ARCHAEOLOGY Flashcards

Question

coastal migration theory

Answer 1

- glacial refuge, marine adaptation, "kelp highway"

Answer 2

- good for wood, shell, bone, antler - carbon 14: unstable carbon isotope; organisms absorb 14C while alive; good for sites that are 60,000+ years old

Answer 3

- blombos cave: 70,000 BP - 2 pieces of ochre with designs and a shell with ocher pigment

Answer 4

- cave paintings, modified eagle talons

Answer 5

- first art found in sulawesi, indonesia from 45,000 years ago

Answer 6

- portable art: carved stone, bone, antler, ivory, and fired clay (40KYA) - venus figurines (women) found in large settlements 25KYA

Answer 7

- was it controlled? or accidental? how has fire affected evolution

Answer 8

- by wrangham (origin of fire and genus homo) - cooking makes food nutritious and edible

Answer 9

- koobi fora: valley with red soil in kenya (1.6MYA); unsure if controlled or accidental - wonderwerk cave in south africa: found wood ash from 1MYA; likely controlled use

Answer 10

method of collecting/analyzing stratigraphic sediments at microscopic levels - cut block of sediment -> soak in resin -> slice thinly -> observe under microscope

Answer 11

- 400,000 years ago - madjedbebe rock shelter: charred plant food cooked in hearths -> shows environmental change through glacial/interglacial periods

Answer 12

controlled burns/firestick farming: land burning in wet season to butn away flammable bush - resource management; increases biodiversity; increase kangaroo/monitor lizard populations

Answer 13

- allows for illumination, socialization, safety, rituals, etc

Answer 14

- pottery/ceramics: fired clay; particles "sinter" together and form solids via heat/pressure

Answer 15

collect clay -> remove inclusions -> add temper (material added to stabilize and change properties) -> shape vessel (paddling + anvil, wheel, coiling) -> decorate and fire

Answer 16

- upper paleolithic baked clay: baking clay in dolni vestonice with 2 kilns to make 2300 figures (25,000 years ago) - fire pottery using kiln and open firing - pottery originated 20,000 years ago in china, japan, eastern russia

Answer 17

- pottery is part of the neolithic revolution - hunter-gatherers used pottery vessels 10,000 years before farming (used to process acorns) - wild rice was used as a temper in pottery = allows for bigger and heavier pots

Answer 18

- pottery used in farming and everyday rituals in longshan culture = communicate with and provide for the ancestors

Answer 19

science of the property of metals - cold hammering, annealing (heat to reduce bitterness, then hammer it), smelting - copper is most common, and sometimes requires furnace smelting

Answer 20

adding other elements to copper makes it stronger and more durable = bronzemaking

Answer 21

3 age system: 19th century classification in europe and middle east (stone, bronze, iron) - egypt, greece, mesopotamia, north europe - societies evolved which accompanied other traits of evolution

Answer 22

eurasian steppe - bronze smelting 5000 years ago by semi-mobile pastoralists and agropastoralists

Answer 23

sintashta culture - settlements and burial tumuli where bronze was used for ornaments and weapons - chariots, horses, and wagons = chinese contact

Answer 24

northeastern china (central plains) - erlitous/xia dynasty - spearheads from steppe appeared in china - bronze vessels made from molds used for ritual ware; mimic ceramics and added lead to increase molten flow

Answer 25

africa - sub-saharan africs (nigeria, niger, rwanda, tanzania) - distinct melting techniques and diversity in furnaces - metallurgy introduction is debated - iron weaponry used for political expansion in west africa bronze guilds in benin; bronze was actually wood, ivory, brass and eventually looted by britain

Answer 26

- intrnational heritage legislation - british museums looting of greek panthron - NAGPRA: process for museums and institutions to return indigenous artifacts

Answer 27

- land resource management strategies, early farming, and animal husbandry

Answer 28

- archeobotany: macro and micro plant remains - zooarchaeology: animal bones and DNA in soil

Answer 29

- mortar and pestle grinding of plant remains to make flour in australia - indigenous fishing of salmon, eulachon, and herring - plankhouse contruction which was identified by depressions on the land - mass capture fishing

Answer 30

cold snap at the end of the paleoscene

Answer 31

- different genetic structure - morphological differences (diff phytoliths and starch grains) - macroscopic remains (wildgrass has smaller seeds and shattering rachis compared to domesticated grass)

Answer 32

- domesticated animals are usually smaller in size, more docile, reduction in horn size (if any)

Answer 33

- 15 - 11KYA - wide rang of hunter-gatherers living in southwest asia - economy focused on wild plants/animals - semi-sedentary settlements (distinctive: circular, subterranean stone dwellings) - found: bladeliths, sickles, grinding stones, storage pits, roasting ovens - hunted gazelles by using controlled burning to enhance habitat and population

