Question 1

Larsen was interested in how well the people of Stillwater Marsh lived because he wanted to

Accepted Answer

A)  show how "brutish" hunters-gatherers were. 
B)  show that hunter-gatherers worked very hard. 
C)  show that the hunter-gatherers had barely enough food to eat. 
D)  use the skeletal data to provide a more objective assessment of foraging lifeways. 
A)  show how "brutish" hunters-gatherers were. 
B)  show that hunter-gatherers worked very hard. 
C)  show that the hunter-gatherers had barely enough food to eat. 
D)  use the skeletal data to provide a more objective assessment of foraging lifeways. D

Question 2

Ancient cultural practices mix human skeletal remains together, making it difficult to group skeletal remains by individual. Some examples of this mentioned in the text include

Accepted Answer

A)  bundle burials where the bodies were placed in a communal grave. 
B)  bodies laid out together in a charnal house to decompose. 
C)  bodies laid to rest in a river where the current scattered the remains. 
D)  both bundle burials where the bodies were placed in a communal grave and bodies laid out together in a charnal house to decompose. 
A)  bundle burials where the bodies were placed in a communal grave. 
B)  bodies laid out together in a charnal house to decompose. 
C)  bodies laid to rest in a river where the current scattered the remains. 
D)  both bundle burials where the bodies were placed in a communal grave and bodies laid out together in a charnal house to decompose. D

Question 3

Which of the following is true of iron deficiency anemia?

Accepted Answer

A)  It can be induced by a lack of red meat in the diet, chronic diarrhea, or parasites. 
B)  It can cause porotic hyperostosis, which results in the surface of the skull taking on a spongy appearance. 
C)  It can cause cibra orbitalia, which results in the bone of the upper eye sockets taking on a spongy appearance. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  It can be induced by a lack of red meat in the diet, chronic diarrhea, or parasites. 
B)  It can cause porotic hyperostosis, which results in the surface of the skull taking on a spongy appearance. 
C)  It can cause cibra orbitalia, which results in the bone of the upper eye sockets taking on a spongy appearance. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. D

Question 4

Why is it possible to assess age at death from tooth eruption patterns in juvenile human skeletons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the pattern and timing of crown formation and tooth eruption is consistent among human populations. 
B)  Because although the timing of crown formation and tooth eruption varies among human populations, it varies at known rates. 
C)  It is only possible if the sex of the individual is also known, because tooth eruption patterns differ between males and females. 
D)  None of the answers are correct. 
A)  Because the pattern and timing of crown formation and tooth eruption is consistent among human populations. 
B)  Because although the timing of crown formation and tooth eruption varies among human populations, it varies at known rates. 
C)  It is only possible if the sex of the individual is also known, because tooth eruption patterns differ between males and females. 
D)  None of the answers are correct.

Question 5

Genetic material found in a cell's nucleus that is primarily responsible for an individual's inherited traits is called

Accepted Answer

A)  gene. 
B)  mitochondrial DNA. 
C)  nuclear DNA. 
D)  molecular DNA. 
A)  gene. 
B)  mitochondrial DNA. 
C)  nuclear DNA. 
D)  molecular DNA.

Question 6

If a bioarchaeologist finds evidence of osteoarthritis in which bones have developed a distinct "lipping" at the point of articulation, he or she has found:

Accepted Answer

A)  osteophytes. 
B)  enamel hypoplasias. 
C)  eburnation. 
D)  Harris lines. 
A)  osteophytes. 
B)  enamel hypoplasias. 
C)  eburnation. 
D)  Harris lines.

Question 7

The first thing a bioarchaeologist would do when analyzing a human skeletal assemblage would be to:

Accepted Answer

A)  confirm that all the bones in the assemblage were human. 
B)  calculate MNI and NISP. 
C)  determine the sex and age at death of the individuals represented. 
D)  determine any paleopathology present in the individuals represented. 
A)  confirm that all the bones in the assemblage were human. 
B)  calculate MNI and NISP. 
C)  determine the sex and age at death of the individuals represented. 
D)  determine any paleopathology present in the individuals represented.

