UTSA Archeology Exam 1

Identify the concepts that are fundamental to the technique of relative dating through typology.

Fundamental to Relative Dating Through Typology - he popularity of a style often increases once it appears, then peaks, and declines, items of a given period and place have a distinctive style, the change in decoration of items changes over time Not Fundamental to Relative Dating Through Typology - certain styles have exact calendar dates

Archaeologists use ground reconnaissance to locate archaeological sites. Identify which of the following practices are involved in a ground survey approach.

Ground survey technique - use of documentary sources, choosing sampling strategy, walking an area Not a ground survey technique - remote sensing

Match the important archaeological discovery to the country in which it is located.

Italy - Pompeii Mexico - Maya cities Tanzania - Olduvia Gorge Egypt - Tomb of Tutankhamun

Identify the key factors that affect whether organic materials survive in the archaeological record.

Key factor - climate, matrix, natural disasters Not a key factor - features.

Aerial images clearly reveal the presence of archaeological sites.

False

Why is the activity of looters and collectors of antiquities often problematic for archaeologists?

Looters and collectors often destroy the primary context of sites and finds.

Remote sensing is any form of survey that can peer into the ground without digging.

True

Archaeologists may use different timescales and conventions for denoting absolute dates. Match the different dating acronyms to their correct descriptions.

AD and BC - Christian calendar BP - Before 1950 BCE and CE - secular dating system

LIDAR has been extremely valuable to archaeologists in recent years. Identify the advantages of LIDAR over conventional aerial photography.

Advantages of LIDAR - Tree canopies can be eliminated. Ground features can be viewed under optimal lighting. Not an advantage - LIDAR provides on-the-ground assessment of the site. A specialist isn't required to analyze images.

_________ is a common dating technique that uses tree-rings to find _________ dates.

Dendrochronology absolute

Different types of remote sensing are better at detecting the presence of different features underground. Identify the types of remote sensing that can detect the presence of ditches and pits.

Detects ditches and pits - ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity, aerial images Does not - metal detectors

The complexity of stratification varies with the type of site. Identify which sites are likely to have more complicated stratigraphy.

More Complicated Stratigraphy - a nineteenth-century slum site in New York City, a burial found in the foundations of parking lot structure in London Simpler Stratigraphy - a prehistoric North American hunter-gatherer camp, a Paleolithic cave site in northern Spain

Identify which of the following pieces of information about past societies can ONLY be determined using absolute dating techniques.

Must use Absolute Dating Techniques - how quickly societal changes in the past occurred, whether societal changes occurred simultaneously in different parts of the world May use Either Relative or Absolute Dating Techniques - within a site, which artifacts are older than others, where an artifact fits in a typology

In an archaeological excavation, what is a datum?

The datum is a location that serves as a reference point for all horizontal and vertical measurements taken.

What happens when damage to an archaeological site is inevitable due to practical circumstances?

The site is carefully excavated, researched, and recorded before the damage occurs.

In order for a site to be detected by a remote sensing method, which of the following circumstances are usually necessary?

The soil or subsoil needs to have been altered

Identify the calibration curve with the higher probability of providing the closest correct calendar date for a radiocarbon date.

There is only one point of intersection between the radiocarbon years and calendar years, meaning there is a higher probability of accurate calibration.

__________ dating gives dates in calendar years for materials, while __________ dating compares materials to each other in order to put them in a chronological sequence.

absolute relative

An _________ is a group of artifacts recurring _________ at a particular place and time.

assemblage together

A __________ is a tool that is used on site to measure vertical and horizontal distances to a particular point.

total station

While many sites have been discovered accidentally by non-archaeologists, archaeologists discover even more through systematized searching. Identify the techniques that archaeologists use to find sites.

