Exam 8: Archaeological Classification and Ancient Technologies
Explain how bone and wood might have been used as tools by early humans. Why is there so little evidence for this usage?
Bone and wood were likely used as tools by early humans for a variety of purposes. Bone could have been used to make sharp tools such as needles, awls, and spear points. It could also have been used to make fish hooks, harpoons, and even as a material for making handles for other tools. Wood, on the other hand, could have been used to make digging sticks, clubs, and even early forms of spears and arrows.
There is little evidence for the use of bone and wood as tools by early humans because these materials do not preserve as well as stone. Stone tools are more likely to survive in the archaeological record because they are more durable and do not decompose as easily as bone and wood. Additionally, bone and wood tools may have been used for specific tasks that did not leave behind as much evidence, such as hunting or fishing, which makes it harder for archaeologists to find and identify these tools. However, recent discoveries and advancements in archaeological techniques have started to uncover more evidence of bone and wood tools used by early humans, providing a better understanding of their technological capabilities.
Discuss types in archaeology. Name some examples of each type.
In archaeology, there are several types of artifacts and sites that are studied and analyzed to understand past human societies. Some of the main types in archaeology include:
1. Lithic artifacts: These are stone tools and artifacts made from stone, such as arrowheads, blades, and axes. Examples of lithic artifacts include Clovis points, hand axes, and flint scrapers.
2. Ceramic artifacts: These are artifacts made from clay and fired in a kiln, such as pottery and figurines. Examples of ceramic artifacts include Greek pottery, Mayan figurines, and Chinese porcelain.
3. Metal artifacts: These are artifacts made from metal, such as weapons, jewelry, and coins. Examples of metal artifacts include Viking swords, Roman coins, and Egyptian jewelry.
4. Ecofacts: These are organic remains that provide information about past environments and human activities, such as animal bones, plant remains, and pollen. Examples of ecofacts include animal bones from a prehistoric hunting site, seeds from an ancient agricultural field, and pollen from a burial site.
5. Architectural sites: These are sites that contain the remains of buildings and structures, such as houses, temples, and fortifications. Examples of architectural sites include the pyramids of Egypt, the Roman Colosseum, and the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans.
6. Burial sites: These are sites that contain human remains and associated grave goods, providing insights into past burial practices and beliefs. Examples of burial sites include the tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt, the Terracotta Army in China, and the burial mounds of the ancient Celts.
These are just a few examples of the types of artifacts and sites that archaeologists study to reconstruct and understand past human societies. Each type provides valuable information about different aspects of ancient cultures and can help archaeologists piece together the puzzle of human history.
Archaeologists tend to use four "types of types." Which of the following is NOT one of them?
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Discuss the skills necessary for textile production. Explain each skill, and explain how the skills interrelate.
Which is a system of classification searches for patterns among either objects or the variables that define these objects?
Let's say you have just completed excavation and now have to unpack the finds, records, photos, etc. Explain the steps you go through to properly analyze all of your materials.
A physically bounded portion of a site that contains a distinct assemblage is a(n)
In the manufacture of stone tools, the stone is acquired and then shaped by removing flakes until the desired form is achieved. This technology is described as
If archaeologists want to understand the dynamics of cultural systems . . . in the past, they need to study and interpret living conditions in what part of human existence?
Computers and statistical approaches to artifact classification have added a fourth objective to the archaeological taxonomies in use today, which is
When archaeologists compared trace element clusters from a clay jar to a large database of samples from Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, the database pointed to the southern hill country of Israel and Transjordan as the source of the vessels, an area where vineyards were well established in 3100 B.C. The wine probably traveled the Nile across an ancient trade route that linked southern Israel with Egypt via the Sinai Desert. The analysis that enabled archaeologists to trace this detailed route is
Which types of artifacts are based solely on the form of the artifact, the most elementary physical or external properties?
Excavations in Liang Bua Cave yielded a remarkable series of diminutive human skeletons dating to before 38,000 and 13,000 years ago. These skeletons belong to the species
Reassembling fragmented pots, hardening bones with chemicals, and stabilizing fragile objects are part of what archaeologists call
The physical characteristics used to distinguish one commonplace artifact from another are
In archaeology, a grouping of artifacts created for comparison with other groups is called a
Lasting artifact types, assemblages of tools, architectural styles, economic practices, or art styles that last much longer than one phase or even the duration of a horizon are called
Much of the basketry and textiles that survive from prehistoric times has been preserved because of
Which types of artifacts are based on cultural use or role rather than on outward form or chronological position?
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