Deck 4: The Archaeological Record

Question 1

Material remains (artifacts, ecofacts, and features) within an archaeological site are generally distributed ________.

A) nonrandomly
B) randomly
C) only within one strata layer
D) only on the surface

Answer 1

A

Question 2

All archaeological materials in a site belonging to a particular cultural entity constitute a site's ________.

A) culture
B) artifacts
C) components
D) geofacts

Answer 2

C

Question 3

One of the three major criteria for classifying sites is ________.

A) cultural associations
B) age
C) archaeological features
D) presence of human remains

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The deposits of soils that consist of decomposed garbage are called ________.

A) anthropogenic soils
B) tells
C) strata
D) middens

Question 5

What was found at the ancient archaeological site at Laetoli?

A) complex composite tools
B) fossilized hominin footprints
C) the first evidence of the use of fire
D) extensive ossuary

Question 6

Tools that are present in the archaeological record but are seldom recognized and rarely recovered by archaeologists are ________ tools,

A) casual
B) specialized
C) simple
D) composite

Question 7

The debris left over from the manufacture of tools can also be classified as ________.

A) ecofacts
B) artifacts
C) geofacts
D) manuports

Question 8

Unmodified remains of biological materials used by people are called ________.

A) ecofacts
B) artifacts
C) geofacts
D) manuports

Question 9

What is the study of pollen called?

A) taphonomy
B) hydrology
C) palynology
D) bioturbation

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a feature?

A) food remnants of animal bones
B) natural rock outcropping
C) a composite tool
D) a hearth

Question 11

In archaeology, the designing and building of structures, primarily those in which people live and work is called ________.

A) domiciles
B) habitats
C) spaces
D) architecture

Question 12

Structures made from which of the following materials preserve best in the archaeological record?

A) stone
B) brick
C) wood
D) mud

Question 13

The process of burning human remains is called ________.

A) ossuary
B) cremation
C) burial
D) inhumation

Question 14

The study of biological materials being transformed from their original state is called ________.

A) taphonomy
B) geology
C) palynology
D) bioturbation

Question 15

The action of water upon a site is called ________.

A) geology
B) taphonomy
C) hydrology
D) bioturbation

Question 16

What type of geologic event destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii, the Maya village of Joya de Ceren in El Salvador, and the Greek island of Santorini?

A) volcanic eruption
B) earthquake
C) tsunami
D) mud slide

Question 17

An ossuary contains ________.

A) middens
B) human bones
C) ecofacts
D) hearths

Question 18

In working toward preservation of a site, archaeologists need to preserve site objects as well as ________.

A) the habitants of local animals
B) all of the topsoil
C) the context of objects in a site
D) the decomposition of biological objects

Question 19

In what types of environments can natural mummification occur?

A) very dry or frozen ones
B) very wet or damp ones
C) any environment
D) variable climates

Question 20

Human bone in the archaeological record ________.

A) is never kept
B) is only found in cemetery sites
C) is rarely of scientific importance
D) should be treated with care

Question 21

Which of the following are primary agents of bioturbation?

A) water
B) burrowing animals
C) wind
D) microbes

Question 22

Why are hearths or campfires among the most common features encountered by archaeologists?

Question 23

Why do archaeologists value examining the garbage and discarded objects of the people they study?

Question 24

Describe the differences between casual, simple, and composite tools.

Question 25

What are some of the forces that can act on and disrupt an archaeological site over time? How are people also included in this?

Question 26

What are some factors involved in recognizing and recovering archaeological materials?