ARCH 100 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMP
ANSWERS 2026 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
GUIDE
◉ what is science. Answer: a means of obtaining, reliable, factual,
objective information about the world around us
◉ four field of anthropology. Answer: cultural anthropology
archaeology
physical or biological anthropology
linguistic anthropology
◉ cultural anthropology. Answer: the study of modern social groups
- people typically have different cultural background than the
anthropologist studying
◉ linguistic anthropology. Answer: the study of language
◉ physical anthropology. 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, et
◉ archaeological sites. Answer: hunting stands; tool preparation
sites; burial sites ( whether burial was intentional or accidental );
food processing and procurement sites; camp sites; rock art sites,
and even cities
◉ how do we find archaeological sites?. Answer: Frequently by
accident, but usually by systematic survey.
Areas are selected for study, and archaeologists go out and walk
them, looking for traces of past activity
.When a sufficient amount of evidence is found, we call the area a
site.
◉ mapping sites. Answer: sites are mapped and carefully gridded
prior to excavation
Sometimes remote sensing is performed, which can give
archaeologists a better idea of where buried items are situated
◉ excavation. Answer: done by digging small amounts at a time
,allows archaeologists to keep better records of where materials are
found
◉ profles. Answer: a map of the wall of an excavation?
after excavation, careful records are made of different layers of soil,
their colour and consistency
◉ screening. Answer: excavated soils are run through mesh of
different sizes, to ensure that small items are not missed
◉ after excavation : lab work. Answer: materials are returned to the
lab where they are sorted, cleaned, preserved, classified and
analyzed
lab analysis takes more work
◉ rule of thumb for both excavation and lab work. Answer: the most
interesting finds will always occur on the last day of work
◉ science
underlying principles. Answer: There is a real and knowable
universe.
, the universe operates according to understandable rules, laws, or
principles
these laws are consistent across space and time
these laws can be discerned and understood by people
◉ the scientific method. Answer: observe
induce general hypotheses or possible explanations for what was
observed
deduce specific things that must also be true if the hypothesis is true
test the hypothesis by checking against the deduced implications
◉ occam's razor. Answer: r("Entities are not to be multiplied beyond
necessity").
ANSWERS 2026 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
GUIDE
◉ what is science. Answer: a means of obtaining, reliable, factual,
objective information about the world around us
◉ four field of anthropology. Answer: cultural anthropology
archaeology
physical or biological anthropology
linguistic anthropology
◉ cultural anthropology. Answer: the study of modern social groups
- people typically have different cultural background than the
anthropologist studying
◉ linguistic anthropology. Answer: the study of language
◉ physical anthropology. 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, et
◉ archaeological sites. Answer: hunting stands; tool preparation
sites; burial sites ( whether burial was intentional or accidental );
food processing and procurement sites; camp sites; rock art sites,
and even cities
◉ how do we find archaeological sites?. Answer: Frequently by
accident, but usually by systematic survey.
Areas are selected for study, and archaeologists go out and walk
them, looking for traces of past activity
.When a sufficient amount of evidence is found, we call the area a
site.
◉ mapping sites. Answer: sites are mapped and carefully gridded
prior to excavation
Sometimes remote sensing is performed, which can give
archaeologists a better idea of where buried items are situated
◉ excavation. Answer: done by digging small amounts at a time
,allows archaeologists to keep better records of where materials are
found
◉ profles. Answer: a map of the wall of an excavation?
after excavation, careful records are made of different layers of soil,
their colour and consistency
◉ screening. Answer: excavated soils are run through mesh of
different sizes, to ensure that small items are not missed
◉ after excavation : lab work. Answer: materials are returned to the
lab where they are sorted, cleaned, preserved, classified and
analyzed
lab analysis takes more work
◉ rule of thumb for both excavation and lab work. Answer: the most
interesting finds will always occur on the last day of work
◉ science
underlying principles. Answer: There is a real and knowable
universe.
, the universe operates according to understandable rules, laws, or
principles
these laws are consistent across space and time
these laws can be discerned and understood by people
◉ the scientific method. Answer: observe
induce general hypotheses or possible explanations for what was
observed
deduce specific things that must also be true if the hypothesis is true
test the hypothesis by checking against the deduced implications
◉ occam's razor. Answer: r("Entities are not to be multiplied beyond
necessity").