Answer 34

- wide variety of plants started making bread 14KYA

Answer 35

- 9100-7700 years ago - domesticated sheep, goat, cattle

Answer 36

- long and multi-faceted process; settlement around wetlands; first grinding of stones (28KYA) - rice farming

Answer 37

- guila naquitz cave (squash and maize; teosinte -> maize)

Answer 38

- domestication of camelids (llamas and alpacas) in the highlands

Answer 39

- louisiana, USA - no indication of social inequity - center of pilgrimage (raw materials: chert, copper, soapstone)

Answer 40

- northeasters north america - knotweed, goosefot, etc. are domesticated and used for textiles - replaced by 3 sisters agriculture

Answer 41

- in papua new guinea kuk swamp: wetland agriculture system 10,200 years ago

Answer 42

- household based economy, no specialized buildings, no settlement hierarchy - catalhoyuk is an example of aggregation of farming households

Answer 43

- 7KYA - temple centres, ubaid periods (belief system, control of ritual, trade, irrigation) - eridu: temple centre in babylonian myth - city stakes and uruk periods - cuneiform: stylus used to write on wet clay (for laws and langauge) - ruling class: many non-elites were farmers and specialists

Answer 44

- 2600-1900 BC - long distance trade, water systems to hold rainwater, religion

Answer 45

- 4500-5000KYA - largest indus city -> compounds with artisans workshops and markets -> acropolis/citadel with public gatherings and religious events - graneries: storage or administration

Answer 46

- erlitou is not earliest state - longshan period: increasing violence, population decline, and resettlement of lowlands and making erlitou&highlands the city center

Answer 47

- 1900-1500BC - 4 tiered settlement hierarchy -> 30,000 person tall wall - workshops for bronze across complex

Answer 48

- capital of shang dynasty (1500BC) - became territorial state and densely populated - oracle bones first appeared

Answer 49

- present day cambodia - 700,000-900,000 population how lidar is changing how we understand demographics/cities - lidar: laser scanning landscape

Answer 50

developed 3000 years ago; no single cause; some politically dominant / some show little political control

Answer 51

- aron age and controlled trade with cities on indian ocean despite being landlocked - wealth due to trading of gold and ivory

Answer 52

- emerged from dense aggregation of villages - ile life: aggregation of mega-house politics (city states with varied size and influence)

Answer 53

- taube 2023 -> the olmec (mother culture 3800-2600 years ago) - settlement hierarchies organized around regal-ritual centres or cities

Answer 54

- first ritual and political center in mesoamerica - stone sculpture and obsidian blade production acropolis includes palace, admin, temples, causeways, and enbankments

Answer 55

- gains political control of region -> civic and ceremonial center

Answer 56

monte alban (2500 years ago)

Answer 57

- 80,000 people (1200AD) - power based in religion, warfare, and trade

Answer 58

- cahokia: built from realignment of existing farm settlements (largest in country) - maize-bean-squash farming base - 10,000 people -> city built around central plaza and pyramid complex - monks mound: city laid along cosmological principles

Answer 59

pottery, points, stones, tablets, house construction -

Answer 60

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers (strata) and their arrangement in the Earth's crust. It involves examining the sequence, composition, and age of these layers to interpret Earth's history and the processes that have shaped it. By analyzing the vertical order and characteristics of these strata, geologists can infer past environments, events, and changes in the Earth's surface over time.

Answer 61

Cores and flakes are stone tools created through the process of flint knapping. Cores are the larger, often rounded, pieces of stone from which flakes are struck off. Flakes, the smaller pieces, are detached from cores intentionally to form tools with sharp edges utilized by early humans for cutting and other tasks during the Paleolithic era.

Answer 62

The Lower Paleolithic era (2.5 million – 300,000 years ago) is characterized by simple stone tools like choppers and handaxes made by Homo habilis and Homo erectus. The Middle Paleolithic (300,000 – 30,000 years ago) saw the development of more refined tools such as Mousterian tools like scrapers and points used by Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens. In the Upper Paleolithic (50,000 – 10,000 years ago), advanced tools like blades, burins, and harpoons were crafted by modern humans (Homo sapiens), displaying increased sophistication in craftsmanship and cultural expression.

Answer 63

Cave art refers to prehistoric artistic expressions found in caves worldwide, notably in sites like Lascaux in France, Altamira in Spain, and Chauvet in France. These sites showcase elaborate paintings and engravings dating back thousands of years, depicting animals, human figures, and geometric shapes, possibly serving as a form of storytelling, religious or ritualistic practices, or communication within early human societies. Interpretations suggest these artworks offer insights into the spiritual, cultural, and daily lives of ancient civilizations, providing valuable clues about their beliefs and practices.

