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Intro to Biological Anthropology > Explorations Chapter 7 Fossils + Primate evolution > Flashcards

Explorations Chapter 7 Fossils + Primate evolution Flashcards

1
Q

Anaerobic

A

An oxygen-free environment

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2
Q

Anthropocene

A

The proposed name for our current geologic epoch based on human-driven climate change

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3
Q

Argon-argon (Ar-Ar) dating

A

A chronometric dating method that measures the ratio of argon gas in volcanic rock to estimate time elapsed since the volcanic rock cooled and solidified. See also potassium-argon dating.

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4
Q

Atom

A

A small building block of matter

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5
Q

Bezoars

A

Hard, concrete-like substances found in the intestines of fossil creatures

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6
Q

Biostratigraphy

A

A relative dating method that uses other plant and animal remains occurring in the stratigraphic context to establish time depth.

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7
Q

Bya

A

Billion years ago

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8
Q

Chronometric dating

A

Dating methods that give estimated numbers of years for artifacts and sites.

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9
Q

Continental drift

A

The slow movement of continents over time

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10
Q

Coprolite

A

Fossilized poop

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11
Q

Cultural dating

A

The relative dating method that arranges human-made artifacts in a time frame from oldest to youngest based on material, production technique, style, and other features.

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12
Q

Deep Time

A

James Hutton’s theory that the world was much older than biblical explanation sallowed. This age could be determined by gradual natural processes like soil erosion.

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13
Q

Dendrochronology

A

A chronometric dating method that uses the annual growth of trees to build a timeline into the past.

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14
Q

Electron spin resonance dating

A

A chronometric dating method that measures the background radiation accumulated in material over time.

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15
Q

Element

A

Matter that cannot be broken down into smaller matter

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16
Q

Eon

A

The largest unit of geologic time, spanning billions of years and divided into subunits callederas, periods, and epochs.

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17
Q

Epochs

A

The smallest units of geologic time, spanning thousands to millions of years.

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18
Q

Eras

A

Units of geological time that span millions to billions of years and that are divided into periods and epochs

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19
Q

Fission track dating

A

A chronometric dating method that is based on the fission of 283U.

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20
Q

Fluorine dating

A

A relative dating method that analyzes the absorption of fluorine in bones from the surrounding soils.

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21
Q

Foraminifera

A

Single-celled marine organisms with shells

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22
Q

Fossilization

A

The process by which an organism becomes a fossil

23
Q

Fossils

A

Mineralized copies of organisms or activity imprints

24
Q

Geomorphology

A

the study of the physical characteristics of the Earth’s surface

25
Q

Glacial periods

A

Periods characterized by low global temperatures and the expansion of ice sheets on Earth’s surface

26
Q

Holocene

A

The geologic epoch from 10 kya to present.

27
Q

Hominin

A

The term used for humans and their ancestors after the split with chimpanzees and bonobos.

28
Q

In matrix

A

When a fossil is embedded in a substance, such as igneous rock.

29
Q

Isotopes

A

Variants of elements

30
Q

Kya

A

Thousand years ago

31
Q

Law of superposition

A

The scientific law that states that rock and soil are deposited in layers, with the youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom.

32
Q

Lithification

A

The process by which the pressure of sediments squeeze extra water out of decaying remains and replace the voids that appear with minerals from the surrounding soil and groundwater.

33
Q

Luminescence dating

A

The chronometric dating method based on the buildup of background radiation in pottery, clay, and soils.

34
Q

Megafauna

A

Large animals such as mammoths and mastodons

35
Q

Mitochondrial DNA

A

DNA located in the mitochondria of a cell that is only passed down from biological mother to child.

36
Q

Mya

A

Million years ago

37
Q

Paleopathology

A

Study of ancient diseases and injuries identified through examining remains

38
Q

Periods

A

Geologic time units that span millions of years and are subdivided into epochs.

39
Q

Permineralization

A

When minerals from water impregnate or replace organic remains, leaving a fossilized copy of the organism

40
Q

Petrified wood

A

A fossilized piece of wood in which the original organism is completely replaced by minerals through petrifaction.

41
Q

Potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating

A

A chronometric dating method that measures the ratio of argon gas in volcanic rock to estimate time elapsed
since the volcanic rock cooled and solidified.

42
Q

Pseudofossils

A

Natural rocks or mineral formations that can be mistaken for fossils

43
Q

Radioactive decay

A

The processing of transforming the atom by spontaneously releasing energy

44
Q

Radiocarbon dating

A

The chronometric dating method based on the radioactive decay of 14 C in organic remains

45
Q

Relative dating

A

Dating methods that do not result in numbers of years but, rather, in relative time lines where in some organisms or artifacts are older or younger than others.

46
Q

Sediment cores

A

Core samples taken from lake beds or other water sources for analysis of their pollen

47
Q

Stable isotopes

A

Variants of elements that do not change over time without outside interference

48
Q

Stratigraphy

A

a relative dating method that is based on ordered layers or (strata) that build up over time

49
Q

Taphonomy

A

the study of what happens to an organism after death

50
Q

Trace fossils

A

Fossilized remains of activity such as footprints

51
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

the theoretical perspective that the geological process observed today are the same as the processes operating in the past

52
Q

Unstable isotopes

A

Variants of elements that spontaneously change into stable isotopes over time

53
Q

Uranium series dating

A

a radiometric dating method based on the decay chain of unstable isotopes of 238 U and 235 U

Intro to Biological Anthropology (13 decks)

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