Week 5-Archaeology

Question 1

NAGPRA

Answer 1

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

• federal law required all agencies/institutions that receive federal funds to return human remains and cultural items to the appropriate people.
• Institutions must create a list made available to tribes who might want to reclaim their items.

Question 2

Processual Archaeology

Answer 2

• Focused on explaining (adding in science) and not just reconstructing history.
• Used the scientific method to make conclusions based on artifacts.

Question 3

Illegal looting

Answer 3

The removal of a cultural artifact from a national/state park or monument.

Example archaeological looting:

               Slack Farm Site -land owners let diggers into the site who proceeded to destroy the site looking for “cool pots”. They disturbed graves, but it was all legal.

Question 4

Archaeological context

Answer 4

Where stuff is in the ground and what does the dirt tell us was happening when the layer was being made.

Consists of-matrix, provenience, and association

Question 5

Matrix

Answer 5

The material around artifacts and features.

Ex: rocks, dirt, etc.

Question 6

Provenience

Answer 6

Horizontal and vertical position within the matrix (where)

-shows us when and where the artifact/feature came from

Question 7

Association

Answer 7

The relationship with other artifacts within the same matrix/feature.

Ex: a teapot lid, handles, and a small spoon = a tea set

Question 8

Ötzi (the ice man)

Answer 8

• Found sticking out of the ice in Europe by hikers

- very old but his skin, organs, clothing, tools, textiles, tattoos, and stomach contents were still intact.

Question 9

Werowocomoco

Answer 9

• Located in Gloucester country.
• Was the capital of a complex chiefdom when the English showed up in Jamestown.
• Under the leadership of Powhatan
• Capitol of Virginia when the English arrived.
• Indigenous tribes are involved in the excavation/research.

Question 10

Antiquities Act of 1906

Answer 10

Gives the president power to restrict the use of public lands owned by the government. (Theodore Roosevelt)

• Created to protect objects of historic and scientific importance (national monuments)
• Originally created to protect ruins/artifacts of indigenous people.

Question 11

Artifact

Answer 11

Portable object made or modified by past peoples

Question 12

Feature

Answer 12

Non-portable object that cannot be moved/would be destroyed if moved

(Roads, buildings, etc.)

Question 13

Sites

Answer 13

A cluster of artifacts, ecofacts, and features

-Places where there are significant traces of past human activity.