Answer 64

Upper Paleolithic aggregation sites like Dolní Věstonice and Kharaneh IV reveal evidence of early human settlements where people congregated in larger numbers. These sites feature evidence of social complexity, possibly including semi-permanent dwellings, hearths, and various artifacts. Additionally, Dolní Věstonice is notable for its early ceramic artifacts, specifically ceramic figurines and fired clay, suggesting an early form of pottery-making during this period.

Answer 65

Archaeobotanical evidence comprises plant remains found at archaeological sites, providing insights into ancient human diets, agriculture, and environmental conditions. These remains include seeds, grains, pollen, and plant fragments preserved in sediment or through carbonization. By analyzing these botanical remains, researchers can understand past agricultural practices, trade networks, dietary habits, and the impact of humans on local ecosystems throughout history.

Answer 66

Zooarchaeology is the study of animal remains at archaeological sites, aiding in understanding ancient human-animal interactions, hunting practices, and the exploitation of fauna for food, tools, and other purposes. It involves analyzing bones, teeth, and other animal remains to reconstruct past environments, economies, and human subsistence strategies.

Answer 67

The Pre-Pottery Neolithic period represents a stage in human cultural development before the invention of pottery, characterized by the emergence of agriculture and sedentary life. Related sites such as Jericho in the Levant and Çatalhöyük in Anatolia showcase early evidence of settled communities, farming, animal domestication, and the gradual transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural-based civilizations.

Answer 68

Abu Hureyra is an archaeological site located in modern-day Syria, showcasing evidence of one of the earliest Neolithic settlements dating back around 13,000 years ago. It's notable for providing insights into the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to early agriculture and domestication of plants and animals, revealing changes in human lifestyles and the shift towards sedentary communities.

Answer 69

Göbekli Tepe is an ancient archaeological site in southeastern Turkey, dating back over 11,000 years. It is renowned for its massive stone pillars arranged in circular structures, suggesting a complex and advanced level of monumental construction, and is considered one of the earliest known examples of monumental architecture and organized religious or ceremonial practices

Answer 70

Kuk Swamp, situated in Papua New Guinea, is an archaeological site displaying evidence of early agriculture dating back over 10,000 years. The site showcases early human cultivation of taro and other plants, offering insights into the origins and development of agriculture in the region.

Answer 71

The Eastern Agricultural Complex refers to a group of plants domesticated by Native American societies in eastern North America around 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. This complex includes plants like squash, sunflower, marshelder, and several others, representing a significant shift from hunter-gatherer practices to the cultivation of native plants.

Answer 72

The "Three Sisters" refer to the agricultural practice of planting maize (corn), beans, and squash together, commonly practiced by Native American societies. Maize spread into the Andean region and Eastern North America around 4,000 to 3,000 years ago, likely through trade networks and cultural diffusion, leading to its incorporation into local agricultural systems and diets alongside other native crops.

Answer 73

Mesopotamia, specifically the cities of Uruk and Ur, were prominent urban centers of ancient Sumer, known for their advanced civilizations and significant contributions to early human development. They featured monumental architecture like ziggurats (temple towers), developed the earliest known writing system called cuneiform, and exhibited various elements of urban life such as specialized labor, centralized governance, trade, and social hierarchies, marking significant advancements in human civilization during the ancient Near East.

Answer 74

Çatalhöyük is an ancient Neolithic site in present-day Turkey, considered one of the oldest and largest known settlements dating back to around 7500 BCE. It's notable for its unique architectural layout with closely packed mudbrick houses, absence of streets, and vivid wall paintings, providing insights into early community life, religious practices, and the transition to settled agricultural societies

Answer 75

Urbanism in northeast China saw the emergence of significant ancient cultures like the Longshan, Erlitou, and Anyang, characterized by advanced city planning, craft specialization, and social complexity around 2500 to 1000 BCE. Anyang is particularly renowned for its association with the Shang Dynasty and the use of oracle bones—inscribed animal bones and shells—as a form of divination and recording, offering valuable insights into early Chinese writing, religion, and political practices.

Answer 76

The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, thrived in the Indus River valley in present-day Pakistan and northwest India around 3300 to 1300 BCE. Renowned for its sophisticated urban planning, advanced drainage systems, standardized weights and measures, and intricate cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, it stands as one of the world's earliest and most enigmatic ancient civilizations.

