Archaeology Quiz on Key Concepts
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Archaeology Quiz on Key Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What can ecofacts reveal about past human behavior?

  • Cultural practices and traditions
  • Environmental conditions and resource use (correct)
  • Technological advancements
  • Political structures

    • Processual archaeology is primarily concerned with human agency and individual experiences.

    False

    Explain the law of superposition in archaeological stratigraphy.

    The law of superposition states that in undisturbed strata, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the younger layers are at the top.

    The __________ approach in archaeology emphasizes science and hypothesis testing.

    <p>processual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following archaeologists with their contributions:

    <p>A.V. Kidder = Ceramics as time markers Boucher de Perthes = Discovery of prehistoric tools Binford = Processual archaeology Marx = Influence on social evolution theories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does historical archaeology align most closely with postprocessual archaeology?

    <p>Emphasis on power and ideology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The gumshoe survey is a systematic and formal method of surveying archaeological sites.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one key difference between processual and postprocessual archaeology?

    <p>Processual archaeology focuses on scientific methods and general explanations, while postprocessual archaeology emphasizes human agency and cultural meanings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of dating method involves arranging artifacts in a sequence based on stylistic changes over time?

    <p>Seriation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Beringia Standstill hypothesis suggests that human populations moved freely during the last glacial maximum.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes historical archaeology from other archaeological practices?

    <p>Historical archaeology combines the study of material culture with written records, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of past societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Clovis culture is generally dated to around ___ years ago.

    <p>13,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following archaeological terms with their definitions:

    <p>Provenience = An artifact's location in relation to the ground Ecofacts = Natural objects found at sites Clovis points = Distinctive stone tools of the Clovis culture Dendrochronology = Dating method based on tree rings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which site provided evidence of pre-Clovis human occupation?

    <p>Meadowcroft Rockshelter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The method that uses the decay of carbon isotopes to date organic materials is called ___ dating.

    <p>radiocarbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the African Burial Ground excavation considered important for historical archaeology?

    <p>The African Burial Ground excavation is important because it reveals the lives and histories of African Americans, and community involvement played a crucial role in shaping the research approach and interpretation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method involves collecting data while inherently destroying context?

    <p>Excavation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Law of Superposition states that older layers are located above newer layers.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of provenience in archaeology?

    <p>Provenience indicates the precise location of artifacts and helps understand their context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes Clovis Points?

    <p>Distinctive stone tools, often hafted to spears</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ method is used to study changes in plant remains from archaeological contexts.

    <p>Paleoethnobotany</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the dating method with its description:

    <p>Dendrochronology = Tree ring dating Radiocarbon Dating = Carbon decay dating for organic materials Seriation = Relative dating based on artifact frequency changes Stratigraphy = Analysis of layer sequences in archaeological sites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Beringia Standstill Hypothesis suggests that populations migrated rapidly through Beringia during glacial maximum.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'social organization' refer to in a community?

    <p>Rules governing relationships in a community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sites is associated with controversies regarding early human presence in the Americas?

    <p>Meadowcroft Rockshelter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Radiocarbon dating can be used for dating inorganic materials.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In ranked Mississippian society, __________ status refers to social standing that is earned through actions.

    <p>achieved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one factor that affects the preservation of archaeological remains.

    <p>Moisture, temperature, or oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following individuals with their contributions to historical archaeology:

    <p>J.Deetz = Material culture and documentary record in the last 500 years K.Deagan = Focus on colonialism and interactions among Indigenous, Europeans, and Africans M.Leone = Critique of capitalism and social control through material culture Col Wbrg = Current focus on African American experiences and modern labor connections</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does 'intersectionality' play in social contexts?

    <p>It shows how different social categories interact.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The discovery at the African Burial Ground (1991) involved an ancient European burial site.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is 'gender bias in archaeology'?

