Question

excavation (student handout #7)
______ 08. the layers of deposits that make up an excavation site are called
a. balks b. bedding c. stories d. stratigraphy
______ 09. the principle that \lies at the heart of archaeological research\ is the principle of
a. informed consents b. precise recording c. superposition d. publication of findings
absolute dating: radiometric techniques (student handout #8)
______ 10. the carbon-14 dating technique works in all of the following ways except
a. it the radioactive decay of organisms
b. plants, and the animals that eat them, take in carbon-14 as they absorb carbon dioxide
c. when the plant/animal dies, the absorption of carbon-14 begins
d. it takes a precise number of years (in 5,730 year increments) for the carbon-14 to break
down into nitrogen
e. by measuring the proportion of carbon-14 in organic material, the fossils date of death
can be determined.
absolute dating: dendrochronology (student handout #9)
______ 11. a method of absolute dating based on: the study and comparison of patterns of tree-
ring growth is called:
a. radiocarbon dating c. thermoluminescence
b. potassium-argon dating d. dendrochronology
overview of archaeological anthropology (5:24)
______ 12. prehistory is considered the time
a. before the industrial revolution d. before the agricultural revolution
b. before written record e. of the roman empire
c. after written record
______ 13. an artifact is
a. a theory of evolution d. a written record of a past culture
b. a fossilized animal carcass e. a theory of genetic mutation
c. an object made by a human being that is of cultural or historic significance
______ 14. archaeological anthropology studies
a. only human genetics d. genetic mutations in modern cultures
b. only the written records of a culture e. fossilized animal remains
c. the material remains of past cultures
______ 15. anthropology is the study of
a. the ancient greeks c. weapons e. written records of history
b. languages d. humankind
______ 16. when archeologists excavate a site they
a. apply for permission from the land owner d. systematically dig for objects
b. survey the topography e. remove objects found to a museum
c. re - bury all objects found

Explanation:

1. Stratigraphy refers to the layered deposit structure at excavation sites; other options refer to excavation features or different geological terms.
2. The principle of superposition (deeper layers are older) is foundational to archaeological excavation and dating.
3. Carbon-14 absorption stops, not begins, when an organism dies, making this statement incorrect.
4. Dendrochronology is defined as the absolute dating method using tree ring patterns.
5. Prehistory is specifically the period before written historical records existed.
6. An artifact is an object created by humans with cultural/historical importance.
7. Archaeological anthropology focuses on analyzing the material remains left by past cultures.
8. Anthropology is the broad study of humankind across all times and cultures.
9. Archaeological excavation involves systematic, careful digging and recovery of materials from a site.

Answer:

1. D. stratigraphy
2. C. superposition
3. C. When the plant/animal dies, the absorption of carbon-14 begins
4. D. Dendrochronology
5. B. before written record
6. C. an object made by a human being that is of cultural or historic significance
7. C. the material remains of past cultures
8. D. humankind
9. D. systematically dig for objects