Question 1

Amino acid racemization

Accepted Answer

A)  is a non-radiometric technique. 
B)  is applied to volcanic glass. 
C)  measures heat from electrons trapped in the material. 
D)  can be applied to ceramics only. 
E)  has a half-life of 1250 years. 
A)  is a non-radiometric technique. 
B)  is applied to volcanic glass. 
C)  measures heat from electrons trapped in the material. 
D)  can be applied to ceramics only. 
E)  has a half-life of 1250 years. A

Question 2

Archaeologists conduct excavations and recover artifacts from where they were buried; thus, by its very nature, archaeological excavation is

Accepted Answer

A)  destructive -- the context of the artifacts is lost. 
B)  tiring -- archaeologists must work very hard during excavations. 
C)  profitable -- many of the artifacts recovered are priceless. 
D)  something that amateurs can easily master. 
E)  something that is usually conducted as quickly as possible. 
A)  destructive -- the context of the artifacts is lost. 
B)  tiring -- archaeologists must work very hard during excavations. 
C)  profitable -- many of the artifacts recovered are priceless. 
D)  something that amateurs can easily master. 
E)  something that is usually conducted as quickly as possible. A

Question 3

What is the difference between absolute and relative dating?

Accepted Answer

Absolute dating and relative dating are two methods used by scientists to determine the age of a specimen.

Absolute dating, also known as numerical dating, provides an actual age or range in number of years for a given object or fossil. This method is based on the decay of radioactive isotopes within the materials being dated. Techniques such as radiometric dating (including potassium-argon, argon-argon, and radiocarbon dating) measure the amount of decay of these isotopes, which occurs at a constant rate, to estimate the age of the material. Other absolute dating methods include dendrochronology (tree-ring dating), ice core sampling, and thermoluminescence.

Relative dating, on the other hand, does not provide specific numerical dates. Instead, it places events in the order they occurred relative to each other. This is achieved by looking at the stratigraphic record, which is the layering of rocks and sediments. Geologists use principles such as the Law of Superposition (younger layers are deposited on top of older layers) and the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships (features that cut across rocks must be younger than the rocks they cut through) to establish a relative age sequence. Fossil assemblages and the principle of faunal succession (certain organisms appear and disappear in a known sequence) are also used in relative dating.

In summary, absolute dating provides a quantifiable age, while relative dating places events in sequence without a precise numerical measure. Both methods are critical in piecing together the history of the Earth and the timing of events in the geological past.

Question 4

Living floors are a type of

Accepted Answer

A)  fossil. 
B)  feature. 
C)  ecofact. 
D)  artifact. 
E)  datum. 
A)  fossil. 
B)  feature. 
C)  ecofact. 
D)  artifact. 
E)  datum.

Question 5

Microscopic granules of silicon dioxide in plant cells are called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ecofacts 
B)  phytoliths 
C)  features 
D)  datums 
E)  isotopes 
A)  ecofacts 
B)  phytoliths 
C)  features 
D)  datums 
E)  isotopes

Question 6

Fluorine is one mineral present in groundwater, therefore the older the fossil the lower its fluorine content.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

If you take one gram of carbon-14, half of it will decay in

Accepted Answer

A)  80 000 years. 
B)  1330 million years. 
C)  3 billion years. 
D)  1480 years. 
E)  5730 years. 
A)  80 000 years. 
B)  1330 million years. 
C)  3 billion years. 
D)  1480 years. 
E)  5730 years.

Question 8

phytoliths (microscopic granules of silicon dioxide found in a plants cells) are formed when plants are harvested using stone tools.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Relative dating methods

Accepted Answer

A)  provide an age estimate for a specimen or deposit in relation to another specimen or deposit. 
B)  are the only way to determine a realistic age of a specimen or deposit. 
C)  provide the best age estimates for fossils of our relatives, the hominids. 
D)  are not of much use to either archaeologists or paleoanthropologists. 
E)  have been subject to significant advances over the last 50 years. 
A)  provide an age estimate for a specimen or deposit in relation to another specimen or deposit. 
B)  are the only way to determine a realistic age of a specimen or deposit. 
C)  provide the best age estimates for fossils of our relatives, the hominids. 
D)  are not of much use to either archaeologists or paleoanthropologists. 
E)  have been subject to significant advances over the last 50 years.

Question 10

The term "taphonomy" literally means the study of fossilized hominid remains.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A butchered seal bone is an example of a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  zoonose 
B)  grid 
C)  feature 
D)  datum 
E)  ecofact 
A)  zoonose 
B)  grid 
C)  feature 
D)  datum 
E)  ecofact

Question 12

Ground-penetrating radar is only effective in locating metallic objects that are buried.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Where a newly discovered site is relatively disturbed, the excavation of test pits at intervals across the site might provide a better understanding of the sites extent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The main difference between archaeological sites and fossil locales is

Accepted Answer

A)  features are found only at fossil locales. 
B)  fossil locales only yield animal remains. 
C)  archaeological sites are younger than fossil sites. 
D)  human remains are always associated with archaeological sites. 
E)  artifacts are only found at archaeological sites. 
A)  features are found only at fossil locales. 
B)  fossil locales only yield animal remains. 
C)  archaeological sites are younger than fossil sites. 
D)  human remains are always associated with archaeological sites. 
E)  artifacts are only found at archaeological sites.

