San Francisco State UniversityANTH 110Midterm 2 Study Guide ANTH 110

A society that has a ruler with authority to establish and enforce laws, stratified classes, administrative officials for collecting revenue, and the practice of redistribution would probably be considered a(n) A. mob ...

A society that has a ruler with authority to establish and enforce laws, stratified classes, administrative officials for collecting revenue, and the practice of redistribution would probably be considered a(n) A. mobile hunter-gatherer group B. segmentary society C. tribe D. early state E. none of the answers are correct A society with differences in social status (ranking), specialists manufacturing crafts, surpluses, and perhaps a permanent ritual or ceremonial center would probably be considered a(n) A. mobile hunter-gatherer group B. segmentary society C. chiefdom D. band E. community A standardized system of weights and measures usually indicates the presence of a strong local religion A. a capitalist society B. centralized healthcare C. a band D. a centrally administered economic system After 10,000 years ago, as the farming way of life took root in different parts of the world, the introduction of new agricultural methods such as plowing, terracing, and irrigation, as well as the use of poorer quality land, suggest that there was a gradual A. intensification of food production B. globalization C. spread of egalitarian societies D. intensification of religious behavior E. increase in rainfall An important method used to gain an understanding of a past society involves the study of the present-day use and significance of artifacts, buildings, and structures, and the way these things become incorporated into the archaeological record when they are thrown away, torn down, or abandoned. Such an approach is known as cataclysm studies A. archaeozoology B. archaeobotany C. ethnoarchaeology D. zoology Archaeologist Marija Gimbutas has become a cult figure among such groups as ecofeminists and New Age enthusiasts mostly because of her concept of a(n)A. Mother Goddess B. society of warrior women (Amazons) C. ruling sisterhood D. female oracle E. druids Centralized societies differ from non-centralized ones in a number of ways. The more centralized structure often allows or requires greater economic specialization, which would be visible archaeologically as A. intensified farming B. taxation C. redistribution D. craft specialization E. all of the answers are correct Centralized societies typically exhibit disparities between wealthy and poor, and thus they offer the potential to study social ranking and social organization. Which of the following offers strong evidence of social ranking? A. Group residences, similar burials, short term occupation of sites B. Dispersed hamlets, equitable residences and few specialists C. Elite residences, rich burials, and craft specialists D. Villages, group burials, few specialists E. Cave sites, evidence for butchering, and hunting equipment During the Paleolithic period (before 12,000 years ago), most archaeological sites seem to reflect organization of societies at the level of mobile hunter-gatherer groups, generally numbering A. fewer than 10 people B. fewer than 100 people C. 100 to 500 people D. over 500 but fewer than 1000 people E. well over 1000 people Generally larger than mobile hunter-gatherer groups, these societies are typically sedentary, usually around a thousand people, and lack permanent differences of social status between people. These are A. bands B. segmentary societies/tribes C. chiefdoms D. early states E. all of the answers are correctIn order to interpret the evidence from Middle Paleolithic sites in France, Lewis Binford studied the use and discard of bones and tools at a seasonal hunting camp used by the Nunamiut of A. Argentina B. Alaska C. Angola D. Azerbaijan E. Australia One method of examining settlement patterning evidence is Central Place Theory. Although such perfect examples do not exist in the real world, the basic feature of this theory is A. that centers (towns or settlements) would be scattered randomly across a landscape and would control vastly different amounts of territory B. all human settlement in a geographic area would worship at one central place, as governed by their religion C. at a certain stage of development, all societies will leave their small towns or settlements and come together in a vast, singular, urban area (the central place) D. humanity evolved in Africa (the central placE) and spread outward from there E. that centers (towns or settlements) of the same size and nature would be situated equidistant from each other and would control a similar amount of territory Societies such as chiefdoms and states, whose members have unequal access to status and prestige, are known as A. egalitarian societies B. ranked/hierarchical societies C. tribal societies D. archaic societies E. bands Status won through an individual’s accomplishments (e.g., hunting, mediating disputes) in their own lifetime is known as A. low-ranking status B. achieved status C. evolved status D. chieftain status E. ranked status The “largest social unit” of a society that is a politically independent or autonomous social unit is known as a A. city B. site C. polity D. cult E. person These simple geometrical shapes divide an area into a number of separate territoriesA. Thiessen Polygons B. Tessellated Polygons C. Graduated Pentagons D. Centralized Shapes E. Honeycomb Polygons When social status or prestige are the result of inheritance or hereditary factors, this is known as A. achieved status B. ascribed status C. evolved status D. egalitarian status E. free agent status ________is difficult to recognize in the archaeological record\: features such as pottery decoration or differences in toolkits do not