Chapter 4: Doing Archaeology and Biological Anthropology

Which of the following best describes how the subfield of archaeology differs from that of biological anthropology?

Archaeologists study the past by analyzing objects from dig sites; biological anthropologists study ancient human skeletons or living humans.

Cultural resource management focuses on managing the preservation of archaeological sites that are

Correct Answer threatened by modern development.

The most common way in which archaeologists work locally is

excavation

Settlement pattern

the distribution of archaeological sites across a region - how people grouped themselves and interacted spatially.

Paleontology

the study of ancient life through the fossil record

Dendrochronology

tree-ring dating; a form of absolute dating

Remote sensing

use of aerial photos and satellite images to locate sites on the ground

Which of the following does palynology do?

It helps to determine an ancient site's environment at the time it was inhabited.

How does paleoanthropology differ from paleontology?

Paleoanthropology focuses on the study of ancient human life forms, while paleontology includes the study of all kinds of ancient life forms.

In the methods of archaeology, what is the difference between systematic survey and excavation?

Systematic survey involves gathering information about settlement patterns across a region; excavation involves digging in selected sites.

Which of the following is true of phytoliths?

They do not decay.

Which of the following statements best describes how archaeologists do their work?

They systematically survey a region and excavate by digging through the layers at archaeological sites.

Which subfield of anthropology specializes in the study of the human past by studying material culture?

archaeology

In order to reconstruct ancient human biological and cultural features, anthropologists study ceramics, casts, metals, and other manufactured items known as

artifacts.

The specialty in archaeology known as ______ is the study of human skeletons and associated artifacts, which are used to understand health, diet, and social status differences.

bioarcheology

Which type of anthropologists study primate behavior and also the physical characteristics of ancient and modern humans?

biological

A technique called ______ measures radioactive decay and is commonly used to date fossilized plant or animal remains.

carbon-14 dating

When construction sites reveal artifacts, impact studies may be required to assess the historical importance of the site. In this case, "salvage archaeology," also called ______, analyzes what is found at the site.

cultural resource management

relative dating

establishing a time frame in relation to other strata or materials

Which of the following best explains what biological anthropologists study?

living and recent humans and primates as well as ancient humans and primates

Anthropometry

measurement of human body parts and dimensions

For bioarchaeologists, the remains of taller people can indicate

more fortunate members of a society.

What kind of physical anthropologists specialize in the study of human evolution?

paleoanthropologists

To study the ancient human past, archaeologists and physical anthropologists work with scientists in the field of ______ who study animal fossils.

paleontology

The study of ancient life through the fossil record is known as

paleontology.

Which of the following is the study of ancient pollen to identify the plant resources that were part of the ancient environment at a site being excavated by anthropologists?

palynology

Microscopic crystals called ______ found at archaeological sites help identify wheat, maize, rice, or other early domesticated plants.

phytoliths

Sources of information for archaeologists studying sites primarily include

plant and animal remains, ceramics, and other artifacts

Archaeologists study settlement patterns primarily to reveal what kinds of information about prehistoric communities?

population estimates and degrees of social complexity

The most useful dating technique to establish the age of a fossil skull identified with Homo erectus, a species that originated about 1.9 million years ago, would likely be ______ of associated rock.

potassium-argon (K/A) dating

One commonly used radiometric dating technique is used to date layers of volcanic ash found above and below strata containing fossil remains in Africa's Great Rift Valley, especially for a significant time period in human evolution dating to around 2 million years ago. That dating technique is known as

potassium-argon (K/A) dating.

systematic survey

provides a regional perspective by gathering information on settlement patterns over a large area.

With _____ data, archaeologists can address many questions about the prehistoric communities that lived in a given area.

regional

Aerial photos and satellite images are forms of _____ used in site location, which is very valuable to anthropologists.

remote sensing

Stratigraphy

science that examines the ways in which earth sediments are deposited in demarcated layers known as strata

Paleoanthropologists

search for evidence about human origins.

What are the two most common types of relative dating techniques?

stratigraphy and fluorine absorption analysis

Paleoanthropology

study of ancient humans and their immediate ancestors

Palynology

study of ancient plants through pollen samples, can help to determine a site's environment at the time of occupation

The study of the processes that affect the remains of dead animals is known as

taphonomy

Which of the following are studied as part of taphonomy?

the distortion of remains by natural forces the scattering of remains by carnivores and scavengers