Question 1

The antiquity of humans in the New World was established by the Folsom site. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The dry desert environment of northeastern New Mexico allowed for the best preservation. 
B)  Careful provenience that recorded context: the association of a spear point with the skeleton of an extinct form of bison. 
C)  The age of the site, established by radiocarbon dating charred corn recovered during excavation. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  The dry desert environment of northeastern New Mexico allowed for the best preservation. 
B)  Careful provenience that recorded context: the association of a spear point with the skeleton of an extinct form of bison. 
C)  The age of the site, established by radiocarbon dating charred corn recovered during excavation. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 2

Archaeologists will generally agree that all trowels are similar in quality, and any brand is just as suitable for excavation as another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

It is essential that archaeologists take abundant, accurate, and detailed field notes during excavations because:

Accepted Answer

A)  archaeology destroys data as it is gathered; once a site is excavated it cannot be re-excavated. 
B)  federal legislation mandates abundant, accurate, and detailed field notes. 
C)  archaeology students generally learn field techniques from these notes. 
D)  none of the above; it is not essential because archaeologists can always go back and reconstruct the excavation later. 
A)  archaeology destroys data as it is gathered; once a site is excavated it cannot be re-excavated. 
B)  federal legislation mandates abundant, accurate, and detailed field notes. 
C)  archaeology students generally learn field techniques from these notes. 
D)  none of the above; it is not essential because archaeologists can always go back and reconstruct the excavation later.

Question 4

The duck decoys of Lovelock Cave, Nevada illustrate:

Accepted Answer

A)  that caves were important habitation sites throughout Great Basin prehistory. 
B)  the importance of context in archaeological excavations. 
C)  the amazing degree of preservation possible in dry caves. 
D)  all of the above. 
A)  that caves were important habitation sites throughout Great Basin prehistory. 
B)  the importance of context in archaeological excavations. 
C)  the amazing degree of preservation possible in dry caves. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 5

Realizing the significance of Ötzi, the "Ice Man", archaeologists scoured the site and recovered:

Accepted Answer

A)  clothing, tools, and preserved food. 
B)  clothing, tools, and stomach contents. 
C)  clothing, tools, and a cedar canoe. 
D)  tools, stomach contents, and animal bones. 
A)  clothing, tools, and preserved food. 
B)  clothing, tools, and stomach contents. 
C)  clothing, tools, and a cedar canoe. 
D)  tools, stomach contents, and animal bones.

Question 6

A test excavation would be most appropriate in which of the following situations?

Accepted Answer

A)  When determining whether or not field school students understand archaeological field methods. 
B)  When trying to determine a site's potential for answering a research question. 
C)  When a research question must be answered with a limited amount of time and money. 
D)  When a researcher is already knows what to expect during excavations. 
A)  When determining whether or not field school students understand archaeological field methods. 
B)  When trying to determine a site's potential for answering a research question. 
C)  When a research question must be answered with a limited amount of time and money. 
D)  When a researcher is already knows what to expect during excavations.

Question 7

When archaeologists dig excavation units, they are concerned with:

Accepted Answer

A)  horizontal provenience. 
B)  vertical provenience. 
C)  keeping the walls of the unit straight and perpendicular. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  horizontal provenience. 
B)  vertical provenience. 
C)  keeping the walls of the unit straight and perpendicular. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 8

The period of the Ice Age known as the Pleistocene ended about:

Accepted Answer

A)  25,000 years ago. 
B)  100,000 years ago. 
C)  10,000 years ago. 
D)  1.5 million years ago. 
A)  25,000 years ago. 
B)  100,000 years ago. 
C)  10,000 years ago. 
D)  1.5 million years ago.

Question 9

Although it has proven useful in the recovery of carbonized plant remains and bone fragments, flotation is an uncommon archaeological technique because it is extremely time consuming and costly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

While the vertical excavation strategy at Gatecliff was designed to clarify chronology, the horizontal excavation strategy was designed to:

Accepted Answer

A)  expose living floors. 
B)  reinforce the artifact typologies in use at the time. 
C)  clarify the site's stratigraphy. 
D)  also clarify chronology, but on a larger scale. 
A)  expose living floors. 
B)  reinforce the artifact typologies in use at the time. 
C)  clarify the site's stratigraphy. 
D)  also clarify chronology, but on a larger scale.