Question 15

Humans started making ceramics about 50 000 years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Coffins provide a different burial environment for bodies than does burial directly in the soil.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The spatial distribution that archaeological remains have in relation to each other at a site is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  stratigraphy. 
B)  relative dating. 
C)  site formation processes. 
D)  provenience. 
E)  absolute dating. 
A)  stratigraphy. 
B)  relative dating. 
C)  site formation processes. 
D)  provenience. 
E)  absolute dating.

Question 18

The study of the processes that affect the body of an animal following death is called

Accepted Answer

A)  taphonomy. 
B)  fossilization. 
C)  paleontology. 
D)  paleoanthropology. 
E)  site prospection. 
A)  taphonomy. 
B)  fossilization. 
C)  paleontology. 
D)  paleoanthropology. 
E)  site prospection.

Question 19

One issue that arises when relative dating using the F-U-N trio is that

Accepted Answer

A)  mineral content of bones reflects mineral content of the groundwater in the area. 
B)  bones and teeth undergo transformation in chemical composition when buried for long periods. 
C)  older fossils contain greater amounts of fluorine. 
D)  older fossils contain smaller amounts of nitrogen. 
E)  this method does not examine carbon content of fossils. 
A)  mineral content of bones reflects mineral content of the groundwater in the area. 
B)  bones and teeth undergo transformation in chemical composition when buried for long periods. 
C)  older fossils contain greater amounts of fluorine. 
D)  older fossils contain smaller amounts of nitrogen. 
E)  this method does not examine carbon content of fossils.

Question 20

Identify the best sequence below for conducting an archaeological excavation.

Accepted Answer

A)  site prospection, site identification, excavation and recovery, dating 
B)  dating, site surveying, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery 
C)  site surveying, site prospection, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery 
D)  site identification, site prospection, site mapping, excavation and mapping of recoveries, dating 
E)  site mapping, site prospection, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery 
A)  site prospection, site identification, excavation and recovery, dating 
B)  dating, site surveying, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery 
C)  site surveying, site prospection, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery 
D)  site identification, site prospection, site mapping, excavation and mapping of recoveries, dating 
E)  site mapping, site prospection, site identification, dating, excavation and recovery

Amino acid racemization

Archaeologists conduct excavations and recover artifacts from where they were buried; thus, by its very nature, archaeological excavation is

What is the difference between absolute and relative dating?

Living floors are a type of

Microscopic granules of silicon dioxide in plant cells are called ________.

Fluorine is one mineral present in groundwater, therefore the older the fossil the lower its fluorine content.

If you take one gram of carbon-14, half of it will decay in

phytoliths (microscopic granules of silicon dioxide found in a plants cells) are formed when plants are harvested using stone tools.

Relative dating methods

The term "taphonomy" literally means the study of fossilized hominid remains.

A butchered seal bone is an example of a(n) ________.

Ground-penetrating radar is only effective in locating metallic objects that are buried.

Where a newly discovered site is relatively disturbed, the excavation of test pits at intervals across the site might provide a better understanding of the sites extent.

The main difference between archaeological sites and fossil locales is

Humans started making ceramics about 50 000 years ago.

Coffins provide a different burial environment for bodies than does burial directly in the soil.

The spatial distribution that archaeological remains have in relation to each other at a site is known as

The study of the processes that affect the body of an animal following death is called

One issue that arises when relative dating using the F-U-N trio is that

Identify the best sequence below for conducting an archaeological excavation.

What Is Anthropology?

Reconstructing the Past: Analysis and Interpretation

Historical Development of Evolutionary Theory

Modern Evolutionary Theory

Human Variation

The Living Primates

Primate Evolution: From Early Primates to Hominoids

Early Hominins

Homo Erectus and Archaic Homo Sapiens

Modern Homo Sapiens

Origins of Food Production and Settled Life

Origins of Cities and States

Applied Anthropology: Physical Anthropology and Archaeology

Filters

Exam 2: Uncovering the Past: Tools and Techniques

Amino acid racemization

Archaeologists conduct excavations and recover artifacts from where they were buried; thus, by its very nature, archaeological excavation is

What is the difference between absolute and relative dating?

Living floors are a type of

Microscopic granules of silicon dioxide in plant cells are called ________.

Fluorine is one mineral present in groundwater, therefore the older the fossil the lower its fluorine content.

If you take one gram of carbon-14, half of it will decay in

phytoliths (microscopic granules of silicon dioxide found in a plants cells) are formed when plants are harvested using stone tools.

Relative dating methods

The term "taphonomy" literally means the study of fossilized hominid remains.

A butchered seal bone is an example of a(n) ________.

Ground-penetrating radar is only effective in locating metallic objects that are buried.

Where a newly discovered site is relatively disturbed, the excavation of test pits at intervals across the site might provide a better understanding of the sites extent.

The main difference between archaeological sites and fossil locales is

Humans started making ceramics about 50 000 years ago.

Coffins provide a different burial environment for bodies than does burial directly in the soil.

The spatial distribution that archaeological remains have in relation to each other at a site is known as

The study of the processes that affect the body of an animal following death is called

One issue that arises when relative dating using the F-U-N trio is that

Identify the best sequence below for conducting an archaeological excavation.

What Is Anthropology?

Reconstructing the Past: Analysis and Interpretation

Historical Development of Evolutionary Theory

Modern Evolutionary Theory

Human Variation

The Living Primates

Primate Evolution: From Early Primates to Hominoids

Early Hominins

Homo Erectus and Archaic Homo Sapiens

Modern Homo Sapiens

Origins of Food Production and Settled Life

Origins of Cities and States

Applied Anthropology: Physical Anthropology and Archaeology

Filters