necessarily separate different ethnicities A. Age B. Genetic relation C. Artistic talent D. Ethnicity E. Craft-making ability Although palynology is very useful for the reconstruction of past vegetation, grass pollens are typically indistinguishable from one another. In grassy environments an alternative is the study of the protective layer or silica structure of the leaves or blades of grass that retain the characteristic shapes of the underlying epidermal cells. This is known as A. phytoliths B. diatoms C. palynology D. plant DNA E. coprolites Analyses that attempt to calculate the proportions of resources such as arable or pastoral land within an area around a site in order to understand what would have been exploited by the inhabitants is known as A. site Exploitation Territory B. Pollen Zone Analysis C. Palynology D. Central Place Theory E. Carrying CapacityAs temperatures rise after an ice age and glaciers melt, the weight of ice is removed from the land. The rise in the level of the land creates raised beaches in a process known as A. geomorphology B. isotopic uplift C. isostatic uplift D. geomorphic uplift E. geostatic uplift Because plants lie __________ the food chain they provide clues to animal and human life and reflect soil conditions and climate A. at the top of B. at the base of C. at multiple points within D. completely off E. none of the answers are correct Charcoal (or wood that has been burned) is useful for archaeological reconstruction of past environments because A. charcoal generally preserves well B. charcoal can often be identified to the genus and/or species level C. charcoal can be used to interpret human selection of certain wood types D. charcoal can be used to interpret past vegetation types E. all of the answers are correct Commonly found preserved in ash layers, pottery, and on stone tools and even teeth, minute particles of silica derived from plant cells are known as A. pollen grains B. phytoliths C. eoliths D. coprolites E. foraminifera Diatoms are A. the tiny male reproductive bodies of flowering plants B. the minute particles of silica derived from the cells of plants C. the outermost protective layer of the skin of leaves or blades of grass D. fossilized unicellular algae E. the fossilized cuticles of plants Displacements in the plates that make up the earth’s crust, often responsible for the occurrence of raised beaches, are known as A. tectonic movements B. step trenchingC. sedimentary processes D. loess deposition E. paleomagnetic reversals Environmental reconstructions and archaeological research on islands has shown that disastrous human impacts on local species include A. introduction of invasive, competitive species B. overuse and consumption of local animal taxa C. clearing of vegetation and destruction of habitat D. all of the answers are correct E. none of the answers are correct In the field, flotation techniques are used to retrieve A. human burials B. silicates C. varves D. macrobotanical remains E. plant DNA In tree-ring analysis, the more water that is available to tree, the ___________ the annual ring{ A. thinner B. harder C. softer D. wider/thicker E. none of the answers are correct Isostatic uplift causes coastal land masses to lift upwards once the weight of ice sheets is removed. If there is no isostatic movement upwards, then this leads to A. coastal areas being submerged by melting ice and subsequent sea level rise B. tectonic movements and disappearance of coastal areas C. periods of global warming D. changes in the sea floor E. none of the answers are correct Microbotanical analytical techniques include the study of A. pollen B. fossil cuticles C. diatoms D. rock varnishes E. all of the answers are correct Microfauna (small animals) tend to be better indicators of climate and environmental change becauseA. they are sensitive to oscillations in climate and adapt relatively quickly B. they do not adapt to climate changes quickly C. they are only accumulated at a site through human or animal predation D. all of the answers are correct E. none of the answers are correct New settlers to the Polynesian islands brought with them pigs, fowl, and crop plants, as well as stowaways such as the rat, geckos, and weeds. These were new competitive predators to the indigenous species, but probably the most drastic effects on the landscape were caused by A. natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tidal waves B. human-borne diseases C. rapid deforestation by people, which led to open grassland and erosion D. over-exploitation of mineral and water resources E. a meteorite that caused a temporary “miniature” Ice Age and years of poor harvests On Easter Island, the most isolated piece of inhabited land in the world, the loss of timber due to the cutting down of trees by humans resulted in A. termination of stone head B. cessation of canoe manufacture C. soil erosion D. lower crop yields E. all of the answers are correct One of the first ways in which people modified their living places was by A. the controlled use of fire B. construction of large towns C. sweet potato planting D. domestication of goats E. building of stone monuments Pollen grains are A. the tiny male reproductive bodies of flowering plants B. the minute particles of silica derived from the cells of plants C. the outermost protective layer of the skin of leaves or blades of grass D. fossilized unicellular algae E. none of the answers are correct Pollen sequences, based on the quantities of different species of plant pollen, can provide useful information about past environments, as well as A. human caused effects on the landscape, such as land clearing practices B. loess accumulation C. isostatic uplift D. coral reef decline E. none of the answers are correctSediments formed of a yellowish dust of silt-sized particles blown by the