Question 1

This absolute dating method was developed by A.E.Douglass,an American astronomer,chiefly from work he conducted at the Pueblos of the American Southwest

Accepted Answer

A) varve dating 
B) carbon dating 
C) tree-ring dating 
D) seriation 
E) potassium-argon dating 
A) varve dating 
B) carbon dating 
C) tree-ring dating 
D) seriation 
E) potassium-argon dating

Question 2

To an archaeologist,examples of relative dating methods include

Accepted Answer

A) seriation 
B) studying the stratigraphy of a site 
C) pollen dating 
D) using layer data from deep-sea cores 
E) all of the above 
A) seriation 
B) studying the stratigraphy of a site 
C) pollen dating 
D) using layer data from deep-sea cores 
E) all of the above

Question 3

By 10,000 BC the only parts of the world that were not populated by Homo sapiens were Antarctica,the deserts,and

Accepted Answer

A) South America 
B) Polynesia 
C) the Indian subcontinent 
D) Central Africa 
E) North America 
A) South America 
B) Polynesia 
C) the Indian subcontinent 
D) Central Africa 
E) North America

Question 4

Archaeomagnetic (or,"paleomagnetic")dating is based on the constantly changing magnetic field of the earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Absolute dating methods

Accepted Answer

A) supply only a relative date for the object in question compared to other objects 
B) do not yet include the scientific methods of the later 20th century 
C) are not considered important to archaeology 
D) supply a calendar date for the object in question 
E) include such methods as seriation and pollen dating 
A) supply only a relative date for the object in question compared to other objects 
B) do not yet include the scientific methods of the later 20th century 
C) are not considered important to archaeology 
D) supply a calendar date for the object in question 
E) include such methods as seriation and pollen dating

Question 6

Discuss the basic method of tree-ring dating (dendrochronology).Include in your discussion the techniques used by dendrochronologists to obtain tree rings,and how the formation of these rings is affected by environmental conditions.Be certain to include in your discussion 1)how tree rings are used to create long master sequences and allow the calibration of radiocarbon dating,and 2),how tree rings are used for direct dating.Finally,what are the limitations of the method?

Accepted Answer

Dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, i

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Although generally less precise than radiocarbon,thermoluminescence (TL)dating has an advantages over radiocarbon dating: it can date

Accepted Answer

A) pottery 
B) human teeth 
C) volcanic rock 
D) carbonized botanical remains 
E) all of the above. 
A) pottery 
B) human teeth 
C) volcanic rock 
D) carbonized botanical remains 
E) all of the above.

Question 9

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

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) tooth enamel 
B) obsidian 
C) pollen 
D) ceramics 
E) volcanic rocks 
A) tooth enamel 
B) obsidian 
C) pollen 
D) ceramics 
E) volcanic rocks

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) spread to the entire world from the fertile crescent of the Middle East 
B) occurred well before the end of the Ice Age 
C) did not cause any sort of restructuring of the organization of human society 
D) was recorded by the chroniclers of the Middle Ages 
E) occurred independently in several different areas of the world 
A) spread to the entire world from the fertile crescent of the Middle East 
B) occurred well before the end of the Ice Age 
C) did not cause any sort of restructuring of the organization of human society 
D) was recorded by the chroniclers of the Middle Ages 
E) occurred independently in several different areas of the world

Question 12

For most of human history the only way that people could measure time was through

Accepted Answer

A) the use of calendars 
B) observing the alternating darkness of day and night and the cycle of the seasons 
C) counting tree rings 
D) the use of stratigraphy 
E) calculating the path of the planet Venus in the sky 
A) the use of calendars 
B) observing the alternating darkness of day and night and the cycle of the seasons 
C) counting tree rings 
D) the use of stratigraphy 
E) calculating the path of the planet Venus in the sky

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A) relative 
B) absolute 
C) enumerative 
D) radiometric 
E) nucleic 
A) relative 
B) absolute 
C) enumerative 
D) radiometric 
E) nucleic

Question 14

Archaeomagnetic (paleomagnetic)dating is contingent upon a number of factors.If a clay structure is heated beyond a certain temperature (650-700o C),is not reheated,and remains in situ,this dating technique may then be used to measure the __________________ of the iron particles,which may then be compared to a master sequence that has been built up for that region

