ANTH Archaeological Anthropology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What term describes the systematic study of past human cultures through material remains such as artifacts, structures, and ecofacts?
- Archaeology (Correct answer)
- Ethnography
- Paleontology
- Historiography
Correct answer: Archaeology
Archaeology is the branch of anthropology that studies past human cultures through their material remains.
Question 2: In archaeological excavation, what is the term for the layer of soil or sediment that represents a distinct period of human activity?
- Stratum (Correct answer)
- Datum
- Matrix
- Feature
Correct answer: Stratum
A stratum (plural: strata) is a distinct layer of soil or sediment that archaeologists use to establish chronological sequences.
Question 3: Which dating method uses the decay of radioactive carbon-14 to estimate the age of organic materials up to about 50,000 years old?
- Radiocarbon dating (Correct answer)
- Dendrochronology
- Thermoluminescence
- Potassium-argon dating
Correct answer: Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating measures the decay of C-14 in organic materials to estimate their age.
Question 4: What is the name for an archaeological site where ancient humans butchered animals and discarded bones and tools?
- Kill site (Correct answer)
- Midden
- Cache
- Assemblage
Correct answer: Kill site
A kill site is an archaeological location where animals were hunted, butchered, and processed for food and raw materials.
Question 5: Which principle states that in undisturbed deposits, older layers are found below newer ones?
- Law of superposition (Correct answer)
- Law of association
- Principle of uniformitarianism
- Principle of analogy
Correct answer: Law of superposition
The law of superposition holds that in any undisturbed sequence of strata, older layers lie beneath younger ones.
Question 6: What term describes artifacts that were moved from their original location of use or discard to another location before discovery?
- Secondary context (Correct answer)
- Primary context
- In situ
- Provenience
Correct answer: Secondary context
Secondary context refers to artifacts that have been displaced from their original location by natural or human processes.
ANTH Archaeological Anthropology 1
What term describes the systematic study of past human cultures through material remains such as artifacts, structures, and ecofacts?