Question 1

Which of the following was not used by archaeologist Walter Alva to confirm religious theories about the Moche people, who had lived along the north coast of Peru?

Accepted Answer

Walter Alva used physical evidence such as an intact royal tomb, elaborately decorated pottery, and royal dress and ornamentation to confirm religious theories about the Moche people. Mythology among local people was not mentioned as a method he used for confirmation.

Question 2

The closest discipline to archaeology is ________.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology is the closest discipline to archaeology because both study human societies and cultures, but archaeology specifically focuses on human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Question 3

Cultural anthropologists ________.

Accepted Answer

C  D  Cultural anthropologists directly observe and record people doing things (A), investigate changes in culture over time (C), and preserve the heritage of a nation's past (D). They do not use pseudoscience in cultural studies.

Question 4

What is the period of time before recorded history called?

Accepted Answer

Prehistory refers to the period of time before written records or documentation, focusing on the activities and developments of early humans and their societies.

Question 5

Cultural relativism is the belief that ________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another culture. This implies that no culture is superior to another, hence option D is correct.

Question 6

The study of ancient Greece and Rome fall under what type of archaeology?

Accepted Answer

Classical archaeology specifically focuses on the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, studying their artifacts, structures, and culture.

Question 7

Discovering financial records of trade between two groups would be an example of what?

Accepted Answer

Historical archaeology involves the study of societies that have written records, including financial documents, which can provide insights into trade and economic activities between groups.

Question 8

The archaeology of the Middle East from the time of the Bible is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Biblical archaeology is the field that specifically focuses on the archaeology of the Middle East from the time of the Bible, seeking to correlate archaeological findings with biblical narratives.

Question 9

The study of underwater cities would fall under which category?

Accepted Answer

Maritime archaeology focuses on the study of human interaction with the sea, lakes, and rivers through the study of ships, shorelines, and underwater ruins, including cities.

Question 10

Which of the following would not be part of the archaeological record?

Accepted Answer

Paradigms are theoretical frameworks or perspectives within which studies are conducted and interpreted, not physical entities that can be part of the archaeological record. Ecofacts, sites, and features are all tangible elements that can be observed and recorded by archaeologists.

Question 11

Basic assumptions on how the world operates are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Paradigms are fundamental frameworks or concepts that outline basic assumptions about how the world operates, guiding how we interpret and understand phenomena.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a part of the scientific method for archaeology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not a...

Question 13

Hypotheses and models that describe or explain things at single points in time and are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Synchronic approaches focus on phenomena as they occur at a single point in time, contrasting with diachronic approaches that analyze changes over time.

Question 14

Those who work in the preservation and management of archaeological resources are practicing ________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural resource management (CRM) is the field dedicated to preserving and managing archaeological resources. It involves assessing sites, planning for their preservation, and sometimes overseeing their excavation and study in the context of development or land management projects.

Question 15

Which term best describes the material remains of past human activities and behaviors?

Accepted Answer

The archaeological record refers to the material remains of past human activities and behaviors, including artifacts, structures, and other physical evidence.

Question 16

The distinct soil layers of an archaeological site is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Stratigraphy refers to the distinct layers of soil or sediment in an archaeological site, each of which can represent a different period of human activity or natural deposition over time.

Question 17

Recording where objects are found in the strata of an archaeological site would help in what type of dating?

Accepted Answer

Recording where objects are found in the strata (layers of sediment) of an archaeological site helps in establishing a sequence of events over time, which is the basis of relative dating. This method allows archaeologists to determine if one artifact is older or younger than another without specifying an exact date.

Question 18

The most common method of absolute dating is ________.

Accepted Answer

Radiocarbon dating is the most common method of absolute dating, which is used to determine the age of carbonaceous materials up to about 60,000 years old.

Question 19

Patterns detected among traits of a past group of people are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeological cultures refer to patterns detected among traits of a past group of people, identified through the study and analysis of material remains.

Question 20

When should an archaeologist complete a research design?

Accepted Answer

A research design should be completed before going into the field to guide the archaeological investigation, ensuring that the methods and objectives are clearly defined and that the research is systematic and coherent.

Quiz 1: The Science of Archaeology