Question 1

Ideas that archaeologists have developed about the past and about the way we come to know about the past are referred to as ___________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeological theories are the ideas that archaeologists have developed about the past and the methods used to understand it. Antiquarianism refers to the collection and appreciation of historical artifacts without necessarily attempting to understand their cultural context. Hermeneutics is the study and interpretation of texts, and historicism is an approach to understanding the past that emphasizes the social, cultural, and historical context in which events occurred. While these concepts can be related to archaeological theory, they are not specific to it.

Question 2

New laws requiring archaeological work to be done before damaging construction work created which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The new laws requiring archaeological work before construction work led to the development of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) archaeology, which aims to preserve and manage archaeological resources in the face of potential threats from development projects. This field has become an important aspect of modern archaeology, as it helps to balance the preservation of our cultural heritage with the need for development and progress.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes postprocessual archaeology?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

The goal of postprocessual archaeology is to __________.

Accepted Answer

Postprocessual archaeology focuses on understanding the context and meaning behind artifacts and practices rather than trying to formulate general laws or testing hypotheses. It recognizes that archaeological interpretations are subjective and influenced by social and cultural factors.

Question 5

Which of these theories stresses the interaction between the presuppositions we bring to a problem and the independent empirical reality of our observations and experiences?

Accepted Answer

Hermeneutics is a theory that emphasizes the importance of the interpreter's presuppositions and biases in shaping their understanding of a text or situation. It recognizes that our interpretations are not purely objective but are influenced by our preconceptions and the context in which we are interpreting. Therefore, it stresses the interaction between our presuppositions and the independent empirical reality of our observations and experiences. Systems theory, heuristics, and induction do not specifically address this interaction.

Question 6

________ focuses on the way archaeologists study and represent gender in the archaeological record, as well as gender biases of the investigator.

Accepted Answer

Feminist archaeology focuses on exploring the roles and experiences of women in the past, challenging patriarchal assumptions, and highlighting the biases that have influenced archaeological research.

Question 7

__________ stressed the importance of the actions of the individual living in past society.

Accepted Answer

Agency theory emphasizes the individual's active role and impact on past societies, as opposed to simply being passive products of their culture or environment.

Question 8

What is the difference between induction and deduction?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between induction and...

Question 9

How has systems theory been applied to archaeology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has systems theory been applied to...

Question 10

How has gender been misinterpreted by archaeologists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has gender been misinterpreted by archaeologists?...

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes systems theory?

Accepted Answer

Systems theory is a perspective that views society as a complex system with interconnected elements that interact with one another. It developed in the mid-20th century as a reaction against traditional functionalism, which viewed society as a static, harmonious entity. Unlike Marxism, systems theory is not concerned with class struggle or economic forces as the main drivers of social change. While some archaeologists have applied systems theory to their research, it is not a dominant approach in the field.

Question 12

Observations of archaeological materials in the present that can help create and test hypotheses about the past are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Middle-range research involves the study of present observations to develop and test hypotheses about past materials and behaviors, making it the correct choice. The other options refer to broader theoretical and methodological approaches rather than a specific technique.

Question 13

Binford thought that for archaeology to be considered a science it must work by ________ from general laws and models.

Accepted Answer

Binford advocated for a deductive approach to archaeology, which involves generating hypotheses or predictions from general laws or models and then testing them through observation and data collection. This is opposed to an inductive approach, which involves generating generalizations or theories from specific observations.

Question 14

Which of the following represents the first clear evidence for the use of excavation to recover and explore the past?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following represents the first...

Question 15

Which of the following scholars helped establish the antiquity of humanity?

Accepted Answer

Charles Lyell helped establish the antiquity of humanity by promoting the idea of uniformitarianism, which suggested that geological processes occurred at a steady rate over time. This allowed scientists to use stratigraphy (the study of rock layers) to estimate the age of archaeological sites and fossils.

Question 16

The Three-Age system divided prehistory into the __________ Ages.

Accepted Answer

The Three-Age system divided prehistory into the Stone Age (characterized by stone tools), Bronze Age (characterized by the use of copper and bronze tools), and Iron Age (characterized by the use of iron tools). The other answer choices do not accurately represent the Three-Age system.

Question 17

Why did the publication of 'On the Origin of Species' upset the church?

Accepted Answer

"On the Origin of Species" suggested that living species had evolved over time through natural selection, which contradicted the belief in divine creation held by the church. Therefore, the publication of the book upset the church.

Question 18

The Neolithic and the Paleolithic were defined by whom?

Accepted Answer

The terms "Neolithic" and "Paleolithic" were coined by the British archaeologist John Lubbock in his book "Prehistoric Times" (1865).

Question 19

________ pioneered the methods of stratigraphic excavation and seriation to create a chronology in his work in Egypt.

Accepted Answer

Sir Flinders Petrie pioneered the methods of stratigraphic excavation and seriation to create a chronology in his work in Egypt.

Question 20

Toward the end of the 19th century, the __________ approach was characterized.

Accepted Answer

The culture history approach dominated archaeological research in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This approach focused on reconstructing the chronology of past cultures and identifying cultural patterns based on the artifacts they left behind. The other approaches listed - processual, post-processual, and evolutionary - emerged later in the 20th century.

Quiz 2: Putting the Picture Together