wind and redeposited on newly deglaciated land or on sheltered areas are known as A. Loess B. terra rosa C. chinampa D. phytolythis E. pollen The remains of large animals, such as sheep or cows, found on archaeological sites help us build a picture of past human diet. These remains are known as A. Microfauna B. Macrobotanical C. Macrofauna D. Geomorphs E. Phytoliths The study of pollen grains, developed by Norwegian geologist Lennart von Post, is commonly known as A. geomorphology B. palynology C. archaeobotany D. paleoethnobotany E. zooarchaeology The study of the form and development of the sediments and soil deposits on a particular landscape is known as A. geomorphology B. palynology C. archaeozoology D. taphonomy E. ethnoarchaeology There are competing theories about the causes for ancient big-game extinctions (such as the mastodon and mammoth in the Americas). One group believes that dramatic climatic change (comet) is the primary cause behind these extinctions. Competing theories argue that A. the big-game migrated before land bridges disappeared B. the arrival of people led to overexploitation and then extinction C. Big game animals died of natural causes D. all of the answers are correct E. None of these answers are correct_________are large areas of exposed land, which often facilitated the movement of people and animals between continents, and are now largely submerged beneath oceans A. land bridges B. carbon isotopes C. rock varnishes D. middens E. ecofacts _________are single cell algae that have cell walls of silica, causing them to preserve well in the archaeological record. They also provide information about a body of water's salinity content, nutritional value, and alkalinity in the past A. diatoms B. rock varnishes C. phytoliths D. fossils E. pollen spores ________is the study of the form and development of soil sediments such as clay, sand, and gravel. A. palynology B. microbotany C. geomorphology D. seismology E. submergence Carbon and nitrogen _____________ provide invaluable information regarding regional variations in people's diet and helps archaeologists track migrations of people and animals based on their differential diets. A. isotopes B. residues C. lipids D. organics E. none of the answers are correct Charred plant remains from archaeological contexts, such as seeds and pits, may have entered the archaeological record and thus been preserved in the following ways A. accidentally B. as dung or fuel C. as food waste D. as human fecal material E. all of the answers are correctof the most common ways of recovering charred plants remains from archaeological sites is via A. flotation B. winnowing C. dry screening D. magnetism E. none of the answers are correct Domesticated grain crops, such as maize and wheat, tend to have A. larger seeds and stronger rachis B. larger seeds and brittle rachis C. smaller seeds and tougher rachis D. none of the answers are correct E. all of the answers are correct Gordon Childe coined a phrase in 1941 to describe the origin and consequences of farming, which was accompanied by the widespread development of settled village life. That phrase was the A. Urban Revolution B. Neolithic Revolution C. Secondary Products Revolution D. Industrial Revolution E. Worker’s Revolution Like phytoliths, _______________ are unique is size and structure, can be used to aid identification of certain plant remains, and are prevalent in plants such as tubers, barely, and maize. A. starch grains B. chemical residues C. microbotanicals D. plant impressions E. none of the answers are correct Meals refer to what people were eating at a particular point in time, while __________ refers to the continued pattern of food consumption over a long period of time. A. diet B. macrobotany C. zooarchaeology D. feasting E. flotation One line of evidence commonly used to determine morphological differences between wild and domesticated plants involves looking at ___________, since they are usually larger and more robust in domesticated plants than in their wild counterparts. A. phytolithsB. starches C. pollen D. macrobots E. microbots The most common process through which plant remains are preserved and enter the archaeological record is through A. charring B. desication C. consumption D. storage E. processing The number of plant remains and frequency of different taxa from an archaeological context depends on how well they were preserved. Unless plant parts, such as soft tissue and seeds, were charred, plants A. will be underrepresented in the archaeological record B. will be frequent in the archaeological record C. will be overrepresented D. will have high abundance scores E. none of the answers are correct The polish left behind on tools that were used to process plants such as reeds and wild grasses is called A. taphonomy B. sickle sheen C. use-wear D. macroliths E. none of the answers are correct The recovery and identification of plant remains from archaeological contexts to study past human use of plants is known as A. paleoplantology B. archaeophytology C. paleoethnobotany D. archaeozoology E. zooarchaeology ______are small particles of silica that are specific plants and can aid in differentiating wild from domestic taxa, proved clues to harvesting techniques, and provide information concerning processing techniques A. phytoliths B. pollen grainsC. microliths D. macrobots E. cereals ________of plants occurs along a spectrum, not as a single event, and involves a series of processes including plant tending, cultivation, and unintentional and intentional selection. A. domestication B. seasonality C. DNA sequencing D. Seasonality E. morphology _______analysis of residues on clay ceramics has provided evidence for ancient beverages, including beer and wine A. chemical analysis B. flotation C. plant impressions D. microbotanical