About HRAF Collection of Archeology
The eHRAF Collection of Archaeology is a cross-cultural database containing descriptive information on archaeological traditions of the world and is modeled after the eHRAF Collection of Ethnography. eHRAF is unique because each archaeological tradition contains a variety of source documents (books, articles, and dissertations) that have been indexed and organized according to HRAF's comprehensive tradition and subject classification systems: the Outline of Archaeological Traditions (OAT), and the Outline of Cultural Materials (OCM). The most important aspect of the eHRAF database is its OCM index and search system. Each and every paragraph in eHRAF is indexed with 3- and 4- digit OCM subject codes that identify the content of a paragraph. Therefore, using an OCM, rather than a keyword, in a search enables the user to search eHRAF more effectively and retrieve more valuable ethnographic information. These retrieval systems extend search capability well beyond keyword searching thus allowing for precise tradition and subject retrieval, even in a foreign language. NOTE:
Click here for and abbreviated version of the OCM list (pdf). The Library maintains the complete guide at the Reference Desk. Please call 610-683-4165 for information.
This database purchased with student technology fees.