Archaeological Finds

noun a person's ancestors or their descent

adjective relating to or inherited from ancestors

• The family decided to visit their ancestral home in the countryside.
• I found out that my ancestral roots trace back to Ireland.
• I never knew about my ancestral connections until I did a DNA test.
• The artist's work was inspired by his ancestral heritage.

noun a stone slab or tablet set upright and inscribed to mark a grave

• The gravestone was inscribed with the deceased's name and dates of birth and death.
• We visited the old graveyard and saw some really interesting gravestones.
• That gravestone is so creepy, it gives me chills.
• The failure of the project was like a gravestone marking the end of their hopes for success.

noun a material made from the skin of a sheep or goat and used as a durable writing surface

• The ancient text was carefully preserved on a piece of parchment.
• I found some cool old parchments in the attic.
• I love the feel of writing on parchment, it's so fancy.
• Her skin was as smooth as parchment, showing no signs of aging.

noun a container for relics, especially sacred relics

• The reliquary contained the sacred relics of the saint.
• They found the reliquary hidden in the old church.
• I heard there's some cool stuff in that reliquary.
• Her heart was like a reliquary, holding onto memories of the past.

noun a type of unglazed, typically brownish-red earthenware, used chiefly as an ornamental building material

adjective of a brownish-red color resembling that of terra cotta

• The museum displayed a collection of ancient Greek terra cotta statues.
• I bought a cute little terra cotta plant pot for my balcony.
• Check out this cool terra cotta vase I found at the thrift store.
• Her skin was as smooth and warm as terra cotta in the sunlight.

noun a specialist in papyrology, the study of ancient literature, texts, and documents written on papyrus

• The papyrologist meticulously studied the ancient scrolls to decipher their meaning.
• My friend is a papyrologist, which means he spends his days reading old texts.
• I never thought I'd be friends with a papyrologist, but here we are.
• As a papyrologist of emotions, she delved deep into the layers of human experience.

noun a fossilized piece of dung or feces

• The archaeologist discovered a coprolite during the excavation of the ancient site.
• Hey, did you hear about the fossilized poop they found? It's called a coprolite!
• Check out this ancient turd they dug up, they call it a coprolite!
• His excuses for being late were like coprolites - old, fossilized, and full of crap.

adjective relating to or characteristic of an acrolith, a statue made of stone and other materials

• The acrolithic statue featured a marble head and wooden body.
• That acrolithic sculpture is a strange mix of materials.
• Check out the acrolithic figure in the art gallery, it's pretty cool.
• Her personality was like an acrolithic statue, a combination of different traits.

noun a decorative ornament placed at the apex or corners of a pediment

• The acroterium on top of the building was intricately designed.
• Check out the fancy acroterium on that building!
• That acroterium is so extra!
• The acroterium symbolizes the pinnacle of architectural achievement.