Arch. Quiz 2

Question 1

How does geomorphology work?

Answer 1

looking at various processes that affect landscapes, classifying and analyzing landforms, considering both short and long-term events, studying and visualizing landforms, and the impact of climate

Question 2

How can geomorphology disipline archaeology?

Answer 2

It forces archaeologists to consider a multitude of factors when studying the land.

Question 3

What are common geological formation processes?

Answer 3

weathering, deposition, plate tectonics, volcanos, partial markings, and magmatic differentiation

Question 4

What are the different ways archaeologists can think about site formation processes

Answer 4

cultural processes, natural processes, taphonomy, post-depositional processes, spatial analysis, chronological context, or cultural landscape

Question 5

Cultural Depositional Process Components

Answer 5

construction, discarding, ritual activities

Question 6

Disturbance Process Components

Answer 6

natural events, human activities, bioturbation (movement of soil and artifacts)

Question 7

Reuse Process Components

Answer 7

reoccupation, repurposing, cultural memory

Question 8

What are the common archaeological timescales?

Answer 8

BC, AD, CE, BCE, BP

Question 9

BC

Answer 9

“before Christ”, e.g., 3200 BC.

Question 10

AD

Answer 10

anno Domini, “in the year of the Lord”: from the year after the birth of Christ, e.g., AD 1066.

Question 11

CE

Answer 11

“Common Era”: the same as AD, except without
religious connotation or privilege.

Question 12

BCE

Answer 12

“Before Common Era”: the same as BC, avoiding religious connotation.

Question 13

BP

Answer 13

Before Present”: AD 1950 arbitrarily selected as the zero point.

Question 14

Common Relative Dating techniques techniques

Answer 14

Stratigraphy, Seriation, Typology, Cross-Dating

Question 15

How does Stratigraphy work?

Answer 15

analyzing the sequence of layers, and establishing a relative timelines

Question 16

How does Seriation work?

Answer 16

arranging artifacts in a sequence based on changes in style or frequency over time. By observing the progression of design or technology, researchers can infer relative ages.

Question 17

How does Typology work?

Answer 17

classifies artifacts into types based on their characteristics, such as form or function. By comparing artifact types across sites, archaeologists can deduce relative ages based on known chronological sequences.

Question 18

How does Cross-Dating work?

Answer 18

comparing artifacts or features from different sites or contexts that share similar characteristics. If two sites contain similar items from known chronological contexts, they can be inferred to date to the same period.

Question 19

What are the common Absolute Dating techniques?

Answer 19

Radiocarbon (C-14), Dendrochronology (Tree-Ring), Thermoluminescence, Potassium-Argon, Uranium Series, OSL

Question 20

How does C-14 Dating work?

Answer 20

measures the decay of carbon-14 in organic materials. All living organisms absorb carbon-14, and when they die, this isotope begins to decay at a known rate (half-life of about 5,730 years).

Question 21

How does Tree-Ring Dating work?

Answer 21

uses the growth rings of trees to establish precise calendar dates. Each ring corresponds to a year of growth, and patterns of wide and narrow rings can be correlated with other trees to create a timeline.

Question 22

How does Thermoluminescence Dating work?

Answer 22

dates crystalline materials (like pottery) that have been heated. When these materials are heated, they release trapped electrons. The accumulated charge can be measured to determine when the item was last heated.

Question 23

How does Potassium-Argon Dating work?

Answer 23

measures the decay of potassium-40 to argon-40 in volcanic rock.

Question 24

How does Uranium-Series dating work?

Answer 24

analyzes the decay of uranium isotopes in calcium carbonate materials, like stalactites or shell deposits.

Question 25

How does Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) work?

Answer 25

dates the last time sediment was exposed to light. When sediment grains are buried, they accumulate energy from radioactive decay. By stimulating these grains with light, the energy can be released, allowing researchers to determine when the sediment was last exposed

Question 26

Pros and cons of relative and absolute dating techniques

Answer 26

Relative Dating is useful for establishing the sequence of events and is often more accessible but lacks precision. Absolute Dating offers specific age estimates and is scientifically robust but can be cost-prohibitive and limited by material types.

Question 27

What are the roles of typology in archaeology?

