but also used for other purposes e.g. gunpowder.

Fuel Use
type: Concept
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Evidence of combustible material, usually wood, peat or turf, being used as fuel. Information on the types and potential sourcing of these materials can include, wood type use and selection preferences, and local availability.

Gathering
type: Concept
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use when there is clear evidence for gathered plants due to the taxon (taxa) being found in a particular context such as a container or in significant concentrations.

Hay
type: Concept
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where the distinctive flora associated with traditionally managed hay meadows has been found in association, including Rhinanthus minor, Leucanthemum vulgare, Centaurea nigra, Sanguisorba officinalis, Filipendula ulmaria and various grasses.

Peat Burning
type: Concept
broader: Wild Plant Use
in scheme: FISH Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus
issued: 2026-04-09T14:03:42
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Use where peat or sods (turf) has been used as fuel.