Technique used to find sites - archival work, aerial survey, remote sensing, ground survey Not a technique - excavation

Groups of assemblages have been used to define which of the following?

archaeological cultures

Objective Archaeology Tries to Answer

how people exploited their environment how people lived and why they lived that way how people's material culture took a particular form

In the archaeological record, _________ materials survive better than _________ materials. __________ is one of the most common materials to survive archaeologically.

inorganic organic stone

Do stone and shell require special conditions to remain preserved?

materials most likely to be preserved in the archaeological record

The period before written records and history (meaning the study of the past using written evidence) is known as _________.

prehistory

Some absolute dating methods are based on similar principles. Match the dating method to the principle.

radioactive decay - potassium-argon, uranium series, radiocarbon dating aligning particles to the Earth's poles - geomagnetism accumulation of energy or particles over time - electron spin resonance, thermoluminescence

Archaeologists find new sites using __________ survey, either on the ground or from the air. The latter is known as __________ survey.

reconnaissance aerial

Archaeologists analyze the different layers of soil or ___________ to determine the relative chronology of an archaeology site.

stratigraphy

A __________ refers to the systematic organization of artifacts into types on the basis of shared __________.

typology attributes

Place the important archaeological discoveries and excavations on the timeline.

1748 - Pompeii discovered 1784- Thomas Jefferson excavates a burial mound in Virginia 1836 - CJ Thompson proposes 3 Age System of human history 1859 - Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species

Radiometric, absolute dating techniques are essential to determining the age of an object, society, or feature. Approximately when did absolute dating techniques become available?

70 years ago

The New Archaeology, developed from the 1960s, aimed to change the way archaeologists worked with evidence. Which of the aims described here can be attributed to New Archaeology?

Aim can be attributed to new archeology - The New Archaeology should be explanatory, not only descriptive. The New Archaeology should emphasize culture process, not culture history. The New Archaeology should use scientific methods. Aim cannot be attributed to new archeology - The New Archaeology should emphasize plurality of voices and multiple possible pasts.

While radiocarbon dating is one of the most widely used absolute dating techniques, it can only be used in a certain date range. Identify the absolute dating methods that can be used when radiocarbon dating cannot be used.

Alternative to Radiocarbon Dating - uranium-series, dendrochronology, thermoluminescence Not an Alternative to Radiocarbon Dating - stratigraphy

Identify the correct alternative terms for the layers of an archaeological site.

Another Term for Layers - deposits, strata Not Another Term for Layers - formation processes, sequences

Identify which of the following are benefits of survey over excavation.

Benefit of survey - survey is non-destructive, survey is quicker than excavation, survey is less expensive Not a benefit - survey doesn't require trained researchers

What actions should archaeologists take to ensure the involvement of descent communities?

Correct - consulting relevant communities when human remains are discovered, include input from descent communities right from the beginning of an archaeological project Incorrect - teach descent communities that the scientific explanation is true

Which bodies write and enforce legislation protecting archaeological sites?

Correct - national governments, international governments Incorrect - corporate policy, individuals

There are two main formation processes that affect which finds become buried and what happens to them after they are buried. Identify whether the following are examples of cultural formation processes or natural formation processes.

Cultural formation processes - ruler destroying a rival's fortress, farmer plowing a field Natural formation processes - volcanic eruption, soil erosion

While people collected ancient artifacts in the past, these were not scientific undertakings. Identify the statements that describe the excavation that has been called "the first scientific excavation in the history of archaeology."

Describes 1st Scientific Excavation - Thomas Jefferson conducted 1st scientific excavation, 1st scientific excavations took place in the 18th century, 1st scientific excavations were on burial mounds in the U.S. Does not - 1st scientific excavation was at Pompeii

Identify the statements that correctly describe the field of anthropology.

Describes Anthropology - study of humanity, includes the subdiscipline of archeology Does not - study of written history, narrowly focused discipline

Identify whether the following statements describe relative or absolute dating techniques.

Describes Relative Dating - involves comparing artifacts to each other, does not involve determining how old an artefact is in calendar years Describes Absolute Dating - depends on the existence of a regular, time-dependent process, provides exact dates for archaeological material

Which of the following is an example of rescue archaeology or cultural resource management?

