Study Guide
ANTH 13
Midterm
The midterm exam covers all class lectures, activities, and text readings through chapter 7
You should be able to identify, define or appropriately use these terms and concepts.
This is a general study guide and you should review your notes and readings for material not covered here.
Epistemology
Paradigms
Theoretical positions (chp 3)
Culture Historic
Processual Approach
Post processual
Post modern
Taphonomy
Typology
Stratigraphy (chapter 4)
Low level theory.
Mid range theory
High theory
antiquarianism
cultural anthropology
scientific archaeology
inductive reasoning
deductive reasoning
ethnoarchaeology
organic artifact
artifact
ecofact
geofact
Secondary deposit
Principle of Superposition
Principle of Association
site feature
Methodology
Survey
Sample size
Screening / wet screens
Arbitrary levels/natural levels
seriation
Dating techniques (chp 7)
Dendrochronology
Radiometrics
C14
K/Ar
Thermoluminessence
AMS
Obsidian hydration
sampling theory/ sample universe
statistical sample
living floor
sample fraction
kill site
stratified random sample
absolute and relative dating
Remote sensing technologies
Magnetometer
GPR
Sonar
Electrical resistivity
Infrared detection
Metal detectors
Geophysical survey
Laws and Regulations
NAGPRA
Section 106
CEQA
NHPA
seriation
Typology
Type
Functional type
Morphological type
Attributes
Phase
Period
Cyrus Thomas
Thomas Jefferson
Heinreich Schliemann
GIS
GPS
trench
shovel test
use wear
analogy
human ecology
flintknapping
Misc. terms
mano and metate
rock shelter
pedestrian survey / “gumshoe survey”
faunal remains
plow zone
index collection / reference collection
excavation unit
Clovis
shovel test, augering, coring
provenience, provenience control
in situ
bioturbation
floraturbation
unit profile
archaeological site
site component
assemblage, sub assemblage
site plan
“Battleship curves”
flake, core, blade, projectile point
Harris matrix
kiva
Gatecliff shelter
space/time : phases
Mesa Verde
surface clearing
Taphonomic processes
Study Guide
ANTH 13
Midterm
Sample questions from previous exams.
10. An annoying natural process wherein animals cause damage to archaeological deposits is called
A. bioturbation.
B. floraturbation.
C. morphological typing.
D. the Frison effect.
18. Most CRM projects are carried out in order to help companies or agencies comply with the regulations
set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This is commonly referred to as
A. NAGPRA qualified.
B. C14 testing.
C. section 106 assessment.
D. ethnoarchaeology.
22. Archaeologists have generally settled on ¼ inch mesh in screening dirt from excavations because
A. it is the easiest screen size to find at hardware stores.
B. the size allows the capture of most botanical and faunal remains.
C. it can be used to collect large artifacts while wet screening.
D. the size of the mesh catches most identifiable artifacts while still allowing most soil to pass
through easily.
11. The excavation of a site generally relies on a statistical sample. The standard sample size attempted at
most excavations is
A. 10% of the site.
B. 20% of the site
C. 50% of the site
D. variable based on the size of the site.
19. All artifacts found at a site from a single excavation are referred to together as
A. components.
B. an assemblage.
C. a phase.
D. a sample fraction.
4. An archaeologist digging an excavation unit in regular 10 cm levels is said to using
A. arbitrary levels.
B. natural stratigraphy.
C. dendrochronology
D. a statistical sample.
Sample short constructed answer questions from previous exams..
The best answers generally are three or more paragraphs in length and provide examples. These should be
detailed, not general in scope.
D. Compare and contrast the Culture Historical Approach to the Processual Approach in archaeological
research.
A. Describe the principle of Superposition and explain why it is fundamental to archaeological
reconstruction of the past. How is this principle applied in interpretation of site histories?
B. What is NAGPRA? Why was this law enacted? Describe how is has affected archaeological research.
E. Identify and describe three different remote sensing techniques used in archaeological investigations.
Provide an example of each in a situation for which it is best suited.
Study Guide
ANTH 13
Midterm