residue E. none of the answers are correct __________of both wheat and corn has been used to study genetic differences between wild and domesticated taxa. A. DNA sequencing B. isotope analysis C. residue analysis D. chemical spectroscopy E. all of the answers are correct A common way of quantifying the total number of bones in an assemblage is called A. number of individual specimen (NISP) B. minimum number of individuals (MNI) C. body mass index D. minimum number of skeletal elements E. None of the answers are correct Animal biological sex may be identified based on remains of A. antlers B. large canines C. the penis bone D. the female pelvic structure E. all of the answers are correctAnimals, such as sheep and cattle, were often domesticated during the so-called "Secondary Products Revolution" which is defined by the intensified use of animals for A. milk and cheese B. wool C. animal traction (plowing) D. all of the answers are correct E. none of the answers are correct Changes in animal size (from large to small) and changes in the types of animals killed and processed over time (especially "non-preferred" species) may indicate A. overexploitation of local animal populations by humans B. the presence of intrusive specimen at a site C. incipient domestication D. nutritional stress E. both overexploitation and nutritional stress Changes in color, texture, and length of hair and wool in certain species may be indicative of A. domestication B. climate change C. age structure D. diet E. sex ratios Dietary studies have been revolutionized through analyses of human tooth enamel and bone collagen based on A. the different ratios of carbon isotopes B. the different ratios of nitrogen isotopes C. different ratios of strontium isotopes D. all of the answers are correct E. none of the answers are correct Differences in diet between different species is most readily determined by examining their A. teeth B. distal limbs C. vertebrae D. orbital suture E. none of the answers are correct Estimates of the age at which animals were killed are usually based upon measurements of A. overall size of the animal B. size estimates of phalangesC. robusticity of cranium D. eruption and wear patterns of the teeth E. antler rings in cross-section Herd structure (age and sex) provides useful information concerning the use of the herd. A. a higher number of mature females B. a higher number of mature males C. a higher number of juvenile males D. equal distribution of sexes E. equal distribution of ages If both very young and old animals are overrepresented in an archaeological assemblage in relation to their numbers in a live population, this would suggest A. a catastrophic age profile B. an attritional age profile C. scavenging, or hunting, by humans of the most vulnerable animals D. feasting was frequent E. none of the answers are correct In a studies of seasonality, archaeologists are able to estimate the age at death of certain fish (saithe, or coalfish) based on the size distribution of the fishes’ A. sagittal otolith B. eye socket C. ratio of dorsal fin to body length D. vertebrae E. mandible In order to assess the abundance of a species in a faunal assemblage, a calculation of the minimum number of animals necessary to account for all the identified bones is generally known as the A. number of identified specimens (NISP) B. minimum number of individuals (MNI) C. taphonomy D. Midwestern Taxonomic System (MTS) E. none of the answers are correct In order to determine if assemblages of bone were the result of human activity or the result of animal hunting/scavenging, archaeological studies have focused on certain taphonomic indicators on bones, to include A. cut marks B. butchery marks C. animal gnawing D. evidence of cooking/burning E. all of the answers are correctResidues of animals, such as shells, bones, and teeth, are known as A. macroremains B. microremains C. otoliths  D. macroliths E. none of the answers are correct Taphonomy refers to all processes which A. affect organic materials, particularly bone, from the time of death or deposition until the time of recovery B. the study of geological processes that led to the creation of current land forms C. the study of which species should be grouped together based on shared attributes D. the systematic organization of artifacts into types on the basis of shared attributes E. the study of processes which contribute to population structure and their spatial dynamics The determination of an animals' age at death can be made using A. degree of fusion of cranial sutures B. degree of fusion of epiphyses C. eruption of teeth D. wear patterns on teeth E. all of the answers are correct The only incontrovertible evidence that a type of food was actually consumed by humans in the past is its presence in A. human stomachs B. human feces (coprolites) C. both human stomachs and human feces D. human living quarters/residences E. storage pits or storage containers The presence or absence of antlers in some taxa, such as reindeer and elk, is a reliable indicator of A. seasonality B. climate C. sex D. weather patterns E. none of the answers are correct The study of faunal (animal) bones and the relationship between animals and humans in the past is called A. zooarchaeology B. ethnobiology C. archaeobotanyD. taphonomy E. ethnoarchaeology Using relative bone weight of each species of animal present at a site is a way of A. comparing species abundance B. estimating domestication profiles C. estimating age D. comparing sex profiles E. none of the answers are correct Zooarchaeological evidence of animal domestication includes A. a high number of skeletal stress markers B. a change in the overall size/robusticity of the skeleton C. changes in the population structure of herd animals D. decrease in tooth size E. all of the answers are correct