Example of Rescue Archaeology - survey of a field through which a road is going to be built, excavation in advance of building a new parking garage in a city Not an example - analysis of a Paleolithic cave through international grant money, excavation of a remote hunter-gatherer settlement by a university-funded team

Different excavations require different techniques. Identify whether the following techniques would be more likely to be adopted by an archaeological team working on a single occupation prehistoric site in a rural area or on a multi-layer urban site.

Excavation of a prehistoric site - plot each artifact in three dimensions, sieve all excavated soil Excavation of an urban site - plot selected finds in three dimensions, only sieve select areas of soil

Different materials have better chances of being preserved than others. Identify whether the following materials are likely to survive or are not likely to survive in the archaeological record.

Likely to survive - gold jewelry, ceramics, stone tools Not likely - wooden tools

Unlike other dating methods, dendrochronology cannot be used worldwide for several reasons. Identify the limiting factors of using dendrochronology as a dating technique.

Limiting Factor of Dendrochronology - Dendrochronology can only be applied to certain trees. Dendrochronology can only be applied to trees from certain regions. Not a Limiting Factor of Dendrochronology - Dendrochronology does not yield exact dates. Dendrochronology is not a very accurate dating method.

Magnetic survey methods are one of the most widely used methods of remote survey. How do magnetic survey methods work?

Magnetic instruments measure distortions in the earth's magnetic field.

_________ dating can be used to date crystalline materials that have been _________. This dating method is ________ precise than other methods.

Thermoluminescence fired or burned less

How do archaeologists demonstrate that activities occurred at the same time in the past?

They prove that artifacts and features are found together in an undisturbed context.

Once aerial images are taken they can be used in a wide variety of ways. Identify the ways in which archaeologists use aerial images.

Way to use aerial images - monitoring site changes, recording sites, site discovery Not a way - detailed artifact analysis

Horizontal excavation

allow archaeologists to expose large areas in order to understand the various periods of use of a site. This is the excavation plan for Poplar Forest, the plantation of former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. Note the many features uncovered in this excavation, including pits, several buildings, a fence, and a garden.

Match the relative dating method to the principle on which it operates.

association - Objects found in the same stratigraphic layer were buried at the same time. seriation - Assemblages of objects can be arranged in serial order to create a relative chronology. typological sequences - Artifacts with similar characteristics were produced at the same time. stratigraphy - In a succession of layers the bottom layer is the earliest and the top layer the most recent.

Archaeologists may find a variety of different types of material at an archaeological site. Match each type of find to its appropriate definition.

ecofact - organic and environmental remains not made by humans artifact - portable objects used, modified, or made by humans feature - non-portable objects used, modified, or made by humans

Match the description to the name of the survey technique.

electrical resistivity - A type of sub-surface sensing that measures conductivity by passing a current through the soil. magnet survey methods - A type of sub-surface sensing. The tool used is also known as a gradiometer. ground-penetrating radar -A type of sub-surface sensing that sends radio waves through the soil. LIDAR - A type of remote sensing that sends laser or energy pulses to the ground, reading the returned signal.

There are many types of remote survey. Match each type to the correct definition.

ground-penetrating radar - uses an emitter to send short radio pulses throughout the soil metal detecting - uses an instrument to discover pieces of metal electrical resistivity - measures how easily the soil conducts electricity magnet survey methods - measures disturbances in the earth's magnetic field

There are two types of excavations, those that emphasize the vertical dimension, and those that emphasize the horizontal dimension. Match the description to the correct excavation strategy.

horizontal dimension - open up large areas to reveal spatial relationships vertical dimension - cut into deep deposits to reveal stratification

In the archaeological record, contemporary activities in the past are shown __________ while changes in those activities over time are shown ___________.

horizontally vertically

Match the anthropological subfield to the correct definition.

linguistic anthropology - study of how speech varies with social factors and over time cultural anthropology - study of human culture and society biological anthropology - study of human biological characteristics and their evolution archaeology - study of former societies through their material culture