Question 11

Why are archaeologists concerned about the future of artifact curation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some curation facilities cannot afford to meet federal guidelines, and so archaeological collections are being kept in substandard conditions. 
B)  Some curation facilities have shut their doors because they no longer have room for any more archaeological collections 
C)  Some curation facilities are so strained to catch up on inventories that they cannot afford the time to loan materials to researchers, contradicting the very purpose of the repository. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  Some curation facilities cannot afford to meet federal guidelines, and so archaeological collections are being kept in substandard conditions. 
B)  Some curation facilities have shut their doors because they no longer have room for any more archaeological collections 
C)  Some curation facilities are so strained to catch up on inventories that they cannot afford the time to loan materials to researchers, contradicting the very purpose of the repository. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 12

By recording the provenience of all artifacts encountered in situ during Gatecliff's excavations, the archaeologists were trying to:

Accepted Answer

A)  document differences in artifact sequences through time. 
B)  obtain information that would allow them to reconstruct the activities that took place on discrete living floors. 
C)  determine the depth of time represented by the deposits in the rockshelter. 
D)  speed up the excavation process without losing important information. 
A)  document differences in artifact sequences through time. 
B)  obtain information that would allow them to reconstruct the activities that took place on discrete living floors. 
C)  determine the depth of time represented by the deposits in the rockshelter. 
D)  speed up the excavation process without losing important information.

Question 13

If an archaeologist is excavating in arbitrary levels:

Accepted Answer

A)  he or she is following the natural breaks in the sediments (following the stratigraphy). 
B)  natural strata are probably lacking or difficult to recognize. 
C)  the natural strata may be more than 10 centimeters thick. 
D)  the natural strata are probably lacking or difficult to recognize, and may be more than 10 centimeters thick. 
A)  he or she is following the natural breaks in the sediments (following the stratigraphy). 
B)  natural strata are probably lacking or difficult to recognize. 
C)  the natural strata may be more than 10 centimeters thick. 
D)  the natural strata are probably lacking or difficult to recognize, and may be more than 10 centimeters thick.

Question 14

Organic materials can only be preserved in extremely dry or cold conditions, such as in dry cave or a glacial environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Organic remains are best preserved in:

Accepted Answer

A)  a cave, where conditions remain permanently cool and dry. 
B)  a bog, where conditions remain permanently wet and depleted of oxygen. 
C)  a field, exposed to hot, dry conditions with periodic rainfall. 
D)  both a permanently dry, cool cave and a permanently wet bog. 
A)  a cave, where conditions remain permanently cool and dry. 
B)  a bog, where conditions remain permanently wet and depleted of oxygen. 
C)  a field, exposed to hot, dry conditions with periodic rainfall. 
D)  both a permanently dry, cool cave and a permanently wet bog.

Question 16

The difference between a natural level and an arbitrary level is:

Accepted Answer

A)  natural level is a vertical subdivision and an arbitrary level is a horizontal subdivision. 
B)  natural level is a horizontal subdivision and an arbitrary level is a vertical subdivision. 
C)  natural level is a vertical subdivision based on natural breaks in sediments and arbitrary level is a vertical subdivision used only when natural strata are lacking or more than 10 cm deep. 
D)  irrelevant. Natural levels are no longer used in archeology, only arbitrary levels are used. 
A)  natural level is a vertical subdivision and an arbitrary level is a horizontal subdivision. 
B)  natural level is a horizontal subdivision and an arbitrary level is a vertical subdivision. 
C)  natural level is a vertical subdivision based on natural breaks in sediments and arbitrary level is a vertical subdivision used only when natural strata are lacking or more than 10 cm deep. 
D)  irrelevant. Natural levels are no longer used in archeology, only arbitrary levels are used.

Question 17

It is generally accepted that provenience measurements taken during an archaeological excavation can be taken from either the modern ground surface of the site or from a datum point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Waterlogged sites such as Ozette on Washington's Olympic Peninsula demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

A)  how water can destroy structures and organic remains that would normally be preserved in dry conditions. 
B)  how organic remains can be remarkably preserved if saturated by water and sealed in an anaerobic environment. 
C)  that archaeologists cannot excavate these kinds of sites. 
D)  the relative ease of underwater excavation compared to excavations on dry land. 
A)  how water can destroy structures and organic remains that would normally be preserved in dry conditions. 
B)  how organic remains can be remarkably preserved if saturated by water and sealed in an anaerobic environment. 
C)  that archaeologists cannot excavate these kinds of sites. 
D)  the relative ease of underwater excavation compared to excavations on dry land.

Question 19

A total station:

Accepted Answer

A)  is accurate to +/- 3 millimeters. 
B)  is easily affordable by students and professionals alike. 
C)  is roughly the same in terms of accuracy as a line level and a measuring tape. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  is accurate to +/- 3 millimeters. 
B)  is easily affordable by students and professionals alike. 
C)  is roughly the same in terms of accuracy as a line level and a measuring tape. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 20

The process of flotation is based on the principle that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the most appropriate screen size for recovering carbonized plant remains and bone fragments is 1/4" mesh. 
B)  carbonized plant remains and very small bone fragments will float when submerged in water, while heavier items (including dirt) will not. 
C)  artifact provenience is the most important information an archaeologist can record during an excavation. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  the most appropriate screen size for recovering carbonized plant remains and bone fragments is 1/4" mesh. 
B)  carbonized plant remains and very small bone fragments will float when submerged in water, while heavier items (including dirt) will not. 
C)  artifact provenience is the most important information an archaeologist can record during an excavation. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

The antiquity of humans in the New World was established by the Folsom site. Why?

Archaeologists will generally agree that all trowels are similar in quality, and any brand is just as suitable for excavation as another.

It is essential that archaeologists take abundant, accurate, and detailed field notes during excavations because:

The duck decoys of Lovelock Cave, Nevada illustrate:

Realizing the significance of Ötzi, the "Ice Man", archaeologists scoured the site and recovered:

A test excavation would be most appropriate in which of the following situations?

When archaeologists dig excavation units, they are concerned with:

The period of the Ice Age known as the Pleistocene ended about:

Although it has proven useful in the recovery of carbonized plant remains and bone fragments, flotation is an uncommon archaeological technique because it is extremely time consuming and costly.

While the vertical excavation strategy at Gatecliff was designed to clarify chronology, the horizontal excavation strategy was designed to:

Why are archaeologists concerned about the future of artifact curation?

By recording the provenience of all artifacts encountered in situ during Gatecliff's excavations, the archaeologists were trying to:

If an archaeologist is excavating in arbitrary levels:

Organic materials can only be preserved in extremely dry or cold conditions, such as in dry cave or a glacial environment.

Organic remains are best preserved in:

The difference between a natural level and an arbitrary level is:

It is generally accepted that provenience measurements taken during an archaeological excavation can be taken from either the modern ground surface of the site or from a datum point.

Waterlogged sites such as Ozette on Washington's Olympic Peninsula demonstrate:

A total station:

The process of flotation is based on the principle that:

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Geoarchaeology and Site Formation Processes

Chronology Building How To Get A Date

The Dimensions Of Archaeology Time Space And Form

Taphonomy Experimental Archaeology And Ethnoarchaeology

People Plants and Animals In The Past

Bioarchaeological Approaches To The Past

Reconstructing Social And Political Systems Of The Past

The Archaeology Of The Mind

Understanding Key Transitions In World Prehistory

Historial Archaeology Insights On American History

Caring For Our Cultural Heritage

Archaeology Apos S Future

Filters

Exam 4: Doing Fieldwork Why Archaeologists Dig Square Holes

The antiquity of humans in the New World was established by the Folsom site. Why?

Archaeologists will generally agree that all trowels are similar in quality, and any brand is just as suitable for excavation as another.

It is essential that archaeologists take abundant, accurate, and detailed field notes during excavations because:

The duck decoys of Lovelock Cave, Nevada illustrate:

Realizing the significance of Ötzi, the "Ice Man", archaeologists scoured the site and recovered:

A test excavation would be most appropriate in which of the following situations?

When archaeologists dig excavation units, they are concerned with:

The period of the Ice Age known as the Pleistocene ended about:

Although it has proven useful in the recovery of carbonized plant remains and bone fragments, flotation is an uncommon archaeological technique because it is extremely time consuming and costly.

While the vertical excavation strategy at Gatecliff was designed to clarify chronology, the horizontal excavation strategy was designed to:

Why are archaeologists concerned about the future of artifact curation?

By recording the provenience of all artifacts encountered in situ during Gatecliff's excavations, the archaeologists were trying to:

If an archaeologist is excavating in arbitrary levels:

Organic materials can only be preserved in extremely dry or cold conditions, such as in dry cave or a glacial environment.

Organic remains are best preserved in:

The difference between a natural level and an arbitrary level is:

It is generally accepted that provenience measurements taken during an archaeological excavation can be taken from either the modern ground surface of the site or from a datum point.

Waterlogged sites such as Ozette on Washington's Olympic Peninsula demonstrate:

A total station:

The process of flotation is based on the principle that:

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Geoarchaeology and Site Formation Processes

Chronology Building How To Get A Date

The Dimensions Of Archaeology Time Space And Form

Taphonomy Experimental Archaeology And Ethnoarchaeology

People Plants and Animals In The Past

Bioarchaeological Approaches To The Past

Reconstructing Social And Political Systems Of The Past

The Archaeology Of The Mind

Understanding Key Transitions In World Prehistory

Historial Archaeology Insights On American History

Caring For Our Cultural Heritage

Archaeology Apos S Future

Filters