What is "typology" (archaeology)?

Question

Please give a simple explanation in regards to archaeology, history and dating methods? Thank you!

Answer 1

classification of things according to their characteristics

Answer 2

Typology

The study and chronological arrangement of artifacts, such as ceramics or lithics, into different types based on associating similar characteristics.  Typing makes a high volume of samples easier to study and compare.

Cross-dating

dating of a site by objects or features of known age, or artifact associations of known age.

Answer 3

Suppose you have three pottery types: A, B, and C. On other sites, A has been dated between 1300-1400 BP, B has been dated between 1200 -1450 BP, and C has been dated between 1350-1400 BP - it might be a finer wear with more rapid type-turnover.

You can often reasonably assume that this assemblage also dates between 1350-1400 BP.