In archaeology, __________ culture refers to the tangible objects, buildings, resources, and spaces that people use to define their society, and have survived from the past. Archaeologists study the objects that past peoples created and used. These objects are called ___________.

material artifacts

Match the types of survey to their definition.

remote sensing - survey that uses instruments to analyze site features without excavation site surface survey - recording of artifacts from the surface aerial survey - survey taken from the air

Cultural __________ management is the reasonable management and protection of archaeological information, required by law during development and construction.

resource

__________ orders assemblages of artifacts in succession to determine a chronological sequence. This is an example of __________.

seriation relative dating

Before the development of scientific absolute dating methods in the _________ century, the main way to connect exact dates to archaeological materials was using _________.

twentieth historical chronologies

____________ is used to reveal stratification while ___________ is used to reveal spatial relationships between artifacts.

vertical excavation horizontal excavation

Identify the reasons why reconnaissance survey is important for the field of archaeology.

Reason survey is important - It puts archaeological sites in their regional context. It is cheaper than excavation. Nomadic peoples leave only a sparse archaeological record. Not a reason - It verifies information gathered during excavations.

Identify the reasons why radiocarbon dates must be calibrated. Select all reasons that apply.

Reason Radiocarbon Dates Must be Calibrated - The dates provided by radiocarbon dating are not true calendar years. Contrary to what was previously believed, the concentration of 14C in the atmosphere varies over time. Not a Reason Radiocarbon Dates Must be Calibrated - The dates provided by radiocarbon dating are older than calendar dates. Contrary to what was previously believed, the uranium in the atmosphere remains constant.

Classification is the general process of sorting items into known categories. Identify the reasons why classification is important in archaeology.

Reason Why Classification is Important - Classification helps archaeologists organize the evidence. Material culture constitutes a large part of the archaeological record. Not a Reason Why Classification is Important - Classification is objective, while other methods for organization are arbitrary. Classification tells archaeologists how past humans organized their material culture.

In the United __________, archaeological work that is undertaken in order to mitigate damage to sites due to construction or commercial works is called __________ Resource Management.

States Cultural

Imagine that you are an archaeologist who has obtained documentary source information that there is likely to be an archaeological site on the land of a large farm. At which time of year would it be best to take aerial images of the area?

Summer

__________ is a type of _________ survey that produces detailed high-resolution images using radar.

Synthetic Aperture Radar aerial

Imagine that you are an archaeologist working on the site shown in the diagram. You have determined that artifacts found in layer 2 are newer than artifacts found in layers 3-6. Identify which techniques you used to arrive at this conclusion.

Technique Used - analysis of stratigraphy, relative dating Not a Technique Used - absolute dating, dendrochronology

All dating methods have limitations, either in the types of materials a method can be used for, or in the range of years a method can date. Match the dating method to its specific limitation.

potassium-argon dating - limited to volcanic rock thermoluminescence - level of background radiation varies in different environments radiocarbon dating - can only date organic remains

All of the following terms are part of a find's context. Match each term to its appropriate definition.

provenience - the exact position of a field matrix - the material surrounding a find association - a find's relationship to other finds

Identify whether the following dating techniques are absolute or relative dating techniques.

relative dating technique - seriation, stratigraphy absolute dating technique - radiocarbon dating, thermoluminescence dating

How has typology been used to produce a battleship diagram such as this?

seriation of types by frequency

Dendrochronology can be used to calibrate radiocarbon dates.

true

The principle of _________ states that geologically ancient conditions were similar to those that exist today.

uniformitarianism

Place the following events in the order in which ground reconnaissance takes place.

1. The region is defined 2. The area's history is examined 3. Ground survey is done 4. Small excavations are carried out if needed

Place in order the steps used to calibrate radiocarbon dates.

1. obtain radiocarbon dates 2. creation of a calibration curve 3. determination of calibrated radiocarbon dates

Underwater excavation is a particularly complex type of excavation due to the many factors involved. Identify the statements that apply to underwater excavation.

