ARCH Midterm 2 Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
relative dating - Answers not-precise methods to determine antiquity of sites and objects by
putting them in sequential order, but not assigning specific dates. inexpensive and widely
accessible
chronological sequencing - Answers assessments of antiquity in relation to other artifacts and
sites, making it comparative. determining that site A is older than site B or that one arrowhead
is older than another without specific dates attached
law of superposition - Answers layers of sediments are normally laid on top of each other
through time
stratigraphic dating - Answers determining the relative age of artifacts and the sequence of past
events by studying layers of soil
stylistic seriation - Answers artifact styles change through time, so archaeologists can
chronologically order artifacts based on style
frequency seriation - Answers artifacts of similar function typically go through popularity rises
to a peak and then declines
fluorine, uranium, nitrogen dating - Answers after the death of an animal, the amount of nitrogen
in bones continually decreases over time through natural process of decay, then fluorine and
uranium enter the bones from surrounding matrix (like groundwater)
- ex: Piltdown Man in England
dating by association - Answers assessment of antiquity by association with animals, artifacts,
or geological features of known age
calibrated relative dating - Answers dating techniques that essentially combine relative and
absolute dating, includes obsidian hydration
obsidian hydration - Answers freshly fractured obsidian will absorb water from surrounding
environment into core of stone, creating an observable hydration layer. archaeologists make
assumptions about the rate at which the hydration layer thickens, which is used to date other
pieces of obsidian
terminus ante quem - Answers combined with law of superposition, used to establish an upper
date boundary for an artifact, document, or site, based on a known later date
terminus post quem - Answers combined with law of superposition, used to set a minimum date
for an archaeological layer or feature, typically based on the date of the latest artifact found
within it
absolute dating - Answers determines the specific age of an artifact in years. expensive and can
relative dating - Answers not-precise methods to determine antiquity of sites and objects by
putting them in sequential order, but not assigning specific dates. inexpensive and widely
accessible
chronological sequencing - Answers assessments of antiquity in relation to other artifacts and
sites, making it comparative. determining that site A is older than site B or that one arrowhead
is older than another without specific dates attached
law of superposition - Answers layers of sediments are normally laid on top of each other
through time
stratigraphic dating - Answers determining the relative age of artifacts and the sequence of past
events by studying layers of soil
stylistic seriation - Answers artifact styles change through time, so archaeologists can
chronologically order artifacts based on style
frequency seriation - Answers artifacts of similar function typically go through popularity rises
to a peak and then declines
fluorine, uranium, nitrogen dating - Answers after the death of an animal, the amount of nitrogen
in bones continually decreases over time through natural process of decay, then fluorine and
uranium enter the bones from surrounding matrix (like groundwater)
- ex: Piltdown Man in England
dating by association - Answers assessment of antiquity by association with animals, artifacts,
or geological features of known age
calibrated relative dating - Answers dating techniques that essentially combine relative and
absolute dating, includes obsidian hydration
obsidian hydration - Answers freshly fractured obsidian will absorb water from surrounding
environment into core of stone, creating an observable hydration layer. archaeologists make
assumptions about the rate at which the hydration layer thickens, which is used to date other
pieces of obsidian
terminus ante quem - Answers combined with law of superposition, used to establish an upper
date boundary for an artifact, document, or site, based on a known later date
terminus post quem - Answers combined with law of superposition, used to set a minimum date
for an archaeological layer or feature, typically based on the date of the latest artifact found
within it
absolute dating - Answers determines the specific age of an artifact in years. expensive and can
