Question 1

How many years ago do archaeologists believe that humans began to consistently bury their dead?
A)6,000
B)15,000
C)72,000
D)100,000
E)3,000,000

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists believe that humans began to consistently bury their dead around 100,000 years ago, based on evidence from burial sites.

Question 2

In the original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" Anabel Ford conducted her work:
A)in the United States.
B)in the desert.
C)in a coastal environment.
D)in a forest.
E)along a river bank.

Accepted Answer

The original study, "Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar," was conducted by Anabel Ford in a forested environment.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about prehistory is incorrect?
A)Prehistory refers to a time period that occurred before history existed.
B)Prehistory occurs before the existence of written history.
C)Paleoanthropologists and archaeologists share a focus on prehistory.
D)Prehistory is an important time period for the study of paleoanthropologists.
E)Prehistory does not deny the existence of history.

Accepted Answer

Prehistory is defined as the period of human history before the advent of writing systems, not before history itself existed. History has always existed as long as humans have, but prehistory specifically refers to the time before written records were kept.

Question 4

The starting point,or reference,for a grid is called:
A)flotation.
B)stratification.
C)a datum point.
D)a grid system.
E)paleoanthropology.

Accepted Answer

The starting point or reference for a grid is called a datum point. This serves as a fixed point of reference for all measurements and observations made within the grid system.

Question 5

Anabel Ford noted in the article "Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" that archaeology should:
A)be less of a science and more of an art.
B)avoid working within thick forests.
C)be less receptive to local concerns.
D)work with local populations.
E)avoid interpreting the past.

Accepted Answer

Anabel Ford notes that archaeology should work with local populations, as seen in the title of the article "Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar."

Question 6

A midden is a(n):
A)garbage dump.
B)house foundation area.
C)area of human burials.
D)human-made dwelling mound.
E)sterile area without artifacts.

Accepted Answer

A midden is a garbage dump or accumulation of domestic waste, which may contain archaeological artifacts and ecofacts including food remains, animal bones, and broken tools.

Question 7

The purpose of a grid system is to:
A)record the exact location of an artifact or fossil accurately,both horizontally and vertically.
B)tell relic collectors where to find artifacts to sell to private collections.
C)provide electricity to primitive villages.
D)cook bacon.
E)recover small objects immersed in water.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a grid system is to record the exact location of an artifact or fossil accurately, both horizontally and vertically. This helps archaeologists and paleontologists understand the site and the relationships between different artifacts or fossils found.

Question 8

The original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" describes action archaeology as:
A)accelerating the pace of excavations.
B)using the most technologically advanced excavation equipment.
C)following streamlined protocols regarding participant observation.
D)questioning the use of excavations.
E)using past solutions for contemporary populations.

Accepted Answer

Action archaeology involves applying knowledge from past societies to address current issues, thus using past solutions for contemporary populations.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of an assemblage?
A)It provides enough information to tell all details about the artifacts.
B)It allows archaeologists to reconstruct the daily life of the inhabitants.
C)It provides the type of evidence that requires a team of experts.
D)It is a collection of artifacts that provides more information on the culture.
E)It allows scientists to use multiple excavation techniques and get more accurate dates.

Accepted Answer

An assemblage is a collection of artifacts that provides more information on the culture. It does not necessarily provide all details about the artifacts or allow for the reconstruction of daily life. It may require a team of experts to analyze, but it does not necessarily require multiple excavation techniques or more accurate dates.

Question 10

The durable aspects of culture such as tools,structures,and art are known as:
A)fossils.
B)artifacts.
C)material culture.
D)prehistory.
E)intangibles.

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture. These include tools, structures, art, and any other tangible items created or used by humans.

Question 11

All of the following is information that is gained from studying coprolites except:
A)overall health of individual.
B)type of diet.
C)time of year of death.
D)type of climate in area.
E)cultural value of food.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following is information that...

Question 12

Those physical anthropologists engaged in the recovery and study of fossil evidence for human evolution are known as:
A)paleontologists.
B)geoarchaeologists.
C)fossilologists.
D)osteologists.
E)paleoanthropologists.

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropologists who focus on the recovery and study of fossil evidence for human evolution are specifically known as paleoanthropologists. Paleontologists, geoarchaeologists, fossilologists, and osteologists may also study fossil evidence, but they do not specialize in human evolution specifically.

Question 13

The example of "Underwater Archaeology" examined:
A)prehistoric fish.
B)ancient trade routes.
C)an ancient Turkish city.
D)lost treasure.
E)long forgotten naval battles.

Accepted Answer

Underwater archaeology often involves the study of ancient trade routes, as these can be traced through the discovery of shipwrecks and artifacts found on the seabed.