Applies to Underwater Excavation - Underwater excavation is very expensive. Technological innovations have greatly contributed to underwater archaeology in recent years. Remote survey methods are used to find underwater sites. Does Not Apply to Underwater Excavation - The first underwater excavation took place in the twenty-first century.

Identify the materials that can be dated using radiocarbon dating.

Can - wood, bone, charred bone, charcoal, and grain Can't - one cent, side scraper, ceramic shard

Identify the statements that accurately describe artifact classification.

Describes Artifact Classification - Classification groups artifacts arbitrarily. Different archaeologists may classify artifacts differently. Does Not Describe Artifact Classification - Classification should determine the way that archaeologists think about the past. Classifications are inherent to the artifacts themselves.

Identify the statements that correctly describe calibrated radiocarbon dates.

Describes Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates - Calibrated radiocarbon dates are shown as ranges. Calibrated radiocarbon dates have varying levels of precision. Does Not Describe Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates - Calibrated radiocarbon dates can only be obtained using dendrochronology. Calibrated radiocarbon dates are expensive to obtain.

Identify the statements that correctly describe the open-area or horizontal method of excavation.

Describes Open-Area Method - In this method, archaeologists open up large areas and only cut vertical sections where needed. This method is the norm for modern British archaeology. Does Not Describe Open-Area Method - This method is best used to understand stratigraphy. This method is most effective for deep urban sites.

Identify the statements that correctly describe radiocarbon dating.

Describes Radiocarbon Dating - Radiocarbon is based on the natural process of radioactive decay. Radiocarbon dating can only be used on organic materials. Does Not Describe Radiocarbon Dating - Radiocarbon dating can be used to date material from present-day. Radiocarbon dating is the newest absolute dating method.

While all anthropologists study humanity in some form, the subfields are quite different. Identify which of the following tasks an archaeologist would do, and which tasks another kind of anthropologist would do.

Describes archaeologist's work - radiocarbon dating plant remains from a Neolithic site, excavating the terracotta warriors in China Describes other anthropologist's work - analyzing how language affects culture in endangered languages, studying work culture in present-day Japan

Which of the following statements correctly describe culture history and culture process?

Describes culture history and cultural process - Culture history is descriptive and culture process is explanatory. Culture process was adopted by a new generation of archaeologists in the later twentieth century. Does not culture history and cultural process - Culture history, which is pre-1950s, is no longer considered in archaeological interpretation. Culture process is American while culture history is European.

The technique of electrical resistivity is a remote survey method that has been in use for many decades, especially in Europe. Identify the statements that correctly describe electrical resistivity.

Describes electrical resistivity - Electrical resistivity measures the resistance to an electric current. Electrical resistivity works well for ditches and pits in chalk and gravel. Does not - Electrical resistivity is an aerial survey method. Electrical resistivity analyzes only structures above the surface.

The past two centuries have seen many scientific and theoretical developments in archaeology. Which of these developments can be attributed to the twentieth or twenty-first centuries?

Developed in 20th or 21st centuries - radiocarbon dating, processual archeology, ancient DNA Not developed in 20th or 21st centuries - stratigraphy

Which of the following things did Thomas Jefferson do in his excavation of the mound on his property in Virginia?

Did do - Jefferson adopted a scientific approach. Jefferson excavated the mound using careful methods. Jefferson suggested that ancestors of present-day Native Americans could have built the mound. Did not do - Jefferson agreed with most people that the mounds were likely built by a vanished race of "Moundbuilders."

Excavation and survey are both ways in which archaeologists uncover artifacts and other information embedded in the earth left by past human societies. Identify the main differences between survey and excavation.

Difference - excavation is destructive, survey can produce large-scale overviews of a region, excavation can show close-up associations between artifacts Not a difference - survey cannot be used to date material

Cultural and natural disturbances complicate the stratigraphy of archaeological sites. Identify the disturbances that could introduce newer material into older layers.

