Question 1

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 2

Systematic survey refers to the archaeological technique of systematically digging through the cultural and natural stratigraphy of an archaeological site.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Paleopathology is the study of disease and injury in skeletons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The principle of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of strata,

Accepted Answer

A)  the oldest layer is on the top. 
B)  the oldest layer is on the bottom. 
C)  the stratigraphic techniques are useful only if the soils have a high content of sandstone. 
D)  the youngest layer is the least disturbed by environmental changes such as erosion. 
E)  the oldest layer is the shallowest in the sequence. 
A)  the oldest layer is on the top. 
B)  the oldest layer is on the bottom. 
C)  the stratigraphic techniques are useful only if the soils have a high content of sandstone. 
D)  the youngest layer is the least disturbed by environmental changes such as erosion. 
E)  the oldest layer is the shallowest in the sequence.

Question 5

Experimental archaeologists try to replicate ancient techniques under controlled conditions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of the kinds of archaeology discussed in this chapter?

Accepted Answer

A)  classical archaeology 
B)  historic archaeology 
C)  underwater archaeology 
D)  linguistic archaeology 
E)  colonial archaeology 
A)  classical archaeology 
B)  historic archaeology 
C)  underwater archaeology 
D)  linguistic archaeology 
E)  colonial archaeology

Question 7

What term refers to the study of the processes that affect the remains of dead animals?

Accepted Answer

A)  necrology 
B)  autopsy 
C)  degradation 
D)  osteology 
E)  taphonomy 
A)  necrology 
B)  autopsy 
C)  degradation 
D)  osteology 
E)  taphonomy

Question 8

Electron spin resonance is used to date organic material from archaeological sites.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Molecular anthropology studies evolutionary links using genetic analysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Paleoanthropologist Christopher Stringer once noted that "absence of evidence does not necessarily prove evidence of absence." Why is this important to keep in mind when assessing the use of fossils to study the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  Taphonomy is not a true science, because it lacks accuracy. 
B)  The fields of paleontology and paleoanthropology have established a chronology of the evolution of life. 
C)  The failure to find a fossil species in a particular place does not necessarily mean that it did not live there. 
D)  Paleontology and paleoanthropology are humanistic disciplines. 
E)  The fossil record is a complete sample of all the plants and animals that ever lived. 
A)  Taphonomy is not a true science, because it lacks accuracy. 
B)  The fields of paleontology and paleoanthropology have established a chronology of the evolution of life. 
C)  The failure to find a fossil species in a particular place does not necessarily mean that it did not live there. 
D)  Paleontology and paleoanthropology are humanistic disciplines. 
E)  The fossil record is a complete sample of all the plants and animals that ever lived.

Question 11

Physical anthropology and archaeology both involve multidisciplinary approaches to research.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The most reliable evidence in studying the past is that which is visible to the naked eye.Anything microscopic is too small to be considered reliable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Radiometric dating techniques available to anthropologists

Accepted Answer

A)  work only for nonhuman primates, because genus Homo had culture. 
B)  have caused a re-evaluation of the fossil record since their 1991 development. 
C)  can only be used to date inorganic materials that are more than 1 million years old. 
D)  do not work well for hominin fossils, because such fossils are too young for the effective range of the techniques. 
E)  establish a probable date for fossils by calculating radioactive decay in the specimen found or the rocks surrounding it. 
A)  work only for nonhuman primates, because genus Homo had culture. 
B)  have caused a re-evaluation of the fossil record since their 1991 development. 
C)  can only be used to date inorganic materials that are more than 1 million years old. 
D)  do not work well for hominin fossils, because such fossils are too young for the effective range of the techniques. 
E)  establish a probable date for fossils by calculating radioactive decay in the specimen found or the rocks surrounding it.

Question 14

What are both carbon-14 and potassium-argon dating techniques based on?

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive decay 
B)  stratigraphic associations 
C)  reversals of magnetic fields 
D)  accumulations of mineral salts 
E)  relative as opposed to absolute dating 
A)  radioactive decay 
B)  stratigraphic associations 
C)  reversals of magnetic fields 
D)  accumulations of mineral salts 
E)  relative as opposed to absolute dating

Question 15

Dendrochronology is an absolute dating method based on the comparison of tree-ring growth patterns and is also useful

Accepted Answer

A)  in areas with varying environmental patterns. 
B)  with any type of tree species. 
C)  because it provides information about climatic patterns in specific regions. 
D)  because it provides useful information for protecting water sources. 
E)  in dating samples of more than 1 million years of age. 
A)  in areas with varying environmental patterns. 
B)  with any type of tree species. 
C)  because it provides information about climatic patterns in specific regions. 
D)  because it provides useful information for protecting water sources. 
E)  in dating samples of more than 1 million years of age.

Question 16

Colonial archaeologists study pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Paleopathology is the study of

Accepted Answer

A)  the biological and geological processes by which dead animals become fossils. 
B)  ancient environments using samples of ancient pollen. 
C)  hominin evolution and human life as revealed by the fossil record. 
D)  disease and injury in skeletons from archaeological sites. 
E)  the evolution of linguistic communication through ancient speech sounds and texts. 
A)  the biological and geological processes by which dead animals become fossils. 
B)  ancient environments using samples of ancient pollen. 
C)  hominin evolution and human life as revealed by the fossil record. 
D)  disease and injury in skeletons from archaeological sites. 
E)  the evolution of linguistic communication through ancient speech sounds and texts.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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

Exam 4: Doing Archaeology and Biological Anthropology

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

Systematic survey refers to the archaeological technique of systematically digging through the cultural and natural stratigraphy of an archaeological site.

Paleopathology is the study of disease and injury in skeletons.

The principle of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of strata,

Experimental archaeologists try to replicate ancient techniques under controlled conditions.

Which of the following is NOT one of the kinds of archaeology discussed in this chapter?

What term refers to the study of the processes that affect the remains of dead animals?

Electron spin resonance is used to date organic material from archaeological sites.

Molecular anthropology studies evolutionary links using genetic analysis.

Paleoanthropologist Christopher Stringer once noted that "absence of evidence does not necessarily prove evidence of absence." Why is this important to keep in mind when assessing the use of fossils to study the past?

Physical anthropology and archaeology both involve multidisciplinary approaches to research.

The most reliable evidence in studying the past is that which is visible to the naked eye.Anything microscopic is too small to be considered reliable.

Radiometric dating techniques available to anthropologists

What are both carbon-14 and potassium-argon dating techniques based on?

Dendrochronology is an absolute dating method based on the comparison of tree-ring growth patterns and is also useful

Colonial archaeologists study pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas.

Paleopathology is the study of

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

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

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?

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