Question 14

Excavation records include all of the following except:
A)a scale map of the features.
B)assemblage of artifacts.
C)a description of exact location of every artifact.
D)photographs of the site.
E)stratification of each excavated square.

Accepted Answer

Assemblage of artifacts refers to the collection or group of artifacts that have been gathered or assembled from a site, rather than a record or documentation type like the others listed. Records typically include maps, descriptions, photographs, and details about the stratification, not the physical collection of artifacts themselves.

Question 15

As pointed out in the original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" developing a plan which included local villagers,government administrators,and international scientists:
A)led to the abandonment of the project.
B)undermined scientific integrity.
C)ignored potential ways to benefit contemporary populations.
D)enabled all stakeholders to have a voice.
E)caused a backlash within the archaeological scientific community.

Accepted Answer

Developing a plan that included local villagers, government administrators, and international scientists enabled all stakeholders to have a voice in the project. This approach is known as community archaeology, which seeks to involve members of the local community in the research process, and recognizes their perspective and knowledge as valuable contributions to the project. In the case of El Pilar, community archaeology allowed for the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific research, which improved the outcome of the project and provided benefits to contemporary populations.

Question 16

Any object fashioned or altered by humans is called a(n):
A)ecofact.
B)fossil.
C)artifact.
D)tool.
E)manufact.

Accepted Answer

An artifact is any object made or modified by humans for a specific purpose. The other options do not accurately describe objects made or altered by humans, as ecofacts are natural objects that have been used by humans, fossils are the remains of living things, tools are a subset of artifacts, and manufacts is not a commonly used term in archaeology.

Question 17

What is unique about physical remains dating back from before 2.5 to 2.6 million years ago?
A)They are never found underground.
B)They are hard tissue remains only.
C)There is very little DNA evidence in them.
D)They are found in isolation with no context.
E)They are found underground and encased in a matrix.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is unique about physical remains dating...

Question 18

The term "soil marks" refers to:
A)a place where fossils are found in paleoanthropology.
B)a system for recording data from an archaeological excavation.
C)stains that show up on the surface of recently plowed fields,indicating an archaeological site.
D)remains of plants and animals whose organic material has been replaced by silica.
E)places where animals have left some sort of prints on the ground.

Accepted Answer

Soil marks are stains seen on the surface of recently plowed fields, indicating an archaeological site. These marks result from differences in the soil’s moisture content, compaction, or organic content, indicating areas where structures or features are located.

Question 19

Fossilization occurs most frequently among which type of organism?
A)Marine animals and other creatures living near water
B)Water-dwelling animals in tropical areas
C)Animals located in arid deserts
D)Land animals in high-altitude environments
E)Reptiles that are both land- and water-dwelling

Accepted Answer

Fossilization is most common among organisms that lived near water, as their remains are more likely to be quickly buried in sediment and protected from decomposition. Marine animals in particular have a high likelihood of becoming fossilized due to the abundance of sediment in the ocean floor.

Question 20

The study of how bones and other materials come to be preserved in the earth as fossils is called:
A)fossology.
B)relative dating.
C)paleoanthropology.
D)taphonomy.
E)taxonomy.

Accepted Answer

The study of how biological materials become fossilized and preserved in the earth is known as Taphonomy. This includes examining the various processes involved in fossilization, including burial, decay, and mineralization. Paleontologists and other scientists use this knowledge to understand the evolution and history of life on Earth.

Quiz 5: Field Methods in Archaeology and Paleoanthropology

How many years ago do archaeologists believe that humans began to consistently bury their dead?

In the original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" Anabel Ford conducted her work:

Which of the following statements about prehistory is incorrect?

The starting point,or reference,for a grid is called:

Anabel Ford noted in the article "Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" that archaeology should:

A midden is a(n) :

The purpose of a grid system is to:

The original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" describes action archaeology as:

Which of the following statements is true of an assemblage?

The durable aspects of culture such as tools,structures,and art are known as:

All of the following is information that is gained from studying coprolites except:

Those physical anthropologists engaged in the recovery and study of fossil evidence for human evolution are known as:

The example of "Underwater Archaeology" examined:

Excavation records include all of the following except:

As pointed out in the original study,"Action Archaeology and the Community at El Pilar" developing a plan which included local villagers,government administrators,and international scientists:

Any object fashioned or altered by humans is called a(n) :

What is unique about physical remains dating back from before 2.5 to 2.6 million years ago?

The term "soil marks" refers to:

Fossilization occurs most frequently among which type of organism?

The study of how bones and other materials come to be preserved in the earth as fossils is called: