Question 1

Formation processes are:

Accepted Answer

A)  processes by which cultural evolution is recognized in the archaeological record. 
B)  the ways in which natural depositional processes operate to produce the archaeological record. 
C)  the ways in which both human behaviors and natural actions operate to produce the archaeological record. 
D)  processes by which artifacts are transferred from systemic to archaeological contexts. 
A)  processes by which cultural evolution is recognized in the archaeological record. 
B)  the ways in which natural depositional processes operate to produce the archaeological record. 
C)  the ways in which both human behaviors and natural actions operate to produce the archaeological record. 
D)  processes by which artifacts are transferred from systemic to archaeological contexts. C

Question 2

Cryoturbation results in:

Accepted Answer

A)  larger artifacts being pushed to the surface of a site. 
B)  vertically size-sorted artifacts. 
C)  the long axis of buried artifacts being oriented vertically. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  larger artifacts being pushed to the surface of a site. 
B)  vertically size-sorted artifacts. 
C)  the long axis of buried artifacts being oriented vertically. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. D

Question 3

In an undisturbed deposit, a stone tool found in a stratum overlying a stratum containing potsherds is most likely:

Accepted Answer

A)  older than the potsherds. 
B)  younger than the potsherds. 
C)  the same age as the potsherds. 
D)  impossible to determine whether the stone tool is older or younger than the potsherds. 
A)  older than the potsherds. 
B)  younger than the potsherds. 
C)  the same age as the potsherds. 
D)  impossible to determine whether the stone tool is older or younger than the potsherds. B

Question 4

The footprints at Laetoli were remarkably well-preserved because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they were made in an ash slurry that quickly hardened and were then buried by volcanic ash soon after they formed. 
B)  they were slowly buried by volcanic ash after sitting in the open air for a long period of time. 
C)  they are very young; their preservation is thus solely a function of their age. 
D)  they were never buried; the Laetolil Beds that preserve the footprints are the youngest of a series of stratigraphic units. 
A)  they were made in an ash slurry that quickly hardened and were then buried by volcanic ash soon after they formed. 
B)  they were slowly buried by volcanic ash after sitting in the open air for a long period of time. 
C)  they are very young; their preservation is thus solely a function of their age. 
D)  they were never buried; the Laetolil Beds that preserve the footprints are the youngest of a series of stratigraphic units.

Question 5

Ice core records tell us all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  that the last 10,000 years have been cooler than the past 100,000 years. 
B)  that the last 100,000 years have warm. 
C)  that the last 10,000 years have been the warmest time of the past 100,000 years. 
D)  that the last 10,000 years have not been stable. 
A)  that the last 10,000 years have been cooler than the past 100,000 years. 
B)  that the last 100,000 years have warm. 
C)  that the last 10,000 years have been the warmest time of the past 100,000 years. 
D)  that the last 10,000 years have not been stable.

Question 6

Soils are developmental sequences, distinctive layers that develop in place. B horizon refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the topsoil layer where organic material and rock undergo chemical and mechanical decomposition. 
B)  the layer where clays accumulate as rainfall and snowmelt transport them downward. 
C)  a mineral horizon consisting of parent material. 
D)  the cultural layer between the topsoil and mineral horizon. 
A)  the topsoil layer where organic material and rock undergo chemical and mechanical decomposition. 
B)  the layer where clays accumulate as rainfall and snowmelt transport them downward. 
C)  a mineral horizon consisting of parent material. 
D)  the cultural layer between the topsoil and mineral horizon.

Question 7

Artifacts leave the systemic context and enter the archaeological context through

Accepted Answer

A)  loss. 
B)  discard. 
C)  animals. 
D)  loss and discard. 
A)  loss. 
B)  discard. 
C)  animals. 
D)  loss and discard.

Question 8

Hominins are members of the evolutionary line that contains humans and our early bipedal ancestors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The archaeological record is almost always a direct reflection of the human behavior that produced it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Graviturbation is an example of a formation process in the systemic context.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The benefit of marker beds is that

Accepted Answer

A)  they can provide clues to the age of sites with new sediments. 
B)  they can provide clues to the age of sediments in a new site. 
C)  they can be used to estimate the date of human materials. 
D)  they are easily transported back to the laboratory for analysis. 
A)  they can provide clues to the age of sites with new sediments. 
B)  they can provide clues to the age of sediments in a new site. 
C)  they can be used to estimate the date of human materials. 
D)  they are easily transported back to the laboratory for analysis.

Question 12

In Gatecliff's master stratigraphy there are 16 living surfaces resulting from

Accepted Answer

A)  human activities. 
B)  natural flood deposition. 
C)  geological origin. 
D)  alluvial sediments. 
A)  human activities. 
B)  natural flood deposition. 
C)  geological origin. 
D)  alluvial sediments.

Question 13

Ice core samples indicate that the global temperature has decreased significantly in the last 100 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How does sediment generally enter rockshelters?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rocks fall from the shelter's ceiling and dripline. 
B)  Colluvial sediments enter the shelter from the surrounding hillside. 
C)  Fine eolian dust from nearby or distant sources blows into the shelter. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  Rocks fall from the shelter's ceiling and dripline. 
B)  Colluvial sediments enter the shelter from the surrounding hillside. 
C)  Fine eolian dust from nearby or distant sources blows into the shelter. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 15

Where are the Laetoli footprints today?

Accepted Answer

A)  The footprints were stolen by a looter shortly after their discovery, and their whereabouts are still unknown. 
B)  The footprints were covered with sediment and left in place, preserved in the ground where they were discovered. 
C)  The footprints are on display in a Tanzanian museum, where they have been preserved and stabilized. 
D)  They are gone, completely destroyed by root activity. 
A)  The footprints were stolen by a looter shortly after their discovery, and their whereabouts are still unknown. 
B)  The footprints were covered with sediment and left in place, preserved in the ground where they were discovered. 
C)  The footprints are on display in a Tanzanian museum, where they have been preserved and stabilized. 
D)  They are gone, completely destroyed by root activity.

