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