Disturbances That Could Introduce Newer Material - creation of a subway line in a city, burrowing animals, digging a ditch Disturbances That Do Not Introduce Newer Material - formation of a new surface layer

Modern excavation methods were first developed mainly in the nineteenth century. Match each individual to their contribution to excavation techniques and archaeology.

Dorothy Garrod - discovered remains which was key to understanding the relationship between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Ground-breaking professor of archaeology at the University of Cambridge Augustus Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers - brought military experience to excavation methods (including making models) and insisted on the excavation of all objects Mary Leakey - archaeologist famous for work at the early Paleolithic site at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania

One way that archaeologists study formation processes is through experimental archaeology. Identify the correct definition for experimental archaeology.

Experimental archaeology is the study of past behavioral processes by testing hypotheses by replicating processes from the past.

___________ sends short radio pulses through the soil and reports back changes in the soil conditions. Three-dimensional maps can then be created from this data.

Ground-penetrating radar

The disciplines of archaeology and history overlap in many ways, yet they differ in others. Identify which terms apply to the discipline of archaeology, which apply to history, and which apply to both.

History - only studies a period of time with written records Archeology - includes study of prehistory, scientific discipline Both - humanity

Identify the key principles of CRM.

Key principle - When damage to the material record is inevitable, steps should be taken to mitigate the impact. The organization or company that initiates the damage to the material record is financially responsible for the archaeological investigation. The material record of the past is a public resource. Not a key principle - The archaeological excavations are undertaken by untrained members of the public.

As an archaeologist, if you wished to build a model of a landscape surface but you were obstructed by thick rainforest, which survey technique would be most effective?

LIDAR

No matter what excavation method archaeologists choose, there are several steps that they must complete prior to excavation. Identify what must be done before excavation.

Needs to be done before - A grid of squares must be laid down over the site. Funding and permission to dig must be obtained. The site must be surveyed. Does not need to be done before - The stratigraphy must be carefully analyzed.

The work of Mary and Louis Leakey was crucial in understanding early human ancestors in Africa. Which of these sites in Africa did they excavate?

Olduvai Gorge, in Tanzania, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. The Leakeys found skulls of early humans, along with specific types of stone tools that are now called the Oldowan industry, named after the site in which they were found.

The mid- to late twentieth century saw multiple different theoretical approaches, however these are often reduced to just two conflicting perspectives. Identify the differences and similarities of processual and postprocessual archaeology.

Processual - Aims to explain change following general laws and processes, Bases research on the building and testing of hypotheses. Postprocessual - Aims to highlight the subjectivity of interpretation, Accepts the possibility of plural pasts. Both - Aim to move away from only a descriptive account of the past.

Pompeii remains one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Identify the reasons why Pompeii is important.

Reason why Pompeii is important - Pompeii ignited public interest at the time of its discovery, one of the 1st archaeological excavations. Not a reason why Pompeii is important - Pompeii was 1st scientific excavation, oldest civilization found in the world.

Identify which artifact attributes are shown in the image. (pot)

Shown - shape attributes, surface attributes Not shown - functional attributes, technological attributes

Identify the main characteristics used to classify artifacts into typologies.

Used to Classify Artifacts - surface attributes, technological attributes, shape attributes Not Used to Classify Artifacts - contextual attributes

Why might two archaeologists arrange the same set of artifacts into different typologies?

differing research questions

Absolute dating techniques provide exact year dates with no range of error.

false

Every excavation method is applicable to every type of site

false

The burial mounds east of the Mississippi River in the United States were built by a now-vanished, non-native people known as the Moundbuilders.

false

Archaeology is the study of __________ societies through the remains of their __________ culture.

former material

There are many different types of survey. For example, in a _________ survey, areas to be investigated are chosen using a table of random numbers. A ___________ survey uses a grid of regularly spaced locations to select where to sample..

simple random systematic

Relative dating is based on which of the following concepts?

the concept that something is older or younger relative to something else