Answer 27

Classification of data, chronological sequencing, cultural interpretation, facilitating comparisons, supporting theoretical frameworks, Facilitating communication

Question 28

Differences between Morphological types vs. temporal types vs. functional types

Answer 28

Morphological Types emphasize physical characteristics and aesthetics, providing insights into style and technology. Temporal Types focus on the chronological context, aiding in dating and understanding cultural evolution. Functional Types center on the intended use of artifacts, offering a view of daily life and cultural practices.

Question 29

Methodologies for creating morphological typologies

Answer 29

a combination of careful observation, comparative analysis, statistical techniques, and contextual understanding.

Question 30

Archaeological cultures vs. archaeological periods vs. archaeological phases

Answer 30

Archaeological Cultures: Focus on the distinctive material culture and practices of specific groups. Archaeological Periods: Broad chronological divisions that encompass significant changes in human history and can include multiple cultures. Archaeological Phases: Specific time frames within a period that highlight distinct cultural traits or changes within a culture.

Question 31

Roles of museums and digital curation in archaeology

Answer 31

preserving and sharing cultural heritage, and making it accessible to a wider audience

Question 32

How can experimental archaeology be scientific?

Answer 32

archaeological research attempts to replicate and investigate past phenomena with the aim of testing hypotheses and thereby generate new research questions.

Question 33

Examples of the wide range of problems experimental archaeology can address

Answer 33

Tool production and use, food preparation and cooking, architecture, agriculture, pottery, human bahavior, transportation and trade, environmental adaptation, ritual practices

Question 34

Why is flintknapping important in archeology?

Answer 34

It helps us understand the roles people played in the past, who makes these tools? who uses them? what is its's purpose due to shape

Question 35

How does microwear analysis work and the types of problems it can address

Answer 35

helps illuminate the functional aspects of artifacts, providing insights into the daily lives, technologies, and cultural practices of past societies. By examining the microscopic wear on tools, researchers can better understand how ancient peoples interacted with their environment and utilized their resources.

Question 36

What is Ethnoarchaeology?

Answer 36

the study of contemporary peoples to determine how human behavior is translated into the archaeological record.

Question 37

What is Paleoethnobotany?

Answer 37

the study of the relationship between ancient humans and plants, and how they interacted in ecological and behavioral ways

Question 38

what are common forms of flora analysis in archaeology?

Answer 38

macro and micro botanical remains,

Question 39

How does palynology work?

Answer 39

studies of fossil pollen grains and spores to reconstruct climates and human behavior.

Question 40

What are the types of archeological problems palynology can address?

Answer 40

reconstructing past environments, identifying changes in vegetation due to human activity, understanding ancient land use practices, determining dietary patterns of past societies, and providing chronological context for archaeological sites by analyzing pollen preserved in sediment layers,

Question 41

What is the difference between Macro and micro botanical remains?

Answer 41

Micro: remains too small to see without a high-magnification microscope, usually 5- 200 microns in size Macro: non-microscopic plant remains recovered from an archaeological site.

Question 42

What is the difference between Pollen and phytoliths

Answer 42

Pollen: a fine powdery substance, consisting of microscopic grains. The wind, insects, or other animals transport pollen. Phytoliths: plant skeleton

Question 43

Common types of macro botanical contexts

Answer 43

Coprolite, wattle-and-daub, shipwrecks, mudslides, and wells, wattle-and-daub walls, and ceramics.

Question 44

What is zoo archeology?

Answer 44

the study of the animal remains from archaeological sites.

Question 45

Common forms of faunal analysis in archaeology

Answer 45

Faunal assemblage, size class,

Question 46

Number of identified specimens (NISP) vs. minimum number of individuals (MNI)

Answer 46

Number of identified specimens (NISP) –The raw number of identified bones (specimens) per species Minimum number of individuals (MNI) – The smallest number of individuals necessary to account for all identified bones.

Question 47

Common types of zooarchaeological contexts

Answer 47

Animal dung and bedding layers, Waste dumps, Ritual pits, Slaughter waste, Kitchen waste,

Question 48

Fine- vs. course-grained assemblages

Answer 48

Fine-grained assemblages, the result of a single occupation Coarse-grained assemblages, the result of overlapping, repeated occupations over a long period

Question 49

Paleoethnobotany and zooarchaeology commonalitie

Answer 49

focus on material remains, and contextual analyses allow for a holistic interpretation of ancient subsistence practices and environmental interactions