Exam 2 Flashcards
AD?
Anno domini
BC?
Before Christ
BP?
Before present
BCE?
Before common era
CE?
Common era
Kya?
1000 years
Mya?
1,000,000 years
Relative dating technique?
Indicates whether something is older or younger.
Absolute/chronometric technique
Provides actual ages in calendar years i.e., this is 2.0 mya
What are some methods of subsurface detection?
- GPR
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical excavation?
Horizontal digs sideways while vertical digs straight down.
What is time depth in archaeology?
A key advantage of archaeology indicating how long ago events occurred.
What do the terms AD and BC stand for?
A.D. - Anno Domini; B.C. - Before Christ.
What do B.C.E. and C.E. stand for?
B.C.E. - Before Common Era; C.E. - Common Era.
What does BP stand for in archaeological dating?
Before Present (1950).
What does Kya stand for?
Thousand years ago.
What does Mya stand for?
Million years ago.
What is relative dating?
Indicates whether something is younger or older.
What is absolute/chronometric dating?
Provides actual ages in calendar years.
What is stratigraphy?
Widespread layers that allow construction of regional timelines.
What is an example of stratigraphy used for dating?
Mazama Ash: 6,800 BP, originated in Oregon, US.
How do style and design relate to dating in archaeology?
Products of a period and place have distinctive styles; changes are usually gradual.
What is frequency seriation?
Styles become popular, reach a peak, then decline.
What is contextual seriation?
Order groups of artifacts based on overlapping traits.
What is a terminus post quem?
Earliest possible date for an artifact.
What are isotopes?
Atoms with different numbers of neutrons.
What is half-life?
Time required for half of a given sample to decay.
What is 14C (Radiocarbon) dating?
A method that measures the decay of carbon-14 in organic materials.
What is the half-life of 14C?
5,730±40 years.
What is the radiocarbon limit?
Approximately 40 to 50 kya.
What is dendrochronology?
Tree-ring dating used for age determination of wood.
What are the two main applications of dendrochronology?
- Age of wood in archaeological sites * Calibration of the radiocarbon record
What is a limitation of dendrochronology?
Old wood can create a false chronology.
What factors can affect the accuracy of radiocarbon dating?
- Assumes constant amount of 14C in the atmosphere * Requires calibration past ~26 kya * Contamination
What are some archaeological findings from the Iron Age village example?
- Remains of a wooden wall * Metal buckles and clasps * Painted pottery * Garbage pile with animal remains
What do tools tell us about what people ate?
Tools provide insights into dietary practices through their form and function.
Tools can indicate types of food processed and consumed by ancient populations.
What is the cognitive complexity of pre-human ancestors?
The cognitive complexity refers to the advanced mental capabilities that allowed for the development of technology and social structures.
This includes problem-solving, planning, and communication skills.
What is the significance of environmental adaptations in technology?
Environmental adaptations show how technology evolved in response to specific ecological challenges and resources.
This includes the use of local materials and tools suited for particular tasks.
What is the Early Stone Age also known as?
The Early Stone Age is also known as the Oldowan.
This period is characterized by the first known stone tools.
What are the characteristics of the Acheulean tools?
Acheulean tools are standardized, symmetrical, and represent an increase in technological complexity.
They are associated with Homo erectus and date back to 1.76 million years ago.
What does Chaîne Opératoire refer to?
Chaîne Opératoire refers to the chain of operations involved in the life cycle of an object: procurement, transport, manufacture, use, and discard.
This approach highlights the processes and decisions involved in tool making.
What factors influence procurement and transport of materials?
Factors include quality, abundance, accessibility, and local sources of stone.
These factors impact how people gather and utilize resources.
What is the significance of Mt. Edziza in stone tool production?
Mt. Edziza is a major source of volcanic glass (obsidian) used for stone tools, accessed starting 10,000 years ago, indicating long-distance trade networks.
Obsidian is prized for its sharpness and ease of shaping.
What is a core in stone tool terminology?
A core is the piece struck to remove chips of stone during tool manufacture.
Cores are essential for understanding the production process of stone tools.
What is the difference between direct and indirect percussion in tool manufacture?
