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ASB 222: BURIED CITIES AND LOST TRIBES — EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
ASB 222: Buried Cities and Lost Tribes — Exam 1 Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY (Questions 1–25)
1. Archaeology is best defined as the scientific study of which of the following?
A) Ancient written records
B) Human biological evolution
C) Past human behavior based on surviving material remains
D) The origin of the universe
Answer: C
Rationale: Archaeology is the scientific study of ancient human behavior based on the
surviving material remains of the past. It focuses on material culture rather than written
records alone.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the primary goals of archaeology?
A) Reconstructing cultural history
B) Reconstructing past lifeways
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C) Predicting future human behavior
D) Understanding cultural change
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary goals of archaeology are to reconstruct cultural history,
reconstruct past lifeways, and understand cultural change. Predicting future behavior is
not a core archaeological goal.
3. The term "material culture" in archaeology refers to which of the following?
A) Written documents from the past
B) Physical objects made or modified by humans
C) Oral traditions passed down through generations
D) Biological remains of ancient humans
Answer: B
Rationale: Material culture refers to the physical objects, structures, and features
made or modified by humans. These are the primary evidence archaeologists use to
interpret past behavior.
4. A "site" in archaeological terms is best defined as which of the following?
A) A museum where artifacts are displayed
B) A place where human activity once took place
C) A written record of an excavation
D) A laboratory where artifacts are analyzed
Answer: B
Rationale: An archaeological site is a place where human activity once took place,
leaving behind material remains. Sites can range from small camps to large cities.
5. Which of the following is an example of a "feature" in archaeology?
A) A stone tool
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B) A pottery sherd
C) A hearth or fire pit
D) A coin
Answer: C
Rationale: Features are non-portable artifacts such as hearths, pits, walls, and floors.
Portable objects like tools, pottery, and coins are artifacts.
6. The concept of "cultural relativism" in anthropology means which of the
following?
A) All cultures are equal in technological achievement
B) A culture's beliefs and practices should be understood in their own context
C) Western culture is superior to other cultures
D) Cultures do not change over time
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs and practices should be
understood within their own cultural context, rather than judged by the standards of
another culture.
7. Which of the following best describes the difference between archaeology and
anthropology?
A) Archaeology studies only ancient societies; anthropology studies only modern
societies
B) Archaeology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on material remains
C) Archaeology is a natural science; anthropology is a social science
D) There is no difference between the two
Answer: B
Rationale: Archaeology is a subfield of anthropology. While anthropology studies all
aspects of humanity, archaeology specifically focuses on past human behavior through
material remains.
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8. The principle of "uniformitarianism" in archaeology states which of the
following?
A) The past is completely different from the present
B) Natural processes operating today also operated in the past
C) Only catastrophic events shape the archaeological record
D) Human behavior has never changed
Answer: B
Rationale: Uniformitarianism is the principle that natural processes (erosion,
deposition, etc.) operating today also operated in the past. This principle underpins
geological and archaeological interpretation.
9. Which of the following is an example of an "artifact"?
A) A cave
B) A stone tool
C) A river
D) A mountain
Answer: B
Rationale: An artifact is any portable object made or modified by humans. A stone tool
is a classic example. Caves, rivers, and mountains are natural features.
10. The term "assemblage" in archaeology refers to which of the following?
A) A group of artifacts found together at a site
B) A single artifact
C) A type of dating method
D) A written record
Answer: A
Rationale: An assemblage is a group of artifacts found together in the same
archaeological context. Assemblages are used to define cultural periods and activities.
ASB 222: BURIED CITIES AND LOST TRIBES — EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
ASB 222: Buried Cities and Lost Tribes — Exam 1 Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY (Questions 1–25)
1. Archaeology is best defined as the scientific study of which of the following?
A) Ancient written records
B) Human biological evolution
C) Past human behavior based on surviving material remains
D) The origin of the universe
Answer: C
Rationale: Archaeology is the scientific study of ancient human behavior based on the
surviving material remains of the past. It focuses on material culture rather than written
records alone.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the primary goals of archaeology?
A) Reconstructing cultural history
B) Reconstructing past lifeways
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C) Predicting future human behavior
D) Understanding cultural change
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary goals of archaeology are to reconstruct cultural history,
reconstruct past lifeways, and understand cultural change. Predicting future behavior is
not a core archaeological goal.
3. The term "material culture" in archaeology refers to which of the following?
A) Written documents from the past
B) Physical objects made or modified by humans
C) Oral traditions passed down through generations
D) Biological remains of ancient humans
Answer: B
Rationale: Material culture refers to the physical objects, structures, and features
made or modified by humans. These are the primary evidence archaeologists use to
interpret past behavior.
4. A "site" in archaeological terms is best defined as which of the following?
A) A museum where artifacts are displayed
B) A place where human activity once took place
C) A written record of an excavation
D) A laboratory where artifacts are analyzed
Answer: B
Rationale: An archaeological site is a place where human activity once took place,
leaving behind material remains. Sites can range from small camps to large cities.
5. Which of the following is an example of a "feature" in archaeology?
A) A stone tool
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B) A pottery sherd
C) A hearth or fire pit
D) A coin
Answer: C
Rationale: Features are non-portable artifacts such as hearths, pits, walls, and floors.
Portable objects like tools, pottery, and coins are artifacts.
6. The concept of "cultural relativism" in anthropology means which of the
following?
A) All cultures are equal in technological achievement
B) A culture's beliefs and practices should be understood in their own context
C) Western culture is superior to other cultures
D) Cultures do not change over time
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs and practices should be
understood within their own cultural context, rather than judged by the standards of
another culture.
7. Which of the following best describes the difference between archaeology and
anthropology?
A) Archaeology studies only ancient societies; anthropology studies only modern
societies
B) Archaeology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on material remains
C) Archaeology is a natural science; anthropology is a social science
D) There is no difference between the two
Answer: B
Rationale: Archaeology is a subfield of anthropology. While anthropology studies all
aspects of humanity, archaeology specifically focuses on past human behavior through
material remains.
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8. The principle of "uniformitarianism" in archaeology states which of the
following?
A) The past is completely different from the present
B) Natural processes operating today also operated in the past
C) Only catastrophic events shape the archaeological record
D) Human behavior has never changed
Answer: B
Rationale: Uniformitarianism is the principle that natural processes (erosion,
deposition, etc.) operating today also operated in the past. This principle underpins
geological and archaeological interpretation.
9. Which of the following is an example of an "artifact"?
A) A cave
B) A stone tool
C) A river
D) A mountain
Answer: B
Rationale: An artifact is any portable object made or modified by humans. A stone tool
is a classic example. Caves, rivers, and mountains are natural features.
10. The term "assemblage" in archaeology refers to which of the following?
A) A group of artifacts found together at a site
B) A single artifact
C) A type of dating method
D) A written record
Answer: A
Rationale: An assemblage is a group of artifacts found together in the same
archaeological context. Assemblages are used to define cultural periods and activities.