Question 8

You are excavating a Native American human burial site which contains both males and females. After obtaining permission from current Native American tribes believed to have descended from these people, you analyze the bones. You notice a higher rate of osteoarthritis in the lumbar vertebrae of the female skeletons in comparison to the male skeletons. What might you conclude from this evidence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Females were doing more intense walking than the males, traveling far distances to gather plants. 
B)  Females were putting more stress on their backs, perhaps from grinding corn or carrying children. 
C)  Females did not have access to the same amount of high quality food as males, and were thus suffering from malnutrition. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  Females were doing more intense walking than the males, traveling far distances to gather plants. 
B)  Females were putting more stress on their backs, perhaps from grinding corn or carrying children. 
C)  Females did not have access to the same amount of high quality food as males, and were thus suffering from malnutrition. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 9

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a juvenile human skeleton?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tooth eruption patterns 
B)  Patterns of bone fusion 
C)  Patterns of wear on the pubic symphysis 
D)  Tooth eruption and bone fusion patterns 
A)  Tooth eruption patterns 
B)  Patterns of bone fusion 
C)  Patterns of wear on the pubic symphysis 
D)  Tooth eruption and bone fusion patterns

Question 10

Schoeninger interpreted the greater range of nitrogen isotope ratios in the Stillwater burial population compared to the Pecos or Ontario populations as reflecting:

Accepted Answer

A)  greater dietary variability in the Pecos and Ontario populations than in the Stillwater population. 
B)  greater dietary variability in the Stillwater population than in the Pecos and Ontario populations 
C)  the fact that the Stillwater population had an increasing dependence on meat through time 
D)  an individual's age or sex; in the Stillwater population, children ate less meat than adults and males ate more meat than females. 
A)  greater dietary variability in the Pecos and Ontario populations than in the Stillwater population. 
B)  greater dietary variability in the Stillwater population than in the Pecos and Ontario populations 
C)  the fact that the Stillwater population had an increasing dependence on meat through time 
D)  an individual's age or sex; in the Stillwater population, children ate less meat than adults and males ate more meat than females.

Question 11

Eburnation is a:

Accepted Answer

A)  symptom of iron deficiency anemia in which the skull takes on a porous appearance. 
B)  horizontal linear defect in tooth enamel indicating an episode of physiological stress. 
C)  sign of osteoarthritis in which the epiphyses of long bones are worn smooth, causing them to take on a varnish-like appearance. 
D)  sign of osteoarthritis in which bones develop a distinct "lipping" at the point of articulation. 
A)  symptom of iron deficiency anemia in which the skull takes on a porous appearance. 
B)  horizontal linear defect in tooth enamel indicating an episode of physiological stress. 
C)  sign of osteoarthritis in which the epiphyses of long bones are worn smooth, causing them to take on a varnish-like appearance. 
D)  sign of osteoarthritis in which bones develop a distinct "lipping" at the point of articulation.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of the Bushmen of southern Africa?

Accepted Answer

A)  They reject the name "Bushmen" (which they acquired from the Dutch) today because of its derogatory origin and meaning. 
B)  They prefer to call themselves the San, !Kung, or Ju/'hoansi, indigenous names that refer to all Bushmen as a whole. 
C)  There is no indigenous term for the Bushmen as a whole, because there are many different groups of Bushmen. 
D)  They have been the subject of very little anthropological investigation, and as a result little is known of their culture and history. 
A)  They reject the name "Bushmen" (which they acquired from the Dutch) today because of its derogatory origin and meaning. 
B)  They prefer to call themselves the San, !Kung, or Ju/'hoansi, indigenous names that refer to all Bushmen as a whole. 
C)  There is no indigenous term for the Bushmen as a whole, because there are many different groups of Bushmen. 
D)  They have been the subject of very little anthropological investigation, and as a result little is known of their culture and history.

Question 13

Iron deficiency leaves a distinctive spongy appearance on

Accepted Answer

A)  eye orbits. 
B)  bone fusion. 
C)  the skull. 
D)  tooth enamel. 
A)  eye orbits. 
B)  bone fusion. 
C)  the skull. 
D)  tooth enamel.

Question 14

Frequencies of dental caries (cavities) are expected to be higher in hunter-gatherer populations than in agricultural populations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Bioarchaeologists study:

Accepted Answer

A)  macrobotanical remains from archaeological sites in order to interpret past interactions between human populations and plants. 
B)  faunal assemblages from archaeological sites in order to determine past interactions between human populations and animals. 
C)  the human biological component of the archaeological record. 
D)  All of the answers; bioarchaeologists study all aspects of ancient life (plant, animal, and human) in archaeological contexts. 
A)  macrobotanical remains from archaeological sites in order to interpret past interactions between human populations and plants. 
B)  faunal assemblages from archaeological sites in order to determine past interactions between human populations and animals. 
C)  the human biological component of the archaeological record. 
D)  All of the answers; bioarchaeologists study all aspects of ancient life (plant, animal, and human) in archaeological contexts.