Direct percussion involves striking the core directly with a hammer, while indirect percussion uses a punch or baton for greater control.
Indirect percussion allows for more precise shaping of tools.
What does the term ‘pressure flaking’ refer to?
Pressure flaking is a finishing technique that involves pressing rather than striking to create smaller flakes and refine tools.
This method is used in the final stages of tool making.
What is ground stone?
Ground stone refers to tools shaped by a lengthy process of abrasion, often used for plant processing.
Examples include axes and grooved mauls.
What is the Typological Approach in archaeology?
The Typological Approach organizes stone artifacts into nested categories, acknowledging overlap in form and function.
This helps in understanding the complexity of tool usage.
What types of common tools are identified in stone tool analysis?
- Perforators: awls, drills
- Knives: acute edge angle for cutting
- Scrapers: steep edge angle for cleaning hides
- Projectile Points: weapon tips, hafting elements
Each type serves distinct purposes in daily activities.
What are Aterian tools and their significance?
Aterian tools are Middle Stone Age tools from northern Africa, characterized by distinct tangs for hafting, representing one of the first regionalized industries.
They date back to 150,000 to 20,000 years ago.
What is the Frison Effect?
The Frison Effect describes how repeated sharpening and recycling of tools changes their form over time.
It raises questions about whether different point types represent various stages in a tool’s use life.
What is functional analysis in the context of archaeology?
Functional analysis examines what tools were used for, relying on contextual clues and residue analysis.
Techniques include visual and chemical methods to identify use-wear.
What are the reasons for tool discard and reuse?
- Tool is worn out or broken
- Tool is lost
- Expedient/Curated recycling
- Sites as a source of stone
Understanding these reasons helps archaeologists interpret past behaviors.
What factors govern how materials are transformed in tool making?
Factors include cognitive and physical ability, skill, desired product, material type, availability, time, effort, and tradition/culture.
These factors influence the quality and variety of tools produced.
Fill in the blank: The first stone tools were created ______ years ago.
3.3 million
This marks the beginning of the use of stone tools in human history.
What are the main factors to consider when reconstructing past diets?
The main factors include foraging strategies and technology, community health, relationships and status, social complexity, and belief systems.
What types of evidence can be used to reconstruct individual meals in archaeology?
Evidence includes preserved food, stomach contents, residues from cook pots, coprolites, and findings from sites like Pompeii and bog bodies.
What information can we gather from Otzi the Iceman regarding ancient diets?
Otzi provides insights into the diet of ancient humans through the analysis of his preserved stomach contents and the materials found with him, indicating his foraging habits and dietary choices.
What does zooarchaeology study and why is it significant?
Zooarchaeology studies animal remains associated with human activity. It is significant because animal bones and teeth preserve better than plant remains, providing valuable insights into trade, ritual practices, and the role of animals in human societies.
What were some of the purposes for which dogs were kept in ancient Rome?
Dogs were kept for hunting, warfare, herding, as watchdogs, for sacrifice, and as pets. Evidence suggests that they were well cared for, although there is little evidence of veterinary medicine.
How do archaeologists identify carnivore damage on bones?
Carnivore damage can be identified by U-shaped grooves, punctures, and specific targeting of joint areas such as epiphyses.
What is the difference between NISP and MNI in bone counting?
NISP (Number of Identifiable Specimens) counts all fragments of bone, often leading to overestimation of the number of individuals, while MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals) provides a conservative estimate based on unique elements, avoiding duplicates.
Explain the significance of plant remains in the archaeological record.
Plant remains preserve poorly, leading to a biased understanding of ancient diets. Despite this, most calories in many environments came from plants, and their acquisition was often associated with prestige or status.
What are the two photosynthetic pathways in plants, and how do they differ?
The two pathways are C3 and C4. C3 plants typically grow in closed environments and have lower 13C values, while C4 plants, found in open environments, have higher 13C values and are often associated with tropical grasses.
How did the domestication of maize affect human diets in ancient societies?
Maize, a tropical C4 grass domesticated around 10,000 years ago in Mexico, spread throughout North America. Its adoption is reflected in skeletal remains through increased C13 values, indicating its significant role in diets and cultural practices.
