Spring 2022
ANTH 3 (Introduction to Archaeological Anthropology)
Prof. K. Hull
Midterm 1 Review
Content/Format: The midterm will cover material from lectures, readings, and discussion sections through Tues., Feb.
15, including readings of Rizvi and colleagues, Begley, Smith, and the Introduction and Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
textbook. Focus especially on material that has been emphasized in lectures and discussion sections, although there may
(rarely) be material only discussed in the textbook. The exam format will include multiple choice, matching, and short
answer questions, although there will be relatively few of the latter. No notes, readings, books, or electronic equipment may
be used during the exam. YOU WILL NEED a Green 882-E scantron (avialable at the campus bookstore), but no
bluebook is necessary.
Studying: Thoroughly review all of the concepts, topics, issues, and terms listed on this review sheet. Make brief notes
on all of these items, using the text chapters, text glossary, readings, and lecture and discussion notes as sources. DO NOT
use the internet as a source of information for the exam, as the language is often specific to archaeology. Use the
Powerpoints posted on the course website as additional sources of information on lecture topics and to identify any gaps in
your lecture notes, and quiz yourself on some topics with the TopHat questions. Be ready to both identify concpets and
apply concepts to examples. Check the course website for any announcements. In lieu of a review session, I will be
available to respond to questions via Zoom on Mon., 2/14 from 3:00-5:00 PM. You may also go to my or your TA’s office
hours and/or email me or your TA during regular business hours (9:00AM-5:00PM) with specific questions.
Taking the exam: Carefully read all parts of the question before selecting an answer or writing a response. Make sure
you understand and address all of the items required to answer the question correctly. Similar to TopHat questions, reason
out the answer if you’re unsure. If you complete the exam before time is up, take the time to review your answers to make
sure you have understood the question correctly, considered all of the required items, and identified the best response.
General Issues/Topics
What is archaeology ? Why study archaeology?
Selective representation, biases of historical records
What is the archaeological record?
Four subfields of anthropology
Macroscale vs. microscale, diachronic vs. synchronic
Contributions to science, history
-human ecodynamics, complex adaptive systems,
comparative/transdisciplinary social science, fallacy of
“collapse”
Formation processes
-depositional, post-depositional (transformational),
natural formation processes, cultural formation
processes; primary vs. secondary context
Differential preservation of archaeological materials
-organic, inorganic, conditions of good/poor preservation
(context of deposition, local environmental conditions)
Theoretical/intellectual perspective (culture history,
processual, post-processual)
Research design (reasons for, considerations in [variability,
flexibility, why?], elements of)
Problem-oriented research
Steps in an archaeological project
- formulation of research (and elements thereof),
collecting/recording evidence (including budget, funding,
permits, private vs. public land), data
processing/analysis/interpretation (and activities therein),
publication
Archaeological reconnaissance/pedestrian survey (reasons,
sampling, methodological decisions [survey intensity,
surface collection], high vs. low visibility, records [site
form, photos, maps])
Arbitrary vs. non-arbitrary study units
Sample size vs. sample fraction
Types of sampling
-unsystematic/judgmental, simple random, stratified
random; probabilistic/non-probabilistic
Topographic maps (types of information, uses)
Aerial/satellite remote sensing
-general types, scale of research topics to which can be
applied
Ground-based remote sensing
-reasons, types (e.g., seismic/acoustic, electromagnetic,
resistivity, conductivity, magnetometer, metal detector,
thermal prospection, geochemical analysis [of sediments])
Subsurface probes and excavation
-reasons for (including stratigraphy, site structure), steps
(grid, cores/augers, shovel testing, penetrating excavation,
clearing excavation)
Excavation units (considerations: size/shape, sampling, methods
[manual, mechanical], arbitrary vs. natural levels, lot vs.
point provenience, screening [mesh size, wet vs. dry]))
Recording data (field notes, site records, feature forms, maps,
drawings (plan view, profile], photographs, etc.)
Steps in processing collections (e.g., cleaning, conservation,
cataloging, classification)
Dating considerations (direct vs. indirect age determination,
relative vs. absolute [chronometric], accuracy vs. precision)
Terminus post quem/terminus ante quem
Dating techniques (relative vs. absolute; How do they work?
What span of time [generally] are they useful for? Examples
of application) – historical calendars/artifacts, maker's marks;
geochronology, stylistic seriation, frequency seriation, cross
dating (sequence comparison), obsidian hydration,
dendrochronology, varves, radiocarbon, other radiometric
techniques, archaeomagnetic, thermoluminescence
Dating technique issues/problems (e.g., statistical uncertainty,
radiocarbon calibration with tree rings, "old wood" in
dendrochronology, geologic source/temperature effects on
obsidian hydration, etc.)
Spring 2022
Midterm 1 Review
ANTH 3
K. Hull
History of Archaeology (you should be familiar with the basic premises, goals, assumptions of each period, the different
definitions of culture for each (after 1900), and the pros and cons of each type of archaeology; make sure you understand
what each concept is, not just to which period it pertains)
Before 1900 (Speculative Phase/Beginnings of Modern
model of culture, culture process, context,
Arch)
conjunctive approach, scientific method, deductive
reasoning, quantitative, problem-oriented research,
major developments (recognition of human antiquity,
optimistic, systems theory, ecological perspectives
age of the earth, evolutionary perspectives), natural
(cultural ecology), techno-environmental
selection, uniformitarianism, stratigraphy; unilinear
explanations,
evolution, cultural stages, human “progress,” threeage system
Post-Processual/Interpretive Archaeologies (1980present)
Culture History (1900-1960)
direct historical approach, culture areas, normative
critiques of processual archaeology, cognitive model
concept of culture, assemblages, time-space grids,
of culture (meaning), emic vs. etic, critical theory
internal vs. external models of change (invention,
(neo-Marxist), post-positivist, phenomenological,
hermeneutic, human agency and practice, reflexive
selection, drift, diffusion, migration, invasion);
contributions
method, multivariate explanation, individual decisionmaking
Processual or “New” Archaeology (1960-1980+)
problems with culture historical approach, adaptive
Abbreviations (what they stand for and what these things are)
BCE
GPR
TAQ
BP
GIS
TPQ
CE
LiDAR
USGS
14
C
CRM
SLAR
Terms (in addition to those noted above) -- know what they mean, and be able to apply them correctly
anaerobic
datum
geomorphology
morphological
remote sensing
anoxic
depositional
geophysical
organic
research design
antiquarian
diachronic
humanistic
shovel testing
period
artifact
diagnostic artifact
hypothesis
site
phase
assemblage
ecofact
inorganic
stakeholder
plan view
association
landscape
synchronic
post-depositional
emic
attributes
lexicostatistics
taphonomy
ethnocentrism
prehistory
auger
lithic
textile
ethnography
profile
ceramic
macroscale
ethnology
protohistory
theory
classification
matrix
etic
provenience
topographic map
context
extrasomatic
quadrat
transect
micromorphology
contour line
faunal
microscale
trinomial
region
culture
feature
midden
reconnaissance
type
data universe
floral
People (why are they important to archaeology/why have they been mentioned in lectures or text?)
Lewis Binford
Ian Hodder
Lewis H. Morgan
William Rathje
James Deetz
Thomas Jefferson
Sir Flinders Petrie
Julian Steward
Case Studies/Examples [and what they illustrate]
Otzi (The Iceman) [R&B p. 70-71]
Ozette site (R&B p. 60-61]
Sydney Cyprus Project [R&B p. 78-79]
Walter Taylor
Tell Halula Project [R&B p. 98-99]
Tucson Garbage Project [contribution of archaeology]
Yosemite Valley depopulation [steps in research project]