Question 1

Describe the differences in accuracy and usage between relative dating techniques and chronometric dating techniques.

Accepted Answer

Relative dating techniques and chronometric dating techniques differ in terms of accuracy and usage.

Relative dating techniques provide a relative age for a fossil or artifact by comparing it to other items found in the same layer of sediment. This method is less precise and can only provide an estimate of the age of the item. Relative dating techniques are often used in conjunction with stratigraphy, which is the study of rock layers and the sequence of events they represent.

On the other hand, chronometric dating techniques, also known as absolute dating techniques, provide a specific age for a fossil or artifact. These methods use scientific techniques such as radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating, and thermoluminescence dating to determine the exact age of an item. Chronometric dating techniques are more accurate and can provide a precise age range for the item being studied.

In terms of usage, relative dating techniques are often used to establish a sequence of events and determine the relative age of fossils and artifacts within a specific site or region. This method is useful for understanding the relative timing of events and the relationships between different items.

Chronometric dating techniques, on the other hand, are used to determine the absolute age of fossils and artifacts. This method is essential for understanding the timeline of human evolution and the history of different cultures. Chronometric dating techniques are also valuable for establishing the age of archaeological sites and understanding the timing of significant events in the past.

In summary, relative dating techniques provide a general estimate of the age of fossils and artifacts, while chronometric dating techniques offer a more precise and absolute age. Both methods are valuable in archaeological and geological research, but they serve different purposes and have different levels of accuracy.

Question 2

Radiocarbon's half-life is known to be approximately _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   5,730 years
B)   574 days
C)   5.9 years
D)   564 years A

Question 3

Uranium-thorium dating is applicable only to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Organic material
B)   radioactive material
C)   volcanic rock
D)   limestone (calcite)  cave deposits D

Question 4

Why is obsidian such an important element that it has its own dating technique?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is obsidian such an important element...

Question 5

Which of the following is not used in radiometric dating?

Accepted Answer

A)   charcoal
B)   bone remains
C)   forged iron
D)   stone

Question 6

Fission-track dating can be used to date ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   crystalline minerals found in ceramic artifacts
B)   fossil bone
C)   limestone (calcite)  cave deposits
D)   volcanic rock

Question 7

Which dating technique based on the fact that the position of Earth's magnetic poles is continually changing?

Accepted Answer

A)   fission track dating
B)   archaeomagnetism
C)   electron spin resonance
D)   archaeometry

Question 8

According to the law of superposition, materials found in lower layers ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   are younger than materials found in layers above
B)   are older than materials found in layers above
C)   are irrelevant
D)   are equal in age to all materials found in the same spot

Question 9

Radiometric dating measures the _________ of elements such as carbon within an object over time.

Accepted Answer

A)   calcification
B)   rate of decay
C)   buildup
D)   stability

Question 10

Why are archaeologists so focused on establishing the age of artifacts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are archaeologists so focused on establishing...

Question 11

William Libby in the 1950s developed the important technique of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   radiocarbon dating
B)   potassium-argon dating
C)   FUN dating
D)   nonradiometric dating

Question 12

The most commonly used and most important method of radiometric dating in archaeology is _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   uranium-thorium dating
B)   potassium-argon dating
C)   radiocarbon dating
D)   fission track dating

Question 13

Which nonradiometric dating technique dates the volcanic glass material in tool flakes?

Accepted Answer

A)   archaeomagnetism
B)   thermoluminescence
C)   fission track dating
D)   obsidian dating

Question 14

Using evolutionary changes in well-known groups of animals as a dating tool is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   archaeometry
B)   biostratigraphy
C)   zoology
D)   typology

Question 15

The science of archaeological measurement is called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   archaeometry
B)   biostratigraphy
C)   statistical modeling
D)   typology

Question 16

Using examples from the text, describe how archaeologists use temporal types in constructing chronologies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using examples from the text, describe how...

Question 17

Pottery; materials such as stone, bronze, or iron; and projectile points became known as ________ types because they seemed to be time-specific.

Accepted Answer

A)   temporal
B)   relative
C)   stable
D)   context-based

Question 18

Chronometric dating establishes ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   actual age
B)   relative age
C)   general age
D)   who created the artifact

Question 19

Why are archaeologists so careful to not contaminate a sample sent for radiocarbon dating?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are archaeologists so careful to not...

Question 20

In radiocarbon dating, a "clean" sample has to be burned at high temperature to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   further purify it
B)   convert it to a gas
C)   kill fungal or bacterial growth
D)   reduce the amount of impurities

Exam 7: Determining Time