Question 1

Based on genetic evidence from both Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA, the most likely origin of North American Indian populations is __________________.

Accepted Answer

Genetic evidence from both Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA suggests that the majority of North American Indian populations have their origins in Central and Northeast Asia, specifically in the region of Siberia. This is believed to have occurred through a land bridge known as Beringia, which connected Asia and North America during periods of glaciation when sea levels were lower.

Question 2

Which of the following occurred during the Pleistocene epoch?

Accepted Answer

The emergence of biologically modern human beings in Africa is a significant event that occurred during the Pleistocene epoch.

Question 3

Archaeologists think that the makers of the Dyuktai complex were able to experience rapid expansion because they used which of the following strategies?

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists believe that the Dyuktai people emphasized highly mobile bands and small, temporary camps rather than large settlements. This flexibility allowed them to easily move and adapt to changing resources and environmental conditions, which ultimately led to their rapid expansion.

Question 4

Archaeology covers all of human history. This represents only a tiny fraction of the age of the earth, which is about __________________ years old.

Accepted Answer

Archaeology deals with the study of human history, which is a very small time period in comparison to the age of the earth. The earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the "land bridge" which existed between Siberia and Alaska and allowed the first people to enter North America?

Accepted Answer

The "land bridge" between Siberia and Alaska is commonly referred to as Beringia and was a wide stretch of land that existed during the last Ice Age when sea levels were much lower.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true about domesticated dogs?

Accepted Answer

While dogs have been used for hunting purposes, they were not solely domesticated for that purpose. Dogs have served humans in various capacities throughout history, including as companions, guards, and even as draft animals.

Question 7

The single most important feature of the North American landscape before roughly 11,000 years ago was __________________.

Accepted Answer

The North American landscape was covered in ice sheets up to 2 miles thick during the Last Glacial Maximum, which ended roughly 11,000 years ago. Therefore, the single most important feature of the landscape was glacial ice.

Question 8

Southern Pennsylvania during the Pleistocene was mostly covered by __________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Southern Pennsylvania during the Pleistocene was mostly...

Question 9

In 1492, about how many distinct languages were probably spoken in North America?

Accepted Answer

It is estimated that there were approximately 400 distinct languages spoken in North America at the time of Christopher Columbus' arrival. However, some experts believe that the number may have been higher or lower.

Question 10

In eastern subarctic Canada, several language complexes are spoken.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In eastern subarctic Canada, several language complexes...

Question 11

Comparison of related languages allows for reconstruction of a common ancestral language, or __________________.

Accepted Answer

Comparison of related languages allows for reconstruction of a common ancestral language, which is called a protolanguage. Glottochronology is a method used to calculate how long ago two languages diverged from a common ancestor, but it does not involve reconstruction of the proto-language itself. Latin is an example of a classical language and is not directly related to the concept of ancestral languages. Daughter languages are those that have stemmed from a parent language, but they do not involve the reconstruction of the original proto-language.

Question 12

Glottochronology allows precise (absolute) dating for when two related languages split.

Accepted Answer

Glottochronology attempts to estimate the time of divergence between languages using lexical similarity, but it is not considered precise or absolute due to various methodological and theoretical limitations.

Question 13

A distinctive feature of northeast Asian and Native American teeth is:

Accepted Answer

"Shovel-shaped" incisors are a distinctive feature of both northeast Asian and Native American teeth. This refers to the concavity or scooped-out appearance of the back surfaces of the incisors, which is not as pronounced in other populations. Supernumerary wisdom teeth (B) and long canines (C) are not unique to these groups, and root canals (D) are not a visible feature of teeth.

Question 14

Siberian bands likely lived in Beringia.

Accepted Answer

Siberian bands are believed to have lived in Beringia, the land bridge that connected modern-day Russia and Alaska during the last Ice Age. This theory is supported by archaeological and genetic evidence.

Question 15

An atlatl is swung like a __________________ to launch a spear.

Accepted Answer

An atlatl is swung like a tennis racket to launch a spear, using a motion that involves the wrist and arm to propel the spear forward.

Question 16

A common rock used to make a variety of sharp tools is:

Accepted Answer

Chert is a sedimentary rock that is commonly used to make sharp tools like arrowheads, scrapers, and blades. It is a hard, fine-grained rock that fractures in a predictable way, making it easy to shape into tools. Greenstone and andesite are also sometimes used for tool-making, but chert is the most commonly used rock for this purpose. Iron is not a rock and requires smelting to be used as a tool material.

Question 17

Bands were dependent on __________________ and could not move too far from their social networks.

Accepted Answer

Bands were dependent on other bands and their social networks for resources, such as trade and intermarriage, and could not move too far away without risking isolation and lack of support.

Question 18

The main mitochondrial haplogroups of Native Americans are:

Accepted Answer

The main mitochondrial haplogroups of Native Americans are A, B, C, D and X.

Question 19

Bluefish Caves in __________________ dates to 24,000 BP.

Accepted Answer

Bluefish Caves is located in Canada's Yukon and has been dated to 24,000 BP.

Question 20

Which of the following is a site in northeastern Siberia dating to 30,000 BP?

Accepted Answer

The Yana RHS (Rhinoceros Horn Site) is a site in northeastern Siberia that has been dated to 30,000 BP. The other options (Nenana, Ushki Lake, Mesa) do not match this description.

Quiz 2: Eurasian Origins