Deck 6: They Sought It Here, They Sought It There: the Process of Research and Finding Archaeological Sites

Question 1

Of the following, which is NOT an element of research design?

A) context
B) explicit and meaningful research questions
C) information on how you will analyze your finds and report them
D) funding and budgeting

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Today, an important element of the Design and Formulation stage of archaeological research is to

A) accommodate the outside world's needs through CRM.
B) apply the very latest survey techniques.
C) concentrate on excavating single sites.
D) arrange for publication of the results.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is a part of the implementation of archaeological research?

A) context
B) explicit and meaningful research questions
C) information on how you will analyze your finds and report them
D) funding and budgeting

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In an ideal world, no research project is complete until the final results are

A) distributed.
B) published.
C) created.
D) emailed.

Question 5

Of the following, which is NOT a stage of archaeological fieldwork?

A) budgeting for research
B) finding archaeological sites
C) assessing sites
D) excavation

Question 6

The Cerén Maya village in El Salvador came to light when a bulldozer operator exposed a long-buried house mantled under feet of volcanic ash and completely invisible from the surface. This is an example of

A) field survey.
B) ground survey.
C) accidental discovery.
D) mechanical survey.

Question 7

During the construction of modern-day Mexico City's subway system, a wealth of archaeological material was unearthed, revealing remains of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán. In addition to being just one instance of accidental discovery in the area, this is also an example of the archaeological concept of

A) context.
B) compliance.
C) superposition.
D) data analysis.

Question 8

What generic term is used to refer to methods such as Google Earth and other satellite imagery, aerial photography, magnetic prospecting methods, and magnetic prospecting methods help archaeologists find sites?

A) remote viewing
B) remote sensing
C) sensory archaeology
D) archaeological sensing

Question 9

Today, many archaeologists begin with cheap and readily accessible remote sensing-that is, with

A) remote sensing.
B) Google Earth.
C) sidescan radar.
D) satellite photography.

Question 10

Which is the best-known source of aircraft-borne sensor imagery, which senses the terrain on either side of an aircraft's path?

A) sideways-looking airborne radar (SLAR)
B) forward infrared looking radar (FLIR)
C) ground penetrating radar (GPR)
D) infrared pulsing radar (IPR

Question 11

In 1981, from space, an imaging radar system was used to bounce radar signals off the surfaces of the world's major deserts to study the history of the earth's aridity; the system also unexpectedly revealed

A) evidence of ancient camel caravans.
B) oil reserves.
C) ancient watercourses
D) large mounds and buildings.

Question 12

Which is the grandfather of remote sensing technologies, having been around since World War I?

A) remote viewing
B) remote sensing
C) sensory archaeology
D) aerial photography

Question 13

Bcause this method can get up close and personal with archaeological sites, no remote sensing technology can completely replace

A) GPR.
B) ground survey.
C) electrical resistance survey.
D) LIDAR.

Question 14

Which is the science of controlling and measuring the reliability of information through the theory of probability?

A) archaeology
B) statistics
C) mathematics
D) sampling

Question 15

What technology has revolutionized the storage and display of cartographic data, including archaeological sites?

A) digital mapping
B) GIS
C) aerial surveys
D) surveys from space.

Question 16

As the catastrophic damage done to the archaeological record has hit crisis proportions, what has become increasingly important?

A) excavation
B) survey
C) aerial survey
D) electrical resistance studies

Question 17

An important part of site assessment is

A) accurate mapping and precise recording of the site.
B) use of computer-aided mapping methods.
C) creating flowcharts to monitor the validity of research results.
D) the study of animal bones and other food remains.

Question 18

Which is a vital part of site assessment, for representative samples of artifacts from the modern ground surface can provide vital information on the age of the site and the various periods of occupation?

A) controlled excavation
B) controlled surface survey
C) controlled surface collection
D) controlled limited surface excavation

Question 19

Resistivity surveys use electric current transmitted through what mechanism, that is then planted in the soil to detect subsurface structures like building foundations through their higher resistivity?

A) spikes
B) electrodes
C) magnetometers
D) galvanic sensors

Question 20

Nonintrusive detection methods include the use of

A) ground-penetrating radar antennae.
B) magnometers.
C) metal detectors.
D) remote-sensing technologies.

Question 21

List and describe how archaeologists use three different types of remote sensing.

Question 22

Review the entire process of archaeological research. Explain how CRM fits into each step of the process.

Question 23

Discuss the importance of publication to archaeological research. What is the impact of an unpublished archaeological site that has been excavated? What is the role and the current status of online publishing?

Question 24

Explain why Google Earth is now such a useful tool in archaeology.

Question 25

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are playing a greater role in the field of archaeology. Discuss why.