Question 1

Thomas Malthus has argued that human population tends to grow to the limit permitted by
A)the leaders of society
B)religion
C)the food supply
D)our genetics
E)sanitation

Accepted Answer

Thomas Malthus argued that human population tends to grow to the limit permitted by the food supply. Malthusian theory states that population increases at a geometric rate while food supply increases at an arithmetic rate, leading to a point where population growth outstrips the available food supply. This results in a population check, such as famine, disease, or war, which keeps the population in check with the available resources.

Question 2

The idea that the human mind evolved under the selective pressures faced by the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Ice-age humans is an important aspect of
A)the hydraulic hypothesis
B)cataclysm studies
C)Marxist archaeology
D)evolutionary archaeology
E)the empathetic method

Accepted Answer

The idea that the human mind evolved under the selective pressures faced by the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Ice-age humans is a fundamental aspect of evolutionary archaeology, which seeks to understand the development of human behavior and culture from an evolutionary perspective.

Question 3

Some Processualists have accused Critical Theorists of believing that one person's idea is as good as any other person's idea: basically that fringe and alternative beliefs are as good as those produced by experts and trained professionals.Such a belief is also called
A)relativism
B)positive feedback
C)the multiplier effect
D)superiorism
E)Marxism

Accepted Answer

The belief that fringe and alternative beliefs are as valid as those produced by experts and trained professionals is a form of relativism. Relativism posits that there are no absolute truths and that all beliefs and perspectives are equally valid. This is a fundamental tenet of Critical Theory, which seeks to give voice to marginalized groups and challenge dominant power structures. However, this approach has been criticized by some processualists who feel that it undermines the value of expertise and can lead to a lack of consensus and progress in fields such as archaeology.

Question 4

When the Spanish reached Mexico in the early 16th century they found
A)dense populations of Maya-speaking people
B)sparse Maya-speaking small settlements
C)no people and the ruined remains of the Maya collapse
D)an empty landscape
E)the Classic Maya civilization at its height

Accepted Answer

The Spanish found dense populations of Maya-speaking people in Mexico, indicating that the Maya civilization was still present at the time of the Spanish arrival.

Question 5

Change in the archaeological record is sometimes attributed to struggles between social classes,a result of contradictions that arise between the forces of production and the relations of production (mainly the social organization).Such an approach to understanding the past would be considered
A)Critical theory
B)culture-historical archaeology
C)postprocessual archaeology
D)Marxist archaeology
E)processual archaeology

Accepted Answer

The reference to struggles between social classes and the forces of production and social organization indicate a Marxist approach to archaeology.

Question 6

If,in your explanation for a cultural change (for example,the origin of the state),you stress the importance and interaction of several different factors operating at the same time,this would be considered a(n)
A)monocausal explanation
B)multiplier effect explanation
C)idealist explanation
D)multivariate explanation
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

A multivariate explanation stresses the importance and interaction of multiple factors in bringing about a cultural change, rather than relying on a single cause (monocausal), a multiplier effect, or an idealist explanation.

Question 7

The Classic Maya kings portrayed themselves as great guarantors of prosperity and stability,but during the critical 8th and 9th centuries leading up to the Maya collapse they were unable to deliver on these promises because of
A)the superior technology of the conquering Spanish
B)the degradation of an ecosystem already pushed beyond its limits by overpopulation
C)the superior technology of the conquering Aztec
D)the introduction of new diseases causing massive depopulation of the region
E)the arrival of Quetzalcoatl from central Mexico who brought a new religious cult to the area

Accepted Answer

The degradation of the ecosystem due to overpopulation is the most likely reason for the inability of the Maya kings to deliver prosperity and stability during the 8th and 9th centuries leading up to the Maya collapse. This is supported by archaeological evidence such as deforestation, soil erosion, and declining agricultural productivity. The other options, such as the conquering Spanish, Aztec, or arrival of Quetzalcoatl, are irrelevant as they occurred much later than the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization. Similarly, the introduction of new diseases may have contributed to the collapse, but it is unlikely to be the sole reason.

Question 8

The controversial framework developed by Carl Hempel and adopted by some New Archaeologists and heavily criticized by other New Archaeologists is based on the development of universal statements and
A)cognitive maps
B)diffusion diagrams
C)religious interpretations
D)personal observations
E)natural laws

Accepted Answer

The controversial framework developed by Carl Hempel is based on the development of universal statements and natural laws. This approach emphasizes the use of scientific methods and empirical data to develop theories and explanations for archaeological phenomena. Some New Archaeologists adopted this approach, but it was heavily criticized by other New Archaeologists who argued that it neglected the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping human behavior and ignored the subjective nature of archaeological interpretation.

Question 9

______________ is a theoretical approach developed by the "Frankfurt School" of German social thinkers.This approach stresses that all knowledge is historical,biased communication,and thus all claims to objective knowledge are illusory
A)Critical Theory
B)Conjunctivist Theory
C)Catastrophe Theory
D)Structuration Theory
E)Scientism

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the key features of Critical Theory, which was developed by the Frankfurt School.