Question 16

If stable isotope analysis is conducted on a human skeleton that during life consumed a diet rich in C4 plants such as maize and very little meat, then the isotopic ratios of the bones would show a high ratio of:

Accepted Answer

A)  12C to 13C. 
B)  13C to 12C. 
C)  15N to 14N. 
D)  13C to 15N. 
A)  12C to 13C. 
B)  13C to 12C. 
C)  15N to 14N. 
D)  13C to 15N.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of mitochondrial DNA?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is present in the nucleus of every cell. 
B)  It is only transferred from mother to offspring. 
C)  It mutates at a much slower rate than nuclear DNA. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  It is present in the nucleus of every cell. 
B)  It is only transferred from mother to offspring. 
C)  It mutates at a much slower rate than nuclear DNA. 
D)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 18

Quality of life or overall health in a burial population can be assessed by an individual's stature because height is closely related to diet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The best bone for determining stature from human skeletal material is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  tibia. 
B)  femur. 
C)  ulna. 
D)  radius. 
A)  tibia. 
B)  femur. 
C)  ulna. 
D)  radius.

Question 20

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a mature human skeleton (>30 years old)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tooth eruption patterns 
B)  Patterns of bone fusion 
C)  Paleopathologies such as osteoarthritis and enamel hypoplasias 
D)  Patterns of wear on the pubic symphysis 
A)  Tooth eruption patterns 
B)  Patterns of bone fusion 
C)  Paleopathologies such as osteoarthritis and enamel hypoplasias 
D)  Patterns of wear on the pubic symphysis

Larsen was interested in how well the people of Stillwater Marsh lived because he wanted to

Ancient cultural practices mix human skeletal remains together, making it difficult to group skeletal remains by individual. Some examples of this mentioned in the text include

Which of the following is true of iron deficiency anemia?

Why is it possible to assess age at death from tooth eruption patterns in juvenile human skeletons?

Genetic material found in a cell's nucleus that is primarily responsible for an individual's inherited traits is called

If a bioarchaeologist finds evidence of osteoarthritis in which bones have developed a distinct "lipping" at the point of articulation, he or she has found:

The first thing a bioarchaeologist would do when analyzing a human skeletal assemblage would be to:

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a juvenile human skeleton?

Schoeninger interpreted the greater range of nitrogen isotope ratios in the Stillwater burial population compared to the Pecos or Ontario populations as reflecting:

Eburnation is a:

Which of the following is true of the Bushmen of southern Africa?

Iron deficiency leaves a distinctive spongy appearance on

Frequencies of dental caries (cavities) are expected to be higher in hunter-gatherer populations than in agricultural populations.

Bioarchaeologists study:

If stable isotope analysis is conducted on a human skeleton that during life consumed a diet rich in C4 plants such as maize and very little meat, then the isotopic ratios of the bones would show a high ratio of:

Which of the following is true of mitochondrial DNA?

Quality of life or overall health in a burial population can be assessed by an individual's stature because height is closely related to diet.

The best bone for determining stature from human skeletal material is the:

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a mature human skeleton (>30 years old)?

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Doing Fieldwork Why Archaeologists Dig Square Holes

Geoarchaeology and Site Formation Processes

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

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 10: Bioarchaeological Approaches To The Past

Larsen was interested in how well the people of Stillwater Marsh lived because he wanted to

Ancient cultural practices mix human skeletal remains together, making it difficult to group skeletal remains by individual. Some examples of this mentioned in the text include

Which of the following is true of iron deficiency anemia?

Why is it possible to assess age at death from tooth eruption patterns in juvenile human skeletons?

Genetic material found in a cell's nucleus that is primarily responsible for an individual's inherited traits is called

If a bioarchaeologist finds evidence of osteoarthritis in which bones have developed a distinct "lipping" at the point of articulation, he or she has found:

The first thing a bioarchaeologist would do when analyzing a human skeletal assemblage would be to:

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a juvenile human skeleton?

Schoeninger interpreted the greater range of nitrogen isotope ratios in the Stillwater burial population compared to the Pecos or Ontario populations as reflecting:

Eburnation is a:

Which of the following is true of the Bushmen of southern Africa?

Iron deficiency leaves a distinctive spongy appearance on

Frequencies of dental caries (cavities) are expected to be higher in hunter-gatherer populations than in agricultural populations.

Bioarchaeologists study:

If stable isotope analysis is conducted on a human skeleton that during life consumed a diet rich in C4 plants such as maize and very little meat, then the isotopic ratios of the bones would show a high ratio of:

Which of the following is true of mitochondrial DNA?

Quality of life or overall health in a burial population can be assessed by an individual's stature because height is closely related to diet.

The best bone for determining stature from human skeletal material is the:

What could a bioarchaeologist look at to determine the age at death of a mature human skeleton (>30 years old)?

Meet Some New Archaeologists

The Structure Of Archaeological Inquiry

Doing Fieldwork Surveying For Archaeological Sites

Doing Fieldwork Why Archaeologists Dig Square Holes

Geoarchaeology and Site Formation Processes

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

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