Accepted Answer

A) magnetic pulses 
B) magnetic intensity 
C) magnetic direction 
D) magnetic half-life 
E) all of the above 
A) magnetic pulses 
B) magnetic intensity 
C) magnetic direction 
D) magnetic half-life 
E) all of the above

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

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In order to obtain absolute dates from volcanic material in very early contexts (over 1 million years ago),you would probably choose to use

Accepted Answer

A) varves 
B) dendrochronology 
C) uranium-series dating 
D) potassium-argon dating 
E) radiocarbon dating 
A) varves 
B) dendrochronology 
C) uranium-series dating 
D) potassium-argon dating 
E) radiocarbon dating

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A) Eastern Europe 
B) East Asia 
C) Eastern Australia 
D) East Africa 
E) all of the above 
A) Eastern Europe 
B) East Asia 
C) Eastern Australia 
D) East Africa 
E) all of the above

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Pollen is a useful tool for archaeologists because

Accepted Answer

A) from it archaeologists can construct detailed sequences of past vegetation and climate 
B) pollen is not very durable and thus can reflect subtle changes in seasons and climate 
C) pollen is almost indestructible: it survives for thousands of years 
D) a and b only 
E) a and c only 
A) from it archaeologists can construct detailed sequences of past vegetation and climate 
B) pollen is not very durable and thus can reflect subtle changes in seasons and climate 
C) pollen is almost indestructible: it survives for thousands of years 
D) a and b only 
E) a and c only

Question 20

Layers of sediments resulting from the melting of ice sheets and deposited in lakes on an annual basis are known as

Accepted Answer

A) tree rings 
B) pollen 
C) ice cores 
D) varves 
E) contextual seriation 
A) tree rings 
B) pollen 
C) ice cores 
D) varves 
E) contextual seriation

This absolute dating method was developed by A.E.Douglass,an American astronomer,chiefly from work he conducted at the Pueblos of the American Southwest

To an archaeologist,examples of relative dating methods include

By 10,000 BC the only parts of the world that were not populated by Homo sapiens were Antarctica,the deserts,and

Archaeomagnetic (or,"paleomagnetic")dating is based on the constantly changing magnetic field of the earth.

Absolute dating methods

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

Although generally less precise than radiocarbon,thermoluminescence (TL)dating has an advantages over radiocarbon dating: it can date

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.

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

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

For most of human history the only way that people could measure time was through

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

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.

In order to obtain absolute dates from volcanic material in very early contexts (over 1 million years ago),you would probably choose to use

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

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

Pollen is a useful tool for archaeologists because

Layers of sediments resulting from the melting of ice sheets and deposited in lakes on an annual basis are known as

The History of Archaeology

The Variety of the Evidence

Survey and Excavation of Sites and Features

Social Archaeology

Environment, Subsistence, and Diet

Technology, Trade, and Exchange

The Bioarchaeology of People

Cognitive Archaeology

Explanation in Archaeology

Archaeology and the Public

Managing Our Heritage

Filters

Exam 4: Dating Methods and Chronology

This absolute dating method was developed by A.E.Douglass,an American astronomer,chiefly from work he conducted at the Pueblos of the American Southwest

To an archaeologist,examples of relative dating methods include

By 10,000 BC the only parts of the world that were not populated by Homo sapiens were Antarctica,the deserts,and

Archaeomagnetic (or,"paleomagnetic")dating is based on the constantly changing magnetic field of the earth.

Absolute dating methods

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

Although generally less precise than radiocarbon,thermoluminescence (TL)dating has an advantages over radiocarbon dating: it can date

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.

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

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

For most of human history the only way that people could measure time was through

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

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.

In order to obtain absolute dates from volcanic material in very early contexts (over 1 million years ago),you would probably choose to use

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

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

Pollen is a useful tool for archaeologists because

Layers of sediments resulting from the melting of ice sheets and deposited in lakes on an annual basis are known as

The History of Archaeology

The Variety of the Evidence

Survey and Excavation of Sites and Features

Social Archaeology

Environment, Subsistence, and Diet

Technology, Trade, and Exchange

The Bioarchaeology of People

Cognitive Archaeology

Explanation in Archaeology

Archaeology and the Public

Managing Our Heritage

Filters