Question 10

Robert Carneiro,a major proponent of ______________,emphasized the importance of environmental constraints and territorial limitations to explain the origins of the state
A)ecological determinism
B)environmental circumscription
C)punctuated equilibria
D)structuralist approaches
E)systems thinking

Accepted Answer

Robert Carneiro is known for his theory of environmental circumscription, which argues that the emergence of the state was directly linked to environmental factors such as population growth and resource availability. He believed that a combination of ecological determinism and territorial limitations played a key role in shaping the development of human societies and the formation of political structures.

Question 11

Relying on a single dominant explanatory factor to account for a cultural change is known as a(n)
A)idealist explanation
B)multivariate explanation
C)hypothetico-deductive explanation
D)monocausal explanation
E)postprocessual explanation

Accepted Answer

The term "monocausal explanation" refers to relying on a single dominant explanatory factor, which is what is described in the question prompt. The other answer choices do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 12

Which of the following has been put forth as a monocausal explanation for the origins of a state
A)the hydraulic hypothesis
B)population growth
C)warfare
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Each of the options listed (the hydraulic hypothesis, population growth, and warfare) has been proposed as a monocausal explanation for the origins of a state at different times and by different scholars.

Question 13

______________ archaeologists stress that human actions are guided by beliefs and symbolic concepts,and that the proper object of study is the structures of thought-the ideas-of the human actors who made the artifacts and created the archaeological record
A)Marxist
B)Structuralist
C)Processual
D)Historiographic
E)Conservative

Accepted Answer

Structuralist archaeologists emphasize the importance of the symbolic and ideological systems of the human societies who created the archaeological record. They believe that the way people think shapes the material culture they produce.

Question 14

The argument that large-scale irrigation alone leads to urbanization is known as the
A)evolutionary hypothesis
B)hydraulic hypothesis
C)New Archaeology
D)systems theory
E)culture-historical approach

Accepted Answer

The argument that large-scale irrigation alone leads to urbanization is known as the hydraulic hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that the construction and maintenance of large irrigation systems required the centralization of power, which in turn led to the development of cities and urban centers.

Question 15

In migrationist and diffusionist explanations of the past,a "people" is defined as
A)a human grouping that is smaller than a band
B)a sense of personal identity that cannot be seen in the archaeological record
C)a well-defined ethnic group
D)individuals who are genetically related to one another
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

In migrationist and diffusionist explanations of the past, a "people" is generally defined as a well-defined ethnic group. This definition implies a shared culture, language, history, and territory, and it assumes that people with these shared characteristics identify themselves as part of the same group. While genetic relatedness may play a role in defining a people, it is not the primary factor. A, B, and D are therefore not the best choices.

Question 16

Before the New Archaeology,changes observed in the archaeological record were often explained by the idea of
A)migration
B)the environment
C)class struggle
D)cognition and identity
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Migration was a common explanation for changes in the archaeological record before the New Archaeology movement, which sought more scientific and systematic approaches.

Question 17

A notable feature of Lewis Binford's work on the origins of farming was its generality: he was seeking to explain the origins of agriculture worldwide.His is an example of a _________ approach to archaeology
A)post-modern
B)Marxist
C)diffusionist
D)processual
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Binford's focus on explaining the origins of agriculture worldwide reflects a processual approach to archaeology, which seeks to understand the processes behind cultural change and development. Post-modern approaches, on the other hand, emphasize multiple interpretations and subjective experiences of the past, while Marxist approaches emphasize the role of economic and social structures in shaping human history. Diffusionist approaches seek to explain cultural similarities across different regions as the result of direct contact and borrowing.

Question 18

The theoretical position in archaeology that nearly all archaeologists believe in and commands widespread respect is
A)diffusionism
B)The New Archaeology
C)post-Processualism
D)neo-Marxism
E)no theoretical position commands widespread respect

Accepted Answer

Archaeology, like many academic disciplines, is characterized by a diversity of theoretical perspectives. No single theoretical position commands widespread respect or belief among nearly all archaeologists, as scholars often have differing views and approaches to understanding the past.

Question 19

One explanation for the emergence of state societies in the Maya lowlands is based on the lack of basic raw materials in the area,forcing the Maya to develop an intricate system of
A)trade
B)industrialization
C)irrigation canals
D)oxcart roads
E)intense mining

Accepted Answer

The lack of basic raw materials in the Maya lowlands, such as obsidian, forced the Maya to establish a complex network of trade to obtain the resources they needed. This trade network, in turn, facilitated the emergence of state societies as rulers could control and profit from the distribution of valuable goods.

Question 20

In the 1960s,the "loss of innocence" that came with the realization that there was no well-established body of theory to underpin current archaeological methods sparked the development of
A)Cognitive Archaeology
B)Post-Processual Archaeology
C)the culture-historical approach
D)the Diffusionist approach
E)the New Archaeology

Accepted Answer

The "loss of innