Archaeology: Midterm #2 (sample test questions)

Broughton
Fall Semester 2009
Anth 2030
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Archaeology: Midterm #2 (sample test questions)
The exam will cover the text readings, chapters 6-11, and the lecture material from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.
Note: This is a guide to give you an idea of what my exams are like (e.g., structure, level of detail, etc). Make sure
you can answer all of the questions contained here. I stress, however, that there will be material on the exam derived
from the lectures and readings not included in this guide.
There will be a number (20-30) of multiple choice questions similar in detail and structure to the ones below.
DIRECTIONS: Multiple Choice---2 points each. Read each question and all of the
alternatives extremely carefully before selecting the single best answer.
1. Which of the following is not among the limitations or problems with dendrochronology:
a. it requires large specimens of wood to be preserved and recovered in archaeological contexts
b. the set of rings obtained in a sample might not correspond to the year the tree was killed
c. the cutting date might not correspond with the “target” archaeological event of interest
d. the annular rings often do not preserve in otherwise well-preserved ancient wood
2. When a piece of wood charcoal from an ancient hearth is radiocarbon dated, what is the actual event that is dated:
a. the date the wood was burned
b. the date the site was occupied
c. the date the tree sprouted
e. the date the tree died
d. both a and b
3. The movie entitled Mystery of Chaco Canyon emphasized that the ancient people that lived in the canyon had
extraordinary knowledge of:
a. local plants and animals
b. cycles of the moon and sun
c. entomology
d. medicinal herbs
4. The mistaken notion that the archaeological record is some perfectly crystallized and preserved reflection of past
human behavior is known as:
a. taphonomy
b. formation processes
c. N-transforms
d. the Pompeii premise
e. reverse utility curves
5. The study of how prehistoric camps or residences were organized (e.g., where different activities took place)
through the spatial arrangement of artifacts and features is known as:
a. paleoenvironmental reconstruction
b. site structure
c. cultural ecology
d. spatial utility analysis
e. none of the above
6. O’Connell’s ethnoarchaeological analysis of the Alyawara showed that:
a. traditional assumptions made by archaeologists interested in site structure are incorrect
b. big objects are more frequently removed from their original location of discard
c. smaller objects are less likely to be removed from their original location of discard
d. multiple, unrelated activities often occur at the same place
e. all of the above
7. The field concerned with determining the depositional origin of animal bones and natural processes that may have
imparted patterning to bone assemblages is known as:

a. culture history
b. cultural reconstruction
c. taphonomy
d. critical theory
e. post-processual archaeology
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8. The general class of dating methods that tells only whether one event is older or younger than another is known
as:
a. absolute dating
b. radiocarbon dating
c. relative dating
d. relational dating
e. cross dating
9. The dating method that is based on the observation that the outer layer of certain rocks absorbs water and forms a
measurable rim or rind over time is known as:
a. obsidian hydration
b. radiocarbon dating
c. potassium argon dating
d. frequency seriation
e. dendrochronology
10. The event that potassium-argon directly dates is:
a. the death of an organism
b. the cutting date for a tree
c. the time since a fresh surface of obsidian was exposed to the elements
d. the time when a volcanic rock was formed or solidified
e. all of the above
11. Evidence for cannibalism in the prehistoric American southwest was discussed in the text to highlight the issue
of:
a. whether Native American’s were “cannibals”, in general
b. sex roles in prehistoric violence
c. whether archaeologists are responsible for media reports
d. relating ideology to the past
e. who owns the past
12. Archaeologists commonly use grid systems in the process of excavating sites because:
a. they provide a means for sampling different portions of a site to dig
b. they provide a means for recording the provenience of artifacts found during excavations
c. most prehistoric sites and ruins were originally laid out using square grids
d. there is less surface area exposed with circular pits or units
e. both a and b
13. Surveys that are designed to gather a representative sample of information on artifact and site distributions in a
region are known as:
a. non-systematic surveys
b. gumshoe surveys
c. systematic surveys
d. superimposed surveys
e. seriation surveys
There will a number of terms, names, sites, for you to provide definitions for or otherwise indicate your familiarity
with.
II. Define or indicate your familiarity with the following terms, locations, or individuals:
Processual archaeology
Cultural materialism
Behavioral ecology
Post-processual archaeology
Site structure
Pompeii premise
Ethnoarchaeology
Faunalturbation

Deconstruction
CRM-Cultural Resource Management
NAGPRA
Archaeological survey
Systematic survey
Remote sensing
Plant or crop marks
Arbitrary levels
Temporal types or time markers
Dendrochronology
Radiocarbon dating
Potassium-Argon Dating
Obsidian hydration dating
Biostratigraphy
Formation processes
Taphonomy
NISP
MNI
Seasonality
Ch’arki
Coprolite
Palynology
Clovis
Shanidar Cave
Paleodemography
Geoarchaeology
Laetoli
Hominids
Old wood problem
Homo erectus
Heat treatment
Systemic context
Archaeological context
Krotovina
Reservoir effect
Thermoluminescence dating
Ishi
Microwear
Zooarchaeology
Archaeofauna
Comparative collection
Phytoliths
Wood rats
Holocene
Bioarchaeology
Osteology
Matrilocal residence
Paleopathology
Enamel hypoplasia
Molecular archaeology
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There will be one or two essay questions similar in detail and structure to the ones below. Study tip: Carefully
preparing answers to these questions will not only help you prepare for this section of the exam, but will help for
the multiple-choice and fill in the blank sections as well.
DIRECTIONS-- Short Essay Questions:
questions.
Write a clear and concise answer to the following
1. Describe how radiocarbon dating works and discuss three potential problems in applying this method to date
archaeological materials.
2. Discuss why it is crucial to understand the relationship between the event that is dated with dendrochronology
and radiocarbon dating, and the target archaeological event of interest.
3. Discuss in detail O’Connell’s ethnoarchaeological analysis of the Alyawara as discussed in class. What were the
goals of his research, the methods he used, and the key results
4. What is the “Reservoir effect” in the context of radiocarbon dating.
5. Describe how the dating method of thermoluminescence works.
6. Discuss two examples of “taphonomic” research discussed in the text.
7. Discuss two examples of “experimental archaeology” discussed in the text.
8. What is the difference between NISP and MNI as measures of animal abundances
9. How did palynology shed light on determining whether Neandertals buried their dead
10. What was learned from studying the coprolites from Hidden Cave
11. Did the analysis of the Stillwater burials suggest that these people had lives that were “nasty, brutish and short”
or those of an “affluent society”. Explain and defend your answer.
12. In the text section entitled, The Zooarchaeology of a Peruvian Civilization, a study of animal bones revealed a
shift through time in both species representation and skeletal part abundances. In particular, it was documented at the

Chavin de Huantar site that the abundance and importance of camelids increased through time at the same time that
the leg bones of camelids became more abundant. What was the main hypothesis the analysts put forward to account
for these trends
13. Discuss in detail D.H. Thomas’ survey strategy in the Reese River Valley. Be sure to indicate the goals of the
project, the methods he used to achieve them, and the primary conclusions.
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