Question 16

The Law of Superposition states that, in any pile of sedimentary rocks that have not been disturbed by folding or overturning:

Accepted Answer

A)  stratigraphic layers cannot be used to date archaeological sites. 
B)  stratigraphic layers at the bottom are younger than stratigraphic layers at the top. 
C)  stratigraphic layers at the bottom are older than stratigraphic layers at the top. 
D)  soil depth provides a measure of the absolute age of a stratum. 
A)  stratigraphic layers cannot be used to date archaeological sites. 
B)  stratigraphic layers at the bottom are younger than stratigraphic layers at the top. 
C)  stratigraphic layers at the bottom are older than stratigraphic layers at the top. 
D)  soil depth provides a measure of the absolute age of a stratum.

Question 17

An artifact in systemic context is part of an ongoing, dynamic behavioral system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following is the term for a natural formation process in which freeze/thaw activity in a soil selectively pushes larger artifacts to the surface of site?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cryoturbation 
B)  Argilliturbation 
C)  Graviturbation 
D)  Imbrication 
A)  Cryoturbation 
B)  Argilliturbation 
C)  Graviturbation 
D)  Imbrication

Question 19

An artifact discarded or lost by an earlier population and picked up and reused by a later population is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  a reuse process. 
B)  a reclamation process. 
C)  a cultural disturbance process. 
D)  argilliturbation. 
A)  a reuse process. 
B)  a reclamation process. 
C)  a cultural disturbance process. 
D)  argilliturbation.

Question 20

Archaeological "site formation" refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the human actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
B)  the natural actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
C)  the human and natural actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
D)  None of the answers are correct. 
A)  the human actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
B)  the natural actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
C)  the human and natural actions responsible for the creation of an archaeological site. 
D)  None of the answers are correct.

Formation processes are:

Cryoturbation results in:

In an undisturbed deposit, a stone tool found in a stratum overlying a stratum containing potsherds is most likely:

The footprints at Laetoli were remarkably well-preserved because:

Ice core records tell us all of the following except:

Soils are developmental sequences, distinctive layers that develop in place. B horizon refers to

Artifacts leave the systemic context and enter the archaeological context through

Hominins are members of the evolutionary line that contains humans and our early bipedal ancestors.

The archaeological record is almost always a direct reflection of the human behavior that produced it.

Graviturbation is an example of a formation process in the systemic context.

The benefit of marker beds is that

In Gatecliff's master stratigraphy there are 16 living surfaces resulting from

Ice core samples indicate that the global temperature has decreased significantly in the last 100 years.

How does sediment generally enter rockshelters?

Where are the Laetoli footprints today?

The Law of Superposition states that, in any pile of sedimentary rocks that have not been disturbed by folding or overturning:

An artifact in systemic context is part of an ongoing, dynamic behavioral system.

Which of the following is the term for a natural formation process in which freeze/thaw activity in a soil selectively pushes larger artifacts to the surface of site?

An artifact discarded or lost by an earlier population and picked up and reused by a later population is an example of:

Archaeological "site formation" refers to:

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Doing Fieldwork Why Archaeologists Dig Square Holes

Chronology Building How To Get A Date

The Dimensions Of Archaeology Time Space And Form

Taphonomy Experimental Archaeology And Ethnoarchaeology

People Plants and Animals In The Past

Bioarchaeological Approaches To The Past

Reconstructing Social And Political Systems Of The Past

The Archaeology Of The Mind

Understanding Key Transitions In World Prehistory

Historial Archaeology Insights On American History

Caring For Our Cultural Heritage

Archaeology Apos S Future

Filters

Exam 5: Geoarchaeology and Site Formation Processes

Formation processes are:

Cryoturbation results in:

In an undisturbed deposit, a stone tool found in a stratum overlying a stratum containing potsherds is most likely:

The footprints at Laetoli were remarkably well-preserved because:

Ice core records tell us all of the following except:

Soils are developmental sequences, distinctive layers that develop in place. B horizon refers to

Artifacts leave the systemic context and enter the archaeological context through

Hominins are members of the evolutionary line that contains humans and our early bipedal ancestors.

The archaeological record is almost always a direct reflection of the human behavior that produced it.

Graviturbation is an example of a formation process in the systemic context.

The benefit of marker beds is that

In Gatecliff's master stratigraphy there are 16 living surfaces resulting from

Ice core samples indicate that the global temperature has decreased significantly in the last 100 years.

How does sediment generally enter rockshelters?

Where are the Laetoli footprints today?

The Law of Superposition states that, in any pile of sedimentary rocks that have not been disturbed by folding or overturning:

An artifact in systemic context is part of an ongoing, dynamic behavioral system.

Which of the following is the term for a natural formation process in which freeze/thaw activity in a soil selectively pushes larger artifacts to the surface of site?

An artifact discarded or lost by an earlier population and picked up and reused by a later population is an example of:

Archaeological "site formation" refers to:

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Doing Fieldwork Why Archaeologists Dig Square Holes

Chronology Building How To Get A Date

The Dimensions Of Archaeology Time Space And Form

Taphonomy Experimental Archaeology And Ethnoarchaeology

People Plants and Animals In The Past

Bioarchaeological Approaches To The Past

Reconstructing Social And Political Systems Of The Past

The Archaeology Of The Mind

Understanding Key Transitions In World Prehistory

Historial Archaeology Insights On American History

Caring For Our Cultural Heritage

Archaeology Apos S Future

Filters