Midterm 1 Flashcards
Why is pseudo-archaeology racist? What evidence supports this claim?
Erich Van Daniken who is the author of Chariots of the Gods and creator of pseudoarcheology, grew up during the Natzy era in Germany and stated that intelligence comes as a result of the color of your skin. Moreover, people with lighter colored skin can build pyramids. This era in which he grew up clearly influenced his perception regarding race. He believed Ancient Britain’s created stone hedge and the ancient Romans created majority of historical landmarks such as the coliseum. However, the ancient Egyptians required assistance from aliens because they had a darker skin color. This is further emphasized in the Hyperallergic article which stated that his “racial beliefs” guided his “extraterrestrial theories” regarding the ancient Egyptians.
How do we distinguish between artifacts and features?
An artifact is a portable object that has been modified by human behaviour and a non-artifact (or feature) are artifacts that are referred to as Features or sites. To distinguish between an artifact and a feature is by determining whether “bulb of percussion” is present or absent. Secondly, whether there is the presence of distinctive patterning.
What is the difference between absolute and relative dating? Is radiocarbon absolute or relative?
Relative dating is an estimate when dating objects. Absolute dating is giving an absolute date when dating objects. Radiocarbon dating is absolute dating as it is one of the methods used for absolute dating. This is because there is a systematic method of determining the age.
Are archaeological cultures equivalent to living cultures? Why or why not?
Archeological cultures are not equivalent to living cultures. Archeological cultures focus on physical traces to identify cultures, for example house style and shape, and if these are consistent, they are considered a culture. This is different than living cultures considering they focus on other humanitarian aspects such as, human beliefs and norms.
Why is it important to distinguish between natural transformation processes (N-transforms) and cultural transformation processes (C-tranforms)?
It is important to distinguish between N-transformations and C-transformations as they’re transformations are caused differently. N-transformations are caused by the natural world while C-transformations are caused by the cultural world or human activity.
What physical characteristics distinguish Neandertals from modern humans?
Neandertals had larger brain sizes than humans due to adapting to cold climate. Additionally, they’re craniums were larger, longer, bulging at the sides. The last facial construct difference appeared with a marked supraorbital ridges which arch over the eyes. In terms of physical construct Neanderthals were robust, barrel-chested and powerfully muscled along with shorter limbs.
Why do some archaeologists feel that the discoveries from Shanidar Cave represent burials? Why do other archaeologists doubt this perspective?
Some archeologists believe that the discoveries from Shanidar Cave represent burials as the fossils found were intentionally buried. Therefore, this intentional burying began the speculation of the Shanidar Cave being a burial site.
Summarize readings from module 1
We do not know whether Neandertals could communicate through speech the way we do. What evidence has been covered in lecture that support or refute the idea that this was possible?
The evidence supporting the notion that Neanderthals could communicate is based on their skeletal anatomy. The ability to speak is controlled largely by the position of the hyoid bone in which the vocal cords attach. The skeleton at Kebara Cave had an intact hyoid bone with the position of which suggested vocal capabilities similar to modern humans. Additionally, the auditory structures of Neanderthals suggested they had the ability to perceive sounds in largely the same frequency as humans. This opens the ability to argue the need to hear the types of sound patterns used in human speech. The refuting evidence simply is there is no evidence to confirm all the evidence.
What are Denisovans? What evidence do we have for this lineage?
Denisovans are considered a sister group to Neanderthals. The evidence we have of this species comes from the people of Papua New Guinea, who carry the ancient Denisovan genome. DNA from natives of Papua New Guinea sow they carried strains of at least two different Denisovan genetic groups.
Do studies of Neandertal DNA indicate whether or not these cousins could have interbred with modern humans? Did they?
DNA studios of modern people living in island SE Asia shows evidence of Denisovan DNA – indicating that the ancestors of these island people interbred with this still poorly understood group. It appears as they did interbreed considering DNA evidence indicated they interbred.
What happened to Neandertals?
It is speculated that Neanderthals were out competed by modern humans. This is because they survived for nearly 300,000 years through sever climate therefore that would refute a possibility of extinction. In recent studies it is speculated that Neanderthals were simply absorbed genetically into the broader human population. This occurred when modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed for thousands of years as evidence suggests and that they inhabited together supporting their genetic absorption ultimately leading to being out competed.
Why do we use the term Anatomically Modern Human rather than just modern human?
We use the term anatomically modern human in order to distinguish the difference in behaviour distinctions from modern humans. Additionally, as a way to identify earlier ancestors from modern humans. Skeletally, the features are all the same.
What are some of the kinds of evidence we see for cognitive ability among Anatomically Modern Humans?
Some evidence that we see of cognitive ability of anatomically modern humans is intentional burials. Additionally, the creation of perforated marine snail shells which suggests they were used as beads or ornaments.
Why is the presence of ochre important?
The presence of ochre is important as it was utilized for a few different reasons. The first being for painted things, this was done through heating the different colors of ochre and altering their chemical properties. Secondly, people were painting themselves, similar to modern humans’ tattoos. Further evidence of the Qafzeh clam shells display staining on the inside suggesting again that ochre was used as paint. This is because the ochre was placed inside the shell and mixed up.
What type(s) of images are seen in the cave paintings of Europe?
- The types of images seen in cave art would be paintings of animals such as, bulls, human and animal combinations, felines. These paintings often overlapped each other.
Why do archaeologists now believe that the initial populating of Australia was unlikely to have happened by accident?
Some archeologists now believe the initial populating of Australia was unlikely to have happened by accident as it is believed the migration was intentional. Recent simulation demonstrates that accidental crossings would not include sufficient numbers of people to avoid simply dying off.
What is remarkable about the burial referred to as Mungo Lady?
Mungo Lady is significant because it is the earliest known human cremation which occurred approximately 40,000 years ago.
Define each of these terms: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia
Polynesia (“many islands”): Hawaii to Easter Island to New Zealand
a. Western Polynesia (Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa)
b. Eastern Polynesia (everything else
Melanesia (“dark islands”): New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomons, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji
Micronesia (“small islands”): North of Melanesia, form Palau to the Marshall Islands
What is Beringia? What is the Beringia Refuge Hypothesis?
Beringia is a land mass connecting modern Alaska and Siberia, caused by lower sea levels during glaciation. The Beringia Refuge Hypothesis is when people entered land bridge area and stayed there for perhaps several thousand years before moving into the rest of the Americas. This resulted in genetic isolation. Additionally, phylogenetic structure suggests that ancestors of Native Americans paused when they reached Beringia. This allowed New World founder lineages to differentiate from their Asian sister-clades. This pause in movement was followed by a swift migration southward that distributed the founder types all the way to South America.
What is the Ice-Free Corridor, and why has this fallen out of favour as a key entry point to the Americas?
The Ice-Free Corridor is an area between the eastern & western glaciers, connecting modern Alaska and the continental USA. People entered North America from Asia over the land bridge and followed the IFC into the rest of North America. Long argued to be the only possible migration route. The Ice-free corridor fell out of favour as the key entry point into the America’s as the coastal migration route became more prevalent.
