Deck 8: Bioarchaeology: Human Remains

Question 1

The study of how different ancient societies treated human remains is called ________.

A) mediosteology
B) paleodemography
C) anthropology
D) bioarchaeology

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Yoheʹs analysis of the Civil War skeleton from Idaho contributed to our knowledge of ________.

A) human diseases, diet, and social class
B) coffin construction in the 19th century
C) natural mummification
D) medical practices of the Civil War era

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is the name given to the c. 8,600-year-old human remains in the controversial case where indigenous people protested against its removal for scientific analysis?

A) Kabayan mummy
B) Kennewick Man
C) Chärchän Man
D) "Ice Princess"

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Besides Egypt, mummification has also been found in what other parts of the world?

A) North America
B) Southern France
C) coastal Peru and Chile
D) Britain

Question 5

________ is when human remains are not intentionally moved after burial in ground.

A) Excarnation
B) Primary inhumanation
C) Secondary inhumanation
D) Cremation

Question 6

________ is when human remains are allowed to decompose first and then bones are removed to a separate burial place.

A) Excarnation
B) Primary inhumanation
C) Secondary inhumanation
D) Cremation

Question 7

________ is when human remains are burned before burial.

A) Excarnation
B) Primary inhumanation
C) Secondary inhumanation
D) Cremation

Question 8

Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), makes it possible to conduct ________ on human remains.

A) DNA analysis
B) noninvasive "virtual autopsies"
C) trace element analysis
D) radiocarbon dating

Question 9

The Spirit Cave mummy had a desiccated body, which means that ________.

A) it had its bones removed
B) it had been dried out before burial
C) it had its organs removed for cremation
D) organic acids and other compounds had "tanned" its skin

Question 10

The most famous naturally preserved human remains (5,300 years) in a frozen setting is ________.

A) Chärchän Man
B) the "Ice Princess"
C) the "Iceman"
D) La Doncella

Question 11

In ancient Egypt, canopic jars contained ________.

A) money for the afterworld
B) wine for the mourners
C) the vital organs of the deceased
D) sacred olive oil

Question 12

In Nepal, Buddhist monks are "buried" in the "sky," which means their bodies are ________.

A) cut in pieces and fed to vultures
B) cremated outside with smoke rising up
C) left frozen atop high peaks
D) cremated with ashes scattered in the wind

Question 13

The Black Plague of 14th-century Europe often resulted in ________.

A) the excarnation of dead bodies
B) the embalming of dead bodies
C) instances of mummification
D) mass graves

Question 14

Which of the following are generally not found as grave goods?

A) weapons
B) wild animals
C) pottery
D) jewellery

Question 15

Which groups of skeletal bones includes those of the arms and hands?

A) axial skeleton
B) pelvic girdle
C) appendicular skeleton
D) shoulder girdle

Question 16

Skeletal sex is most accurately determined by ________.

A) assessing the morphology of the pelvic bones
B) the overall size of the skeleton
C) measuring the length of the foot bones
D) evaluating the attributes of the skull

Question 17

What is the bone formation process called?

A) pathology
B) paleodemography
C) ossification
D) trephining

Question 18

Examining how the stable state of some molecular elements from plants and animals have been absorbed by human bodies is called _________.

A) osteology
B) DNA analysis
C) stable isotope analysis
D) trace element analysis

Question 19

Which type of chemical analysis could be used to provide information about the migratory patterns of a population?

A) osteology
B) DNA analysis
C) stable isotope analysis
D) trace element analysis

Question 20

Reconstructing the "life history" of ancient individuals is called ________.

A) osteobiography
B) paleodemography
C) pathology
D) biopathology

Question 21

Wear patterns on Neanderthal teeth reveal that they used their teeth to ________.

A) make stone tools
B) crack nuts
C) soften hides
D) twist rope

Question 22

What is examined to help determine the age of children?

A) facial bone features
B) pelvic girdle
C) appendicular skeleton
D) epiphyseal fusion

Question 23

What has been the most common method of distinguishing between varieties of ancient human species?

A) chemical analysis of skeletal bones
B) examination of the marker traits of bones and teeth
C) comparision of the pelvic and shoulder girdles
D) determining burial practices

Question 24

What are the ethical issues when dealing with human remains, especially those that might be connected to indigenous peoples?

Question 25

What can be revealed by studying the skeletal remains of a group of ancient people?

Question 26

Describe the range of conditions that have resulted in the preservation of human soft tissue remains. What kinds of information have archaeologists acquired from these kinds of remains? Give specific examples from the text.

Question 27

Describe two ancient burial practices and the religious or cultural rationale behind them.

Question 28

Compare the different chemical analyses that archaeologists can use and what sort of information is revealed by them.