    <p>Historical male dominance and unrecognized assumptions within archaeological interpretations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Draft Test Format

    • 25 multiple choice questions (3 points each)
    • 5 fill-in-the-blank questions (4 points each)
    • 2 short-answer questions (5 points each)
    • Total points: 105
    • Maximum possible score: 100 (5 points extra credit possible)

    Example Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

    • Archaeologists study artifacts and... natural objects found at sites.
    • The theory that human populations were stalled in Beringia during the last glacial maximum is called the... Beringia Standstill Hypothesis.
    • An artifact that can be dated to a specific period based on its style or form is known as a... diagnostic artifact.
    • The law that states younger layers of soil are deposited above older layers is called the law of... superposition.
    • The method of dating based on tree rings is known as... dendrochronology.
    • Archaeologists at Monte Verde found evidence of a... adaptation, indicating coastal living.
    • Monte Verde is a site located in... Chile.
    • Archaeology that combines the study of material culture and written records is known as... historical archaeology.
    • The distinctive stone tools associated with the Clovis culture are called... Clovis points.
    • [Site in Pennsylvania that provided evidence of pre-Clovis human occupation]... Meadowcroft Rockshelter.
    • In archaeology, an artifact's exact location in relation to the ground or other artifacts is called its... provenience.
    • The first widely accepted evidence of humans in N America came from... a site in New Mexico.
    • [Type of relative dating method]... seriation.
    • The Clovis culture is generally dated to around... 13,000 years ago.
    • The method that uses the decay of carbon isotopes to date organic materials is called... radiocarbon dating (C14).

    Historical Archaeology

    • Aligns most closely with... postprocessual archaeology.

    Short Answer Examples

    • The significance of the Monte Verde site in challenging the Clovis-first model, and how it changes our understanding of early human migration in the Americas (answer in 2-3 sentences).
    • Why is archaeology unique in that it destroys its evidence as it collects data, and what methods do archaeologists use to mitigate this issue?
    • Why is the African Burial Ground excavation important for historical archaeology, and how did community involvement influence the project?
    • Role of ecofacts in archaeological analysis, difference from artifacts, and what they reveal about past human behavior
    • Key differences between processual and postprocessual archaeology, with an example of how they interpret an archaeological site differently
    • How archaeologists use the law of superposition and stratigraphy to date artifacts and understand the sequence of human activities at a site

    History of Archaeology

    • Theoretical frameworks: Culture history, processual, post-processual
    • Key figures and discoveries: Boucher de Perthes, Darwin, Marx, Kennewick Man, NAGPRA
    • Developments in methods/approaches: Scientific methods, hypothesis testing, relative and absolute dating techniques (dendrochronology, radiocarbon dating, stratigraphy)
    • Paradigms: Processual, postprocessual

    Structures of Inquiry.

    • Covers: Processual, postprocessual, and culture history approaches, including methods like hypothesis testing in cultural history
    • Include: Anthropology, bio-cultural, scientific & theoretical studies of humankind, self-correcting theories

    Survey in Archaeology

    • Goals/methods: Find sites, understand landscapes, settlement patterns
    • Various approaches: Ground-penetrating radar, non-invasive surveying techniques, settlement pattern analysis

    Excavation

    • Essential elements: Context and provenience, understanding context and location of finds, precise recording of artifacts

    Dating

    • Approaches: Absolute (precise dates e.g., radiocarbon dating, diagnostic artifacts, index fossils) vs. relative (chronological order e.g., seriation, dendrochronology)

    Plants and Animals

    • Subjects: Faunal and floral analysis (identifying remains), paleoethnobotany, ecofacts

    Additional Topics

    • Social organization: Rules, gender, kinship, social status, ritual
    • Historical archaeology: Material culture, colonialism, indigenous, non-Western perspectives, combines archaeology & documentation
    • Important sites: Monte Verde, Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Jamestown

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    Draft Test Format Review #1b PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge about fundamental concepts in archaeology with this comprehensive quiz. It includes multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions to evaluate your understanding of critical theories and methods in the field. Perfect for students looking to refine their grasp on archaeological studies.

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