ARCH 100 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS #6
Anthropology - correct answer Study of humans. Includes the study of human biology,
behaviour, interaction with the environment.
Four fields of anthropology - correct answer 1.) Cultural Anthropology
2.) Archaeology
3.) Physical and Biological Anthropology
4.) Linguistic Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology - correct answer -The study of modern social groups
-Typically groups are from different cultural backgrounds as anthropologist
-study social behaviours, belief systems, ways of obtaining food, ect
Linguistic Anthropology - correct answer -Study of languages
-typically verbal and not written form
Physical Anthropology - correct answer -The biological and physiological study of
humans, their ancestors, and their relatives.
-Frequently involves the study of human skeletons, assessing diet, disease, population,
genetics.
Archaeology - correct answer The study of human behaviour as reflected in material
culture, specifically artifacts.
(does not have to be old). Studying human behaviour from items left behind
Name some archaeological sites - correct answer -tool preparation
-burial sites
-food processing
-cities
Profiles - correct answer After excavation careful records are made of different layers of
soil color and consistency
Screening - correct answer Excavated soils are run through mesh of different sizes to
ensure small item are not missed
-Artifact vs feature or site
-lithic artifact - correct answer -artifact: portable object that has been modified by human
behaviour.
-feature: non- portable artifacts such as a fire pit
-lithic artifact: stone tools
Two ways to distinguish an artifact - correct answer 1.) Presence or absence of a "bulb
of percussion"
2.)Presence of distinctive patterning
, Bulb or percussion or
Conchoidal fracture - correct answer When a stone tool is produced, the impact of one
stone upon another produces a distinctive type of fracture. This fracture is rare in nature
Use patterns to conclude tools vs rocks - correct answer An area with repeated
patterning- the same types of tools, breaking patterns are more likely caused by human
activity
Relative dating - correct answer -We know one object is older than another. We do not
know how old are they individually.
-objects could be minutes apart or millions of years apart
Absolute Dating and methods - correct answer -assign actual age
-methods: Potassium-Argon, Radiocarbon, ect
Radiocarbon Dating - correct answer -Carbon-14 is radioactive, and decays at known
rate.
-All living things contain carbon.When living things dies it no longer takes in carbon and
the carbon-14 within begins to decay. We can estimate age by amount of carbon left.
Radiocarbon Dating pros and cons - correct answer pros:
-accurate, works on organic material, inexpensive
Cons:
-can only measure specimens less than 50,000 years
-only reliable less than 20, 000 years
Two types of Formation Processes - correct answer N-Transformation:
-Bone weathering due to exposure
-burning due to coastal fires
-movement or breakage from burrowing animals
C-Transformation:
-bone breakage for marrow extraction
-ritual burning for body disposal
-remodeling housing
Systemic context vs Archaeological context - correct answer systemic context:
-in use or will be used
Archaeological context: how we find it after abandonment
Repeated occupation create site formations - correct answer results in multiple
depositional units, and often mix deposits. Result in confusing patterns
Artifacts and C-Transformations - correct answer -altered by breakage or mishandling
-intentional modification (lithic artifacts sharpened)
Anthropology - correct answer Study of humans. Includes the study of human biology,
behaviour, interaction with the environment.
Four fields of anthropology - correct answer 1.) Cultural Anthropology
2.) Archaeology
3.) Physical and Biological Anthropology
4.) Linguistic Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology - correct answer -The study of modern social groups
-Typically groups are from different cultural backgrounds as anthropologist
-study social behaviours, belief systems, ways of obtaining food, ect
Linguistic Anthropology - correct answer -Study of languages
-typically verbal and not written form
Physical Anthropology - correct answer -The biological and physiological study of
humans, their ancestors, and their relatives.
-Frequently involves the study of human skeletons, assessing diet, disease, population,
genetics.
Archaeology - correct answer The study of human behaviour as reflected in material
culture, specifically artifacts.
(does not have to be old). Studying human behaviour from items left behind
Name some archaeological sites - correct answer -tool preparation
-burial sites
-food processing
-cities
Profiles - correct answer After excavation careful records are made of different layers of
soil color and consistency
Screening - correct answer Excavated soils are run through mesh of different sizes to
ensure small item are not missed
-Artifact vs feature or site
-lithic artifact - correct answer -artifact: portable object that has been modified by human
behaviour.
-feature: non- portable artifacts such as a fire pit
-lithic artifact: stone tools
Two ways to distinguish an artifact - correct answer 1.) Presence or absence of a "bulb
of percussion"
2.)Presence of distinctive patterning
, Bulb or percussion or
Conchoidal fracture - correct answer When a stone tool is produced, the impact of one
stone upon another produces a distinctive type of fracture. This fracture is rare in nature
Use patterns to conclude tools vs rocks - correct answer An area with repeated
patterning- the same types of tools, breaking patterns are more likely caused by human
activity
Relative dating - correct answer -We know one object is older than another. We do not
know how old are they individually.
-objects could be minutes apart or millions of years apart
Absolute Dating and methods - correct answer -assign actual age
-methods: Potassium-Argon, Radiocarbon, ect
Radiocarbon Dating - correct answer -Carbon-14 is radioactive, and decays at known
rate.
-All living things contain carbon.When living things dies it no longer takes in carbon and
the carbon-14 within begins to decay. We can estimate age by amount of carbon left.
Radiocarbon Dating pros and cons - correct answer pros:
-accurate, works on organic material, inexpensive
Cons:
-can only measure specimens less than 50,000 years
-only reliable less than 20, 000 years
Two types of Formation Processes - correct answer N-Transformation:
-Bone weathering due to exposure
-burning due to coastal fires
-movement or breakage from burrowing animals
C-Transformation:
-bone breakage for marrow extraction
-ritual burning for body disposal
-remodeling housing
Systemic context vs Archaeological context - correct answer systemic context:
-in use or will be used
Archaeological context: how we find it after abandonment
Repeated occupation create site formations - correct answer results in multiple
depositional units, and often mix deposits. Result in confusing patterns
Artifacts and C-Transformations - correct answer -altered by breakage or mishandling
-intentional modification (lithic artifacts sharpened)
