Question 1

Once a hypothesis has been suggested, the scientist should:

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is only a suggestion until it has been tested. Therefore, the scientist should proceed to test the hypothesis in order to determine its validity.

Question 2

A dominant scientific perspective or intellectual framework is called a:

Accepted Answer

A dominant scientific perspective or intellectual framework is called a paradigm. A paradigm refers to a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that define a scientific discipline. It provides researchers with a framework for conducting their research and makes it possible to organize and interpret the data that they collect.

Question 3

In approaching the past through "a convergence of evidence," we are confident in our conclusions because:

Accepted Answer

When separate and independent data converge on the same conclusion, it provides strong support for the accuracy of the conclusion. This is because the likelihood of multiple sources of data independently arriving at the same conclusion due to chance or error is low. Therefore, a convergence of evidence is a reliable way to approach the past.

Question 4

An artifact is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

An artifact is anything made and used by a human or human ancestor, such as tools, pottery, or jewelry. It does not have to be the physical remains of a human being or ancestor, and it can include simple as well as complex objects. While artifacts can be found at archaeological sites, not everything found at such a site is necessarily an artifact.

Question 5

Stone chopping tools, arrowheads, bits of pottery, and bronze daggers are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

Stone chopping tools, arrowheads, bits of pottery, and bronze daggers are all examples of artifacts, which are objects created or modified by humans. Ecofacts are natural objects that provide information about past environments (e.g. seeds, bones, shells), features are non-portable human-made objects (e.g. hearths, walls), and specimens refer to biological remains (e.g. bones, teeth).

Question 6

The bones of a butchered mastodon, charred nuts found in an ancient fireplace, and sunflower seeds recovered from a prehistoric trash dump are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

Ecofacts are natural materials found at archaeological sites that provide information about past environments, such as plants, animals, and soils. The bones of a butchered mastodon, charred nuts found in an ancient fireplace, and sunflower seeds recovered from a prehistoric trash dump are all examples of ecofacts.

Question 7

A place where the material remains of human activity are found is called a:

Accepted Answer

A site is a specific location where the material remains of human activity are found, such as an archaeological site. Fossil locality refers specifically to a location where fossils are found, master sequence is not a term used in this context, and ecofact refers to natural materials found at a site, such as animal bones or plant remains.

Question 8

Which of the following is an archaeological site:

Accepted Answer

All three options represent different types of archaeological sites. A small ancient hunting camp with just a handful of artifacts may be of interest to archaeologists studying the lifestyles of past hunter-gatherer societies. An abandoned nineteenth-century rural village may be significant for insights into the lives of rural communities during the industrial revolution. An ancient city covering hundreds of acres might be a major center of civilization and can provide important information on the political, economic, and social structures of the time.

Question 9

Archaeological sites can be discovered through:

Accepted Answer

Archaeological sites can be discovered through a variety of methods, including a surface walkover, the use of remote sensing technologies, and test pitting. A surface walkover involves walking over an area of land to look for any visible signs of archaeological features, such as earthworks, mounds, or changes in vegetation patterns. Remote sensing technologies, such as aerial photography, LiDAR, and ground-penetrating radar, can reveal archaeological features that are not visible from the surface. Test pitting involves digging small holes to look for evidence of an archaeological site. Each of these methods has its own advantages and limitations, and archaeologists often use a combination of them to locate and investigate archaeological sites.

Question 10

Proton magnetometry, ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity, and microgravimetric survey are all varieties of:

Accepted Answer

Proton magnetometry, ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity, and microgravimetric survey are all methods of remote sensing, which involves using various instruments to gather information about a site without physically excavating it. The other answer choices (dating methods and trace element analysis) are not applicable to all of these techniques.

Question 11

Lidar is a technology useful in:

Accepted Answer

Lidar technology is commonly used in mapping sites, including land surveying, cartography, and archaeology for creating detailed maps of topography and features.

Question 12

The application of Lidar has been used in:

Accepted Answer

Lidar technology has been used to create detailed maps of archaeological sites, including the ancient Maya city of Tikal in Guatemala. The technology allowed researchers to see beneath the thick jungle canopy and reveal previously unknown buildings and architectural features. Lidar has not been used for dating bones, tracing lithic raw materials, or determining geographic origins of populations.

Question 13

Jarrod Burks and Robert Cook were able to identify and map a largely buried and hidden earthwork in Ohio through the use of:

Accepted Answer

Jarrod Burks and Robert Cook used a fluxgate gradiometer, a geophysical survey instrument that measures tiny variations in the Earth's magnetic field, to identify and map the buried earthwork in Ohio.

Question 14

CT scans and MRIs can be used in archaeology and paleoanthropology:

Accepted Answer

CT scans and MRIs can be used to examine the internal structures of preserved ancient human bodies, allowing researchers to diagnose diseases, injuries, and other health conditions of past populations. This can provide valuable insight into the health and lifestyles of ancient people. CT scans and MRIs are not typically used to determine the age of archaeological specimens or investigate ancient genes.

Question 15

The study of how objects become part of the paleontological and archaeological records is called:

Accepted Answer

Taphonomy is the study of how living organisms become fossilized and how artifacts and other objects become part of the archaeological record.

Question 16

Archaeological material that was disposed of in the place it was made or used is called:

Accepted Answer

Primary refuse refers to archaeological material that was disposed of at the place it was made or used, such as food waste or broken tools. Debitage refers specifically to waste material produced during the manufacture of stone tools. Absolute refuse and secondary refuse are not commonly used terms in archaeology.

Question 17

If you were to see a couple of inconsiderate people simply abandoning the remains of their picnic lunch on the lawn in front of the campus building in which your archaeology course is being held, you might ask them to pick up their:

Accepted Answer

Primary refuse refers to the waste or discarded materials left at the location where they were used or produced, which in this case would be the remains of the picnic lunch left on the lawn.

Question 18

Archaeological material that was moved from its place of manufacture or use to a separate disposal area is called:

Accepted Answer

Material that was moved to a separate disposal area is considered secondary refuse, as opposed to primary refuse which is material left in place after the manufacturing or use process. Debitage refers specifically to the waste material left over from stone tool production. Absolute refuse is not a commonly used term in archaeology.

Question 19

The modern trash dump represents which kind of deposit:

Accepted Answer

A modern trash dump represents a deposit of secondary refuse, which is waste material generated from human activity that has already been used. Primary refuse refers to natural debris and waste created by human activity that has not been used, while absolute refuse is waste that cannot be recycled or reused. Debitage refers to the waste material created during the production of stone tools.

Question 20

Site formation processes represent:

Accepted Answer

Site formation processes refer to the ways in which archaeological sites come into existence. This includes a range of natural and human factors that contribute to the formation and preservation of archaeological sites. Site formation processes do not refer to the actual excavation or preservation of sites, although they may impact these processes.

Quiz 2: Probing the Past