Question 1

Electron Spin Resonance Dating (ESR)is most successful when used to provide dates for

Accepted Answer

ESR is a dating method that works best on materials that have trapped electrons, which can be found in tooth enamel.

Question 2

A key point in archaeology is the idea of association.For example,if objects are found in the same,sealed,archaeological deposit,it is probable that they were buried at the same time.If one of these objects can later be given an absolute date,then it is possible to assign that absolute date to the sealed deposit and the other objects associated with it as well.

Accepted Answer

This is a key principle in archaeology, known as the principle of association. When objects are found together in the same sealed deposit, it is likely that they were deposited at the same time, and if one object can be dated, it is possible to assign that date to the entire deposit and other objects found in association with it.

Question 3

Assumptions about genetic mutation rates stemming from the study of samples taken from living people is the basis of

Accepted Answer

The assumption about genetic mutation rates is the foundation of DNA dating, which uses the rate of mutations to estimate the time of divergence between species or individuals. The other techniques listed have nothing to do with genetic mutation rates. Archaeomagnetic dating uses changes in the Earth's magnetic field to date archaeological materials, optical dating uses the accumulation of radiation damage to date geological samples, natural selection dating is not a recognized dating technique, and tooth enamel dating uses the amount of radioactive isotopes in tooth enamel to date fossils.

Question 4

Which dating technique would yield a result that might read 2.25 million years before present,plus or minus 50,000 years?

Accepted Answer

Potassium-argon dating is a radiometric dating technique used to determine the age of rocks and minerals into which potassium-40 decays to argon-40 with a half-life of 1.3 billion years. This method is used to date rocks that are millions of years old because its range of applicability extends from about 100,000 years to 4.5 billion years. Therefore, the result of 2.25 million years before present, plus or minus 50,000 years, falls within the range of applicability of potassium-argon dating.

Question 5

One of the most striking facts of world prehistory is that the transition to food cultivation from hunting and gathering

Accepted Answer

The transition to food cultivation from hunting and gathering occurred independently in several different areas of the world, including the fertile crescent of the Middle East, parts of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Papua New Guinea. This process, known as the Neolithic Revolution, occurred between approximately 10,000 and 4,000 BCE and led to significant changes in human societies, including the development of settled communities, social hierarchies, and specialized labor. While the timing and specific details of the transition varied across different regions, the overall trend towards food production marked a major turning point in human history.

Question 6

When provided with a radiocarbon figure such as 3700 + 100 BP,the first number (3700)is the number of years before the year 1950.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. The BP stands for "Before Present," with the present being defined as the year 1950. So in this case, the radiocarbon figure represents 3,700 years before the year 1950.

Question 7

The typological idea that change in artifact style is gradual over time is associated with Darwin's theory of evolution.

Accepted Answer

The typological idea that change in artifact style is gradual over time is often referred to as "evolutionary" or "Darwinian" because it aligns with the concept of gradual change over time that is central to Darwin's theory of biological evolution.

Question 8

Scientists have come to recognize that fluctuations in climate during the Ice Age were far less complex than originally thought;indeed,the Ice Age was just one long unbroken spell of cold with little temperature fluctuation.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Scientists have actually found evidence of periodic fluctuations in climate during the Ice Age, including rapid temperature changes known as Dansgaard-Oeschger events. These fluctuations were likely caused by factors such as changes in ocean currents and solar radiation.

Question 9

Radiocarbon dating methods can only be used on

Accepted Answer

Radiocarbon dating relies on the measurement of the amount of radioactive carbon-14 in organic materials. Therefore, it can only be used on organic materials such as bone, charcoal, wood, or plant fibers, and not on inorganic materials, volcanic rocks, well-fired pottery, or objects exposed to sunlight.

Question 10

Archaeologists have shown that the Maya calendar was very precise: it was used to record exact dates.

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists have found evidence that the Maya calendar was highly precise and used to record exact dates. This is supported by the complex and intricate nature of the calendar system and the accuracy of astronomical observations that underpinned it.

Question 11

The reason that radiocarbon dating results must be calibrated is that,contrary to what Libby assumed

Accepted Answer

The reason that radiocarbon dating results must be calibrated is that the concentration of 14C in the atmosphere has actually varied over time. This means that the assumption made by Libby, that the concentration of 14C in the atmosphere has remained constant over time, is not accurate. Therefore, radiocarbon dating results must be calibrated to account for these variations in atmospheric 14C.

Question 12

By more than 1.6 million years ago,Homo erectus emerged in

Accepted Answer

Homo erectus is believed to have emerged in East Africa around 1.8 million years ago and then spread to other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, East Asia, and possibly even Eastern Australia. However, the earliest and most significant evidence of Homo erectus remains have been found in East Africa. Therefore, the best choice is D (East Africa).

Question 13

One of the most useful techniques for dating early human (hominin)sites in Africa is radiocarbon dating.

Accepted Answer

Radiocarbon dating is not effective for dating early human (hominin) sites in Africa because it can only date samples up to about 50,000 years old, while early human fossils and artifacts in Africa are usually much older than that. Other methods, such as potassium-argon dating and electron spin resonance dating, are typically used for dating hominin sites in Africa.

Question 14

Pollen is a useful tool for archaeologists because

Accepted Answer

Pollen is almost indestructible and can survive for thousands of years, making it useful for archaeologists in constructing detailed sequences of past vegetation and climate.

Question 15

One of the best things about radiocarbon dating is that the samples are resistant to all contamination: other organic material can come in contact with a radiocarbon sample without contaminating it.

Accepted Answer

This statement is actually false. Radiocarbon dating is susceptible to contamination from other organic materials, which can affect the accuracy of the dating. To minimize the risk of contamination, special care is taken to handle and process the samples properly, such as using clean laboratory equipment and taking precautions to prevent handling by people or animals.

Question 16

Traditionally,radiocarbon dating techniques required approximately 10-20 grams of wood or charcoal.A few radiocarbon laboratories using the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)are now able to work with samples as small as 5-10 milligrams.

Accepted Answer

AMS radiocarbon dating has greatly reduced the amount of sample needed for accurate dating, with some laboratories now able to work with samples as small as 5-10 milligrams.

Question 17

___________________ is another term for tree-ring dating which is based on the counting,measurement,and patterning of annual growth rings in known species of trees

Accepted Answer

Dendrochronology is the term for tree-ring dating, which is based on counting, measuring, and patterning of annual growth rings in known species of trees.

Question 18

Using differences in tree-rings to tie a wooden structure to a calendar date is an example of a relative dating technique.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of absolute dating, as it provides a specific calendar year for the age of the wooden structure.

Question 19

The main difference between optical dating and thermoluminescence dating is that optical dating is used to date minerals that have been exposed to light and thermoluminescence is used to date minerals that have been exposed to heat.

Accepted Answer

Optical dating is based on the fact that minerals such as quartz and feldspar accumulate trapped electrons over time when exposed to light, and the accumulated electrons can be measured to determine when the sample was last exposed to sunlight. Thermoluminescence dating, on the other hand, is based on the fact that minerals such as pottery, burnt flint, and volcanic rocks accumulate trapped electrons when they are heated, and these electrons can be released as light when the sample is subsequently heated.

Question 20

The term for dating techniques based on the decay of radioactive isotopes which have half-lives that are known and measurable is

Accepted Answer

Radiometric dating is a method of dating that uses the decay of radioactive isotopes with known half-lives to determine the age of rocks, fossils, and other materials. This method provides absolute dates, which are given in years before the present.

Quiz 4: Dating Methods and Chronology

Electron Spin Resonance Dating (ESR) is most successful when used to provide dates for