Question 1

Molecular anthropology

Accepted Answer

A)  uses microscopic phytolithic analysis to study molecular evolution. 
B)  uses genetic analysis of a DNA sequence to assess evolutionary links. 
C)  is the specialty of the most important member of an archaeological excavation project. 
D)  uses archaeological survey techniques to gather its data. 
E)  studies early hominins through fossil remains. 
A)  uses microscopic phytolithic analysis to study molecular evolution. 
B)  uses genetic analysis of a DNA sequence to assess evolutionary links. 
C)  is the specialty of the most important member of an archaeological excavation project. 
D)  uses archaeological survey techniques to gather its data. 
E)  studies early hominins through fossil remains.

Question 2

Historical archaeologists use written records to supplement the archaeological record.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The study of ancient human, or hominin, diversity involves reconstructions based on collecting, analyzing, and dating physical and archaeological remains. Actual human behavior does not fossilize, except in the form of its material products, such as tools. Consider the ways you currently rely on electronic technologies to communicate with others and to read, write, and do research. For archaeologists in the distant future, how might this challenge their attempts to learn about the past?

Accepted Answer

In the distant future, archaeologists ma

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the fields of study mentioned in the textbook as part of the multidisciplinary approaches used in physical anthropology and archaeology?

Accepted Answer

A)  remote sensing 
B)  metaphysics 
C)  genetics 
D)  paleontology 
E)  palynology 
A)  remote sensing 
B)  metaphysics 
C)  genetics 
D)  paleontology 
E)  palynology

Question 5

Flotation is a technique used by archaeologists to recover very small remains from an excavation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What kind of dating technique is fluorine absorption analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)  absolute 
B)  relative 
C)  radiometric 
D)  chronologic 
E)  radioactive 
A)  absolute 
B)  relative 
C)  radiometric 
D)  chronologic 
E)  radioactive

Question 7

Absolute dating uses stratigraphy to establish a time frame in relation to other strata.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What are the ethical obligations of archaeologists and physical anthropologists working in foreign countries? In what situations can complicated conflicts of interest arise?

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists and physical anthropologi

Question 9

Anthropometry is the study of human culture using satellite imagery.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What are the different kinds of research that fall under physical anthropology? How is such a wide range of topics linked?

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropology encompasses a wide

Question 11

What are the two ways in which archaeologists collect information in the field? What kinds of information does each technique collect? What are the limitations of each technique?

Accepted Answer

The two main ways in which archaeologist

Question 12

Classical archaeologists focus on archaeological sites that are threatened by development.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Archaeological anthropologists excavate sites to gain a better understanding of the regional patterning of the molecular record.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Advances in technology enable archaeologists to gather evidence that is not visible to the naked eye. One example of such microscopic evidence is the study of

Accepted Answer

A)  phytoliths, microscopic organic remains of common early plant domesticates. 
B)  starch grains that solidify into crystals and therefore do not decay. 
C)  microanthropometric remains. 
D)  microstratigraphic layers. 
E)  phytoliths, microscopic crystals found in many plants that are inorganic and do not decay, which means that they can reveal which plants were present at a given site even when no other plant remains survive. 
A)  phytoliths, microscopic organic remains of common early plant domesticates. 
B)  starch grains that solidify into crystals and therefore do not decay. 
C)  microanthropometric remains. 
D)  microstratigraphic layers. 
E)  phytoliths, microscopic crystals found in many plants that are inorganic and do not decay, which means that they can reveal which plants were present at a given site even when no other plant remains survive.

Question 15

Anthropologists who study the past do not have to worry so much about ethical concerns, since their studies do not concern living people.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What kind of absolute dating technique is used to date volcanic rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  fluorine absorption analysis 
B)  thermoluminescence 
C)  carbon-14 
D)  electron spin resonance 
E)  potassium-argon 
A)  fluorine absorption analysis 
B)  thermoluminescence 
C)  carbon-14 
D)  electron spin resonance 
E)  potassium-argon

Question 17

Which of the following statements about techniques used in dating fossil remains is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The potassium-argon technique is used to date inorganic substances such as rock. 
B)  Carbon-14 techniques are used to date organic material. 
C)  Potassium-argon dating is most accurate on specimens over 500,000 years old. 
D)  Carbon-14 dating is most accurate on specimens more than 70,000 years old. 
E)  Electron spin resonance is used to date rocks and minerals between 1,000 and 1,000,000 years old. 
A)  The potassium-argon technique is used to date inorganic substances such as rock. 
B)  Carbon-14 techniques are used to date organic material. 
C)  Potassium-argon dating is most accurate on specimens over 500,000 years old. 
D)  Carbon-14 dating is most accurate on specimens more than 70,000 years old. 
E)  Electron spin resonance is used to date rocks and minerals between 1,000 and 1,000,000 years old.

Question 18

Why do archaeologists use flotation?

Accepted Answer

A)  to identify regional settlement patterns 
B)  to recover very small remains like fish bones and seeds 
C)  to control for the location of artifacts in three-dimensional space 
D)  to establish relative chronologies 
E)  to study the processes of stratigraphy 
A)  to identify regional settlement patterns 
B)  to recover very small remains like fish bones and seeds 
C)  to control for the location of artifacts in three-dimensional space 
D)  to establish relative chronologies 
E)  to study the processes of stratigraphy

Question 19

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) gives ownership of Native American remains to living Native Americans. Under this Act,

Accepted Answer

A)  museums must return all materials to Native American tribes and are not allowed to keep any Native American skeletal remains. 
B)  museums are required to return remains and artifacts to any tribe that requests them and can prove a "cultural affiliation" to the remains. 
C)  DNA analysis of all human skeletal remains is prohibited. 
D)  any contemporary Native American tribe is considered to be culturally affiliated with all Native American remains or artifacts. 
E)  museums must destroy any remains they do not repatriate to living Native Americans. 
A)  museums must return all materials to Native American tribes and are not allowed to keep any Native American skeletal remains. 
B)  museums are required to return remains and artifacts to any tribe that requests them and can prove a "cultural affiliation" to the remains. 
C)  DNA analysis of all human skeletal remains is prohibited. 
D)  any contemporary Native American tribe is considered to be culturally affiliated with all Native American remains or artifacts. 
E)  museums must destroy any remains they do not repatriate to living Native Americans.

Question 20

The American Anthropological Association's Code of Ethics

Accepted Answer

A)  applies differently to the different types of anthropology. 
B)  is applicable only to research being conducted in the United States. 
C)  is the result of a UN resolution designed to ensure that human rights are respected in the field of U.S. anthropology. 
D)  is too broad for most anthropologists to find it useful. 
E)  is designed to ensure that all anthropologists are aware of their obligations to the field of anthropology, the host communities that allow them to conduct their research, and society in general. 
A)  applies differently to the different types of anthropology. 
B)  is applicable only to research being conducted in the United States. 
C)  is the result of a UN resolution designed to ensure that human rights are respected in the field of U.S. anthropology. 
D)  is too broad for most anthropologists to find it useful. 
E)  is designed to ensure that all anthropologists are aware of their obligations to the field of anthropology, the host communities that allow them to conduct their research, and society in general.

Exam 4: Doing Archaeology and Biological Anthropology

Molecular anthropology

Historical archaeologists use written records to supplement the archaeological record.

Which of the following is NOT one of the fields of study mentioned in the textbook as part of the multidisciplinary approaches used in physical anthropology and archaeology?

Flotation is a technique used by archaeologists to recover very small remains from an excavation.

What kind of dating technique is fluorine absorption analysis?

Absolute dating uses stratigraphy to establish a time frame in relation to other strata.

What are the ethical obligations of archaeologists and physical anthropologists working in foreign countries? In what situations can complicated conflicts of interest arise?

Anthropometry is the study of human culture using satellite imagery.

What are the different kinds of research that fall under physical anthropology? How is such a wide range of topics linked?

What are the two ways in which archaeologists collect information in the field? What kinds of information does each technique collect? What are the limitations of each technique?

Classical archaeologists focus on archaeological sites that are threatened by development.

Archaeological anthropologists excavate sites to gain a better understanding of the regional patterning of the molecular record.

Advances in technology enable archaeologists to gather evidence that is not visible to the naked eye. One example of such microscopic evidence is the study of

Anthropologists who study the past do not have to worry so much about ethical concerns, since their studies do not concern living people.

What kind of absolute dating technique is used to date volcanic rock?

Which of the following statements about techniques used in dating fossil remains is NOT true?

Why do archaeologists use flotation?

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) gives ownership of Native American remains to living Native Americans. Under this Act,

The American Anthropological Association's Code of Ethics

What Is Anthropology

Culture

Applying Anthropology

Evolution and Genetics

Human Variation and Adaptation

The Primates

Early Hominins

Archaic Homo

The Origin and Spread of Modern Humans

The First Farmers

The First Cities and States

Method and Theory in Cultural Anthropology

Language and Communication

Ethnicity and Race

Making a Living

Political Systems

Gender

Families, Kinship, and Descent

Marriage

Religion

Arts, Media, and Sports

The World System and Colonialism

Anthropologys Role in a Globalizing World

Filters