Answer 77

The North American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1990, mandating the return of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred items, and cultural artifacts to their respective tribes or culturally affiliated groups. It aims to address the historical injustices and safeguard the rights of Indigenous peoples by ensuring the respectful treatment and repatriation of their ancestral remains and cultural heritage held by museums and federal agencies.

Answer 78

In archaeology, decolonization refers to a critical approach aimed at challenging and dismantling colonial legacies, biases, and power structures inherent in archaeological practices, interpretations, and relationships with Indigenous communities. It involves fostering collaborative and ethical research methodologies, respecting Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, and actively working to address historical injustices and disparities in archaeological investigations and heritage management.

Answer 79

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England, constructed over several phases between around 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE. Comprised of standing stones arranged in a circular pattern, its exact purpose remains a subject of debate among scholars, with theories suggesting religious, ceremonial, and astronomical significance in relation to solstices and lunar events

Answer 80

Early metalworkers, such as those in the ancient Near East and Mesopotamia, developed early metallurgical techniques around 6000 BCE, utilizing copper and its alloys. Smelting technology involved extracting metals from ores by heating them in furnaces with charcoal, where the high temperatures would separate the metal from the rock, a process fundamental to the early stages of metalworking.

Answer 81

Urbanism in West Africa, notably in Ile Ife, signifies the development of ancient cities characterized by complex societies, skilled artisans, and intricate cultural expressions. Ile Ife, dated around the 4th to 15th centuries CE, was a prominent center displaying evidence of urban planning, sophisticated metallurgy, and artistic achievements, serving as a cultural and political hub in the region.

Answer 82

Great Zimbabwe is an ancient archaeological site in southern Africa, showcasing the ruins of a sophisticated city that thrived between the 11th and 15th centuries. It served as the capital of a powerful empire, displaying impressive stone structures and suggesting an advanced society with skilled artisans, trade networks, and political organization

Answer 83

Angkor refers to a vast archaeological site in Cambodia, encompassing the remains of the Khmer Empire's capital cities from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The site, including the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex, exhibits remarkable architectural achievements, religious monuments, and hydraulic infrastructure, reflecting the Khmer Empire's cultural and political significance in Southeast Asia.

Answer 84

Archaeological interpretation involves analyzing and making sense of archaeological evidence to understand past human behavior, culture, and societies. It's crucial for constructing historical narratives and gaining insights into ancient civilizations, but pitfalls may arise from subjective biases, incomplete data, or misinterpretation of artifacts, potentially leading to flawed conclusions about the past.

Answer 85

Partage archaeology refers to a system where artifacts and findings from archaeological excavations are shared or divided between the host country and the archaeologists or institutions conducting the excavation. It aims to facilitate collaboration, preserve cultural heritage, and ensure equitable distribution of archaeological discoveries, often involving agreements between local authorities and foreign researchers.

Answer 86

Mesoamerican urbanism showcases advanced city-building among cultures like the Olmec, Teotihuacan, and Maya, spanning different periods and regions in ancient Mexico and Central America. Each civilization exhibited sophisticated urban planning, monumental architecture, and complex social structures, contributing to the cultural richness and historical significance of Mesoamerica.

Answer 87

The Inca and their predecessors in the Andean region, including civilizations like the Tiwanaku and Wari, were adept at constructing impressive urban centers with intricate planning and monumental architecture. These societies showcased advanced engineering, such as terraced agriculture, extensive road systems like the Inca Road, and elaborate cities like Machu Picchu, demonstrating their sophisticated understanding of urbanism and infrastructure.

Answer 88

Cahokia refers to an ancient Native American city located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois, characterized by its monumental earthen mounds and extensive urban planning. As the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, Cahokia flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, serving as a hub for trade, culture, and religious activities among Mississippian societies.

Answer 89

Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, holds archaeological significance due to its enigmatic giant stone statues called Moai and its unique cultural history. The study of Rapa Nui's archaeology reveals the island's ancient civilization, its societal complexities, the construction methods of the Moai, and the environmental challenges that led to societal changes

Answer 90

Hunter-gatherer land management strategies in archaeology encompass a variety of techniques such as controlled burning, selective harvesting, and landscape modifications to enhance resource availability. These methods, observed in various hunter-gatherer societies globally, illustrate their intentional manipulation of environments to support sustainable lifestyles and optimize resource procurement.

Answer 91

The pre-Clovis period in archaeology refers to the time before the Clovis culture, an early Paleoindian culture known for distinctive stone tools. Pre-Clovis evidence, found at various sites in the Americas, suggests human presence prior to the traditionally accepted Clovis era, challenging and expanding our understanding of the peopling of the Americas.

ARCHAEOLOGY Flashcards

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