Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Intro To Archaeology 205 > Lecture 11 - Intro To Archaeology > Flashcards

Lecture 11 - Intro To Archaeology Flashcards

1
Q

What is dendrochronology?

A

Tree ring dating.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who invented dendrochronology?

A

Invented by astronomer AE Douglas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the basis of dendrochronology?

A

Based on the concept of annual tree ring growth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do tree rings indicate?

A

Age and general environmental conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does each tree ring represent?

A

One year of growth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How are tree rings affected by environmental conditions?

A

The ring is thicker if it’s a good year for growth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How are modern tree samples used in dendrochronology?

A

Cores of modern samples are compared with those of increasing age.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Can different tree types be compared in dendrochronology?

A

Different tree types cannot be compared to each other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is established for a particular region in dendrochronology?

A

A master chart is then established.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an example of dendrochronology?

A

Viking ship in Oseberg, very well preserved, initially dated by dendrochronology.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the disadvantages of dendrochronology?

A

Requires proper tree types, use of same species by people in the past, needs very good preservation conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the advantages of dendrochronology?

A

Precise and reliable dating; in SW USA, chart goes back at least 2,000 years; can be used in addition to radiocarbon dating.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is radiocarbon dating?

A

Invented by chemist Willard Libby in 1949. Based on decay of carbon isotope.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is radiometric dating?

A

Use decay rate of radioactive isotopes to measure time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does radiocarbon dating work?

A

You look at ratio of C12 and C14 carbon atoms. Carbon 12 will stay the same but Carbon 14 will decrease as time passes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What can we carbon date?

A

Has to be something living/organic. For example: bone collagen, charcoal, shell, wood, leather.

17
Q

How long is a C14 half life?

A

5,730 years.

18
Q

What is the AMS technique?

A

Accelerator mass spectrometry, requires much smaller samples.

19
Q

What is the dating range for AMS technique?

A

Can date back to 50,000 BP, lower limit is about 100 BP.

20
Q

What is dating by association?

A

If materials are all on the same plane, they’re probably the same age.

21
Q

What is a problem with radiocarbon dating?

A

Amount of C14 in atmosphere has not been level throughout time.

22
Q

What is needed for marine reservoir correction?

A

Excess circulating carbon taken in by organisms.

23
Q

What are the disadvantages of radiocarbon dating?

A

Maximum limit of 60,000 BP, must have organic material to date, samples contaminated easily.

24
Q

What are the advantages of radiocarbon dating?

A

Quick efficient dating method, many commercial labs.

25
Q

Explain the Shroud of Turin.

A

The speculated cloth that Jesus was buried, but was dated to 1260 AD which caused an uproar in the Christian community. Someone later recreated the cloth and basically proved the cloth was a hoax.

26
Q

What is potassium-argon dating used for?

A

Used in dating very old archaeological sites.

27
Q

What does potassium-argon dating measure?

A

Dates geological volcanic formations rather than artifacts.

28
Q

What is the half-life of potassium-argon dating?

A

1.3 billion years.

29
Q

What is the dating range for potassium-argon dating?

A

100,000 to 3 billion BP.

30
Q

What is thermoluminescence used for?

A

Used mainly to date pottery.

31
Q

How does thermoluminescence work?

A

Sample heated to 400-500 Celsius, trapped energy is released in the form of light.

32
Q

What is OSL?

A

Optically Stimulated Luminescence, can date sediment layers.

33
Q

What is fission track dating?

A

Used for volcanic rocks, microscopic tracks can be counted.

34
Q

What is amino acid racemization?

A

Changes amino acids after death, knowing rate of change can tell us how long ago the animal died.

35
Q

What does archaeomagnetic dating measure?

A

Direction and intensity of Earth’s magnetic field has changed over time.

36
Q

What is the date range for archaeomagnetic dating?

A

About 2,000 BP.

Intro To Archaeology 205 (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions