ANTH Archaeological Anthropology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the study of past human diets through the analysis of stable isotopes in bones and teeth called?
- Isotopic analysis (Correct answer)
- Osteology
- Palynology
- Zooarchaeology
Correct answer: Isotopic analysis
Isotopic analysis examines ratios of stable isotopes (such as carbon and nitrogen) in skeletal remains to reconstruct ancient diets.
Question 2: Which branch of archaeology specifically focuses on the study of plant remains from archaeological sites to understand past environments and subsistence?
- Paleoethnobotany (Correct answer)
- Zooarchaeology
- Geoarchaeology
- Bioarchaeology
Correct answer: Paleoethnobotany
Paleoethnobotany (also called archaeobotany) studies plant remains such as seeds, pollen, and charred wood from archaeological sites.
Question 3: What term describes the process by which organic materials such as bones and wood become replaced by minerals over time?
- Fossilization (Correct answer)
- Taphonomy
- Calcification
- Lithification
Correct answer: Fossilization
Fossilization is the process by which organic remains are preserved through mineral replacement or other transformations over geological time.
Question 4: In archaeology, what does 'CRM' stand for, referring to the management of archaeological resources under federal and state laws?
- Cultural Resource Management (Correct answer)
- Ceramic Record Methodology
- Community Research Methods
- Conservation and Restoration of Materials
Correct answer: Cultural Resource Management
Cultural Resource Management (CRM) involves the identification, evaluation, and protection of archaeological and historic sites as required by law.
Question 5: Which famous American archaeological site, located in New Mexico, is known for its ancient Ancestral Puebloan great house structures?
- Chaco Canyon (Correct answer)
- Mesa Verde
- Cahokia
- Poverty Point
Correct answer: Chaco Canyon
Chaco Canyon in New Mexico features massive great houses built by Ancestral Puebloans between about 850 and 1150 CE.
Question 6: What is the term for the study of how organisms, including humans, become incorporated into the archaeological record after death?
- Taphonomy (Correct answer)
- Ethnoarchaeology
- Formation processes
- Paleopathology
Correct answer: Taphonomy
Taphonomy studies the processes that affect organic remains from death through final burial and recovery, helping archaeologists interpret site formation.
ANTH Archaeological Anthropology 2
What is the study of past human diets through the analysis of stable isotopes in bones and teeth called?