Chapter 3

Question 1

archaeological site

Answer 1

any place where material evidence exist about human past. Usually, “site” refers to a concentration of such evidence. Found by accident, hard work, or luck.

Question 2

statistical sampling

Answer 2

the principles that underlie sampling strategies that provide accurate measures of a statistical population.

Question 3

statistical population

Answer 3

A set of counts, measurements, or characteristics about which relevant inquiries are to be made. Scientists use this term “statistical population” in a specialized way (quite different from “population” in the ordinary sense).

Question 4

sample universe

Answer 4

the region that contains the statistical population and that will be sampled. Its size and shape are determined by the research question and practical considerations.

Question 5

random sample

Answer 5

a sample drawn from a statistical population such that every member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the sample

Question 6

sample fraction

Answer 6

the percentage of the sample universe that is surveyed.Areas with a lot of variability in archaeological remains require larger sample fractions than do areas of low variability.

Question 7

sample units

Answer 7

survey units of a standard site and shape, determined by, the research question and practical considerations, used to obtain the sample

Question 8

UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)

Answer 8

a grid system in which north and east coordinates provide a location anywhere in the world, precise to 1 meter.

Question 9

stratified random sample

Answer 9

a survey universe divided into several sub-universes that are then sampled at potentially different sample fractions.

Question 10

Smithsonian number

Answer 10

a unique catalog number given to each site; it consists of a number (the states position alphabetically), a letter abbreviation for the county, and the sites’s sequential number within that county.

Question 11

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Answer 11

Handheld devices that use triangulation from radio waves received from satellites to determine one’s current position in terms of either the UTM grid or longitudes and latitudes

Question 12

Plowzone

Answer 12

the upper portion of a soil profile that has been disturbed by repeated plowing or other agricultural activities.

Question 13

Shovel-testing

Answer 13

a sample survey method used in regions when rapid soil buildup closures buried archaeological remains; it entails digging shallow, systematic pits across the survey units

Question 14

Remote sensing

Answer 14

the application of methods that employ some form of electromagnetic energy to detect and measure characteristics of an archaeological target. Ex: Arial photography.

Question 15

The Proton Magnetometer

Answer 15

a remote sensing technique that measures the strength of magnetism between the earth magnetic core and a sensor controlled by the archaeologist. Magnetic anomalies can indicate the presence of buried walls or features

Question 16

Soil Resistivity Survey

Answer 16

a remote sensing technique that monitors the electrical resistance of soils in a restricted volume near the surface of an archaeological site; buried walls of features can be detected by changes in the amount of resistance registered by the resistivity meter.

Question 17

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Answer 17

a remote sensing technique in which radar pulses directed into the ground reflect back to the surface when they strike features or interfaces within the ground, showing the presence and depth of possible buried features

Question 18

Geographic Information System

Answer 18

a computer program for storing, retrieving, analyzing, and displaying cartographic data. Ex: Arcview & ArcInfo
3 primary components:
-A powerful computer graphic program used to draw a map
-1 or more external databases that are linked to objects shown on the map
-A set of analytical tools that can graphically interpret or statistically analyze the stored data.

Question 19

georeferenced

Answer 19

data that are input to a GIS database using a common mapping reference–ex: the UTM grid–so that all data can be spatially analyzed.

Question 20

landscape archaeology

Answer 20

study of ancient human modification of the environment

Question 21

thermal infrared multispectral scanning

Answer 21

a remote sensing technique that uses equipment mounted on aircrafts or satellites to measure infrared thermal radiation given off by the ground. Sensitive to diffidence as small as 0.1 degree centigrade, it can locate subsurface structures by tracking how they affect surface thermal radiation.