Midterm 2

Question 1

define sediments

Answer 1

inorganic and organic components of the earth’s surface deposited by natural processes

Question 2

define the different soil horizons

Answer 2

A horizon - zone of accumulation and eluviation encompassing buried A horizons are called paleosols
B horizon - zone of deposition of illuviation
C horizon - parent material/enriched carbonates

Question 3

list the four types of archaeological context

Answer 3

1. primary context - the original context of the find, undisturbed
2. secondary context - a find which has had its primary context disturbed
3. Systemic context - manufacture, re-use, and discard
4. archaeological context - artifacts continue to be affected by human activity and natural processes

Question 4

define taphonomy

Answer 4

the study of the processes of site disturbance and destruction

Question 5

What are the 7 relative dating techniques used in archaeology?

Answer 5

1. Stratigraphy
2. Law of superposition
3. seriation
4. index fossils
5. diagnostic artifacts
6. technological change
7. age area hypothesis

Question 6

what are some complications with using relative dating instead of absolute dating techniques?

Answer 6

1. mixing of sediments or digging and filling

2. collection of ancient objects or unconformities

Question 7

list 10 absolute dating techniques and what they can be used on

Answer 7

1. historical objects - previously documented objects
2. historical documents
3. dendrochronology - trees
4. radiocarbon C14 - wood, charcoal, plants, bone, organics
5. AMS - organics (more accurate than radiocarbon)
6. Thermoluminescence - ceramics
7. OSL - sediments without organic materials
8. KAR - minerals and rocks surrounding fossils
9. Uranium-series - limestone and bedrock 50000-1mil
10. Fission track - volcanic rock 100000-20mil

Question 8

discuss the difference between reconnaissance and intensive surveying

Answer 8

reconnaissance - preliminary examination of a survey area

intensive - systematic, detailed field survey that covers an entire area

Question 9

list 5 ways an archaeologist may find a site

Answer 9

1. chance discovery
2. asking a local
3. documentary records
4. oral traditions
5. archaeological survey

Question 10

define the two approaches to archaeological survey

Answer 10

1. Non-probabilistic - judgemental, results cannot be used to generalize
2. Probabilistic - random sampling, results can be used to generalize through mathematical methods

Question 11

Define simple simple random sampling

Answer 11

simplest form of probabilistic sampling

Question 12

define stratified random sampling

Answer 12

define concentrated areas and increase data collection within the areas bound to have more chance of a site

Question 13

define systematic sampling

Answer 13

choose one unit at random, and select the same unit for each section

Question 14

define systematic unaligned sampling

Answer 14

combines both simple random sampling and systematic sampling into single strategy

Question 15

define remote sampling

Answer 15

the science of identifying, observing, interpreting, and measuring objects or surfaces without coming into direct contact with them

Question 16

list the 5 techniques of remote sensing

Answer 16

1. Satellite imagery
2. LiDAR - Light Detection and Ranging
   - strips away vegetation
3. GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar
   - finds features under the ground
4. Gradient Magnetometry
   - measures the magnetic fields in the ground
   - easily finds hearths and burnt materials
5. Soil Resistivity
   - measures electrical resistance caused by buried artifacts and features

Question 17

identify four main objectives in identfying artifacts

Answer 17

1. organizing data into manageable units
2. describing types
3. identifying relationships between types
4. studying assemblage variability in the archaeological record

Question 18

list a couple things that we can learn from categorizing artifacts

Answer 18

• site chronology
• exchange patterns
• ancient technologies
• class difference
• expressions of political power
• diet and health

Question 19

define typology and type

Answer 19

typology - a system of classification based on the construction of sites
type - a grouping of artifacts based on form, chronology, function, or style

Question 20

list and explain 3 attributes considering typology

Answer 20

1. formal attributes - the shape of the artifact
2. stylistic attributes - styles on surface
3. technological attributes - used materials to achieve specific technological uses

Question 21

Define cultural resource management

Answer 21

CRM archaeology is the survey, documentation, and mitigation of archaeological sites where these sites are in conflict or potential conflict with proposed developments

Question 22

list the 4 historic resources

Answer 22

1. archaeological sites
2. palaeontological sites
3. historic building/structures
4. aboriginal traditional use sites

Question 23

list the 3 regulatory frameworks

Answer 23

1. historical resources act
2. Canadian environmental assessment
3. cemeteries act

Question 24

What are the steps in an archaeological survey project?

Answer 24

1. desktop review/overview - statement of jurisdiction
2. survey historical resources impact assessment
3. stage 1 mitigation
4. stage 2 and 3 mitigation

Question 25

list the 5 types of digital archaeology

Answer 25

1. geophysical survey
2. electrical resistance meters
3. electromagnetic conductivity
4. magnetometry
5. ground penetrating radar

Question 26

there are three types of reality capture technologies, what are they?

Answer 26

1. side-scan sonar - sound waves pulsed through water
2. photogrammetry - uses the principle of triangulation
3. laser scanning - time of flight

Question 27

Why do archaeologists excavate

Answer 27

• to answer research questions

- to mitigate threatened sites