Question 1

Geological strata can be classified by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the type of rock they consist of
B)   the diversity of fossils found within them
C)   the length of time it took to dig through the layer
D)   the moistness of the soil A

Question 2

What are some methods that archaeologists employ in a stratigraphic analysis?

Accepted Answer

Soil micromorphology is used to characterize the accumulation of sediments at a microscopic scale. The Harris matrix is a method for placing depositional units in stratigraphic order. Post depositional-process analysis examines the natural and cultural processes that have affected the formation of archaeological sites.

Question 3

Lithic analysis is the study of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   lithium artifacts
B)   stone tools
C)   ceramic dishes
D)   metal weapons B

Question 4

The Harris matrix is a method for quantifying artifacts from depositional units.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Experimental archaeology uses scientific techniques, such as DNA analysis, to interpret the past.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following is a method of quantifying animal bone from an archaeological site?

Accepted Answer

A)   counting the number of identifiable specimens (NISP) 
B)   calculating the maximum number of species present (MNS) 
C)   determining the season of occupation based on geographic index of seasonality (GIS) 
D)   estimating the age at death for each animal body recovered (A
D)

Question 7

How are typologies used in archaeology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How are typologies used in archaeology?...

Question 8

In zooarchaeology, MNI estimates are calculated by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   counting the most numerous unique skeletal element of each species
B)   counting the number of identifiable specimens
C)   estimating the number of bones per excavation unit
D)   taking the total number of bones and dividing by the number of different species

Question 9

To recover the charred botanical remains (wood and seeds), it is often necessary to employ a method known as __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   filtration
B)   flotation
C)   dry screening
D)   piece plotting

Question 10

Frost heave is an example of a climate-related post-depositional process that affects the archaeological record.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Artifacts that are found in the place where they were originally deposited are said to be__________.

Accepted Answer

A)   in situ
B)   commonplace
C)   ex post facto
D)   geologically stable

Question 12

You have discovered a 1,000-year-old site that was occupied for only a year before being covered by a mudslide. What techniques will you employ to excavate the site? How will you record the data you collect?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have discovered a 1,000-year-old site that...

Question 13

Describe two ʺliving archaeologyʺ techniques used by archaeologists to help interpret archaeological remains.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe two ʺliving archaeologyʺ techniques used by...

Question 14

Typology is the study of the layers of the earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Discuss the application of ethnoarchaeology to archaeological interpretation. What areas of past human behavior can it help the archaeologist understand? What are the limitations of ethnoarchaeology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the application of ethnoarchaeology to archaeological...

Question 16

Floral analysis is the study of animal bones from archaeological sites.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

________ are natural objects that provide information about the environmental context of past human activity.

Accepted Answer

A)   Artifacts
B)   Ecofacts
C)   Features
D)   Fossils

Question 18

Anthropogenic deposits are the result of insect disturbances on an archaeological site.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The goal of vertical excavation is to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   collect as many artifacts as possible
B)   dig as deeply as possible
C)   expose a sequence of occupation at a site
D)   obey the law of superposition

Question 20

The most important archaeological sites are found within a foot of the ground surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 1: Getting Started in Archaeology

Geological strata can be classified by __________.

What are some methods that archaeologists employ in a stratigraphic analysis?

Lithic analysis is the study of __________.

The Harris matrix is a method for quantifying artifacts from depositional units.

Experimental archaeology uses scientific techniques, such as DNA analysis, to interpret the past.

Which of the following is a method of quantifying animal bone from an archaeological site?

How are typologies used in archaeology?

In zooarchaeology, MNI estimates are calculated by __________.

To recover the charred botanical remains (wood and seeds) , it is often necessary to employ a method known as __________.

Frost heave is an example of a climate-related post-depositional process that affects the archaeological record.

Artifacts that are found in the place where they were originally deposited are said to be__________.

You have discovered a 1,000-year-old site that was occupied for only a year before being covered by a mudslide. What techniques will you employ to excavate the site? How will you record the data you collect?

Describe two ʺliving archaeologyʺ techniques used by archaeologists to help interpret archaeological remains.

Typology is the study of the layers of the earth.

Discuss the application of ethnoarchaeology to archaeological interpretation. What areas of past human behavior can it help the archaeologist understand? What are the limitations of ethnoarchaeology?

Floral analysis is the study of animal bones from archaeological sites.

________ are natural objects that provide information about the environmental context of past human activity.

Anthropogenic deposits are the result of insect disturbances on an archaeological site.

The goal of vertical excavation is to __________.

The most important archaeological sites are found within a foot of the ground surface.