Archaeology and Earth's History

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a source of lead poisoning?

Drinking water

Metal jewelry

Imported foods

Cell phone chargers (correct)

What is one of the outcomes of the culture shift mentioned?

Tools focusing on student needs (correct)

Decreased real-time feedback

Reduction in classroom visits

Increased lead poisoning incidents

How does lead poisoning generally affect children?

It is only dangerous in high concentrations of lead.

It can cause serious health problems even with small amounts. (correct)

It has no effects on children below the age of five.

It causes immediate physical symptoms in all cases.

Which method is used to understand students’ journeys and challenges?

Shadowing students and classroom visits Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Deep Time' refer to?

A time scale reflecting a vast duration beyond human perception. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the principle that geological processes observed today have also occurred in the past?

Uniformitarianism Signup and view all the answers

What significant conclusion did Cyrus Thomas reach after 12 years of research?

Mounds were built by Native Americans. Signup and view all the answers

What do eco facts refer to in archaeology?

Materials found at archaeological sites that are not modified by humans. Signup and view all the answers

Which archaeological method focuses on the study of rock layering to determine geological age?

Stratigraphy Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes radiometric dating?

It provides dates based on the instability of certain atoms. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of objects are considered artifacts in archaeology?

Portable objects that humans have modified. Signup and view all the answers

In which time period did the concept of Creationism and Catastrophism emerge?

18th century Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main challenges of archaeology as described in the content?

Many pieces of history are permanently lost. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'BCE' stand for?

Before the Common Era Signup and view all the answers

What technological advancement occurred during the Upper Paleolithic period?

Invention of the atlatl Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of adopting agriculture, according to the content?

Gross social inequality Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred in height upon the adoption of maize agriculture in Native American populations?

Height decreased by 1 to 2 inches Signup and view all the answers

What primary benefit did agriculture provide to early farmers compared to hunter-gatherers?

Ability to store food Signup and view all the answers

The statement 'Agriculture is the worst mistake in human history' suggests what about the consequences of agriculture?

It resulted in lasting negative effects on societies. Signup and view all the answers

During what time frame is it believed agriculture began to develop independently in various regions?

Between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

What are domesticated plants known to have compared to wild plants?

More seeds Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to the extinction of megafauna at the time agriculture was developing?

Increased human population Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'BP' signify in historical dates?

Before Present Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary agricultural focus of the people living in Chaco Canyon?

Corn farming Signup and view all the answers

What significant feature in Chaco Canyon indicates solar and lunar phenomena?

The Sun Dagger Signup and view all the answers

During which period did the Inca Empire arise in the Altiplano region?

Late Horizon Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the primary crops found in the paleoethnobotanical studies in the Altiplano?

Quinoa Signup and view all the answers

What method allows livestock to feed on vegetation outdoors in ancient Andean agriculture?

Grazing Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Balkanization' refer to in the context of the Late Intermediate Period?

Splintering of political power and social conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which European group arrived at Cape Cod in 1620 and founded Plymouth?

Pilgrims Signup and view all the answers

What staple crops formed the basis of the 'Three Sisters' agricultural method?

Corn, beans, and squash Signup and view all the answers

What role did Squanto play in the early years of the Pilgrims at Plymouth?

He taught the Pilgrims about local agriculture. Signup and view all the answers

What major change in applied anthropology occurred post-World War II?

Shift towards community collaboration and ethical engagement Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of applied anthropology?

Applying methods to community-defined problems Signup and view all the answers

What was the main effect of climate change on ancient agriculture in the Lake Titicaca Basin?

Resource shortages leading to warfare Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cultural relativism' in applied anthropology encourage?

Approaching cultures without personal biases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the concept of 'mixed methods' in research?

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Archaeology: A Vast Jigsaw Puzzle

Archaeology is like a vast, unfinished jigsaw puzzle.
The number of missing pieces is unknown.
Many pieces are irretrievably lost.
There's no cheat sheet to reveal the picture.

Early Ideas about Earth's Age

Archbishop Ussher calculated Earth's age based on biblical sources.
He estimated creation occurred on October 22, 4004 BC.
During the 1600s, ancient artifacts were explained as natural phenomena (e.g., thunderstones).

Creationism and Catastrophism

Creationism posited a perfect, unchanging world.
Catastrophism proposed dramatic natural events altered the world.
These events were explained using the principle of uniformitarianism.

The Principle of Uniformitarianism

The geological processes observed now operated in the past.

Stratigraphy

Subsurface layers reveal ordered fossil groups.

Archaeology of the 18th and 19th Centuries

Cabinets of curiosities (or "cheerio cabinets") emerged, showcasing unusual items.
Cyrus Thomas researched Native American mound builders, concluding they were built by Native Americans, which was published in 1894.

Scientific Archaeology

The 1990s saw an emphasis on comprehensive artifact recovery.
Detailed documentation of every archaeological feature is essential.
Military level precision is valued.
Stratigraphy is crucial to determining geological age of layers and locations. An anthropological understanding is emphasized.

Classes of Archaeological Effects

Artifacts: Portable objects fashioned by humans.
Examples: Ceramics, lithics, and metallurgy
Ecofacts: Portable objects with cultural significance but not created by humans.
Examples: Paleoethnobotany (plant remains), zooarchaeology (animal remains), geoarchaeology (earth materials)
Features: Non-portable human-made remains that cannot be removed without damage.

Archaeological Dating Methods

Relative Dating: Determining the age of one item relative to another (e.g., Artifact X is older than Artifact Y).
Radiometric Dating: Carbon-14 dating to determine the age of organic remains, by observing unstable atom transformations.

Timeline

BC/AD: Before Christ/Anno Domini
BCE/CE: Before the Common Era/Common Era (often alternatives to BC/AD)
BP: Before Present (often used with radiocarbon dating, typically before AD 1950)

Paleolithic (Stone Age)

The earliest period before farming.
Upper Paleolithic culture in Europe (after 40,000 years ago) showcased flourishing art, technology (like the atlatl), and abstract thought.
The Upper Paleolithic period witnessed advancements in art, technology, and abstract thought.

Neolithic Origins

Marked by the origin of agriculture and the first writing system (e.g., cuneiform tablets approximately 5,200 years ago/ 3200 BCE).

Origins of Agriculture

Agriculture emerged between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago, independently in various locations.

Domestication

Domesticated plants have more seeds compared to their wild counterparts.
Wild plants lose seeds easily when picked.
Domesticated animals tend to be smaller, less dangerous, more docile, and more social than wild animals.

Agriculture: The Worst Mistake?

Critics like Diamond argue that agriculture had negative consequences (e.g., social inequality, disease, despotism).
Hunter-gatherers often had more free time and varied diets compared to agricultural societies.
Archaeological evidence supports Diamond's argument. In particular, adoption of agriculture led to physical changes in the human body, such as decreased height. Some researchers have traced evidence that the adoption of maize and other starch-based crops resulted in dental problems and reduced lifespan in early farming communities.

Maya Collapse

At Actuncan, Belize, infrastructures suggest fear of potential events.
The Maya collapse involves the cessation of hieroglyphic monuments, warfare, abandonment of centers, and emigration to stable zones.

Chaco Canyon

Chaco Canyon, in New Mexico, was a significant Anasazi site.
Pueblo Bonito is a prominent great house with circular rooms (kivas).
Agriculture (especially maize) was crucial for these inhabitants.
The "Sun Dagger" is a significant astronomical feature that indicates solstices and equinoxes.

Applied Anthropology

Applied Anthropology uses anthropological theories and methods to solve contemporary issues.
Cultural relativism is essential, acknowledging diverse perspectives.
Methods for applied anthropology may involve qualitative (ethnography, participant observation, interviews) and/or quantitative (surveys, statistical analysis) research methods.
Applied Anthropology can use a variety of approaches including story maps to present findings visually to the public.

Adapting Agriculture in the Ancient Andes

The Altiplano, a high-elevation region between Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, experienced climate-related and socio-political disruptions that impacted agricultural practices during the late intermediate period.
Challenges include coping with risks from climate and warfare.
Researchers studied paleoethnobotanical findings (plant remains) to understand strategies for coping with risk.
Techniques for resource management involved migration, trade and exchange, landscape use (e.g., planting in different parts of the Andes), and grazing. Evidence from quinoa production is explored.

Thanksgiving's Origins

The Wampanoag, a Native American confederacy, were among the groups encountered by British colonists.
The "three sisters" (corn, beans, squash) formed a significant food source for the Wampanoag.
Colonist's arrival resulted in disease epidemics for indigenous populations, significantly reducing their overall numbers.
The 1621 harvest celebration, while a significant historical event, was not formalized as a national holiday until the 19th century. Pilgrims' encounters with the Wampanoag involved a complex mixture of alliance, conflict, and influence.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of archaeology, where the past is like a jigsaw puzzle with many missing pieces. Delve into early ideas about Earth's age, creationism, catastrophism, and stratigraphy. Understand how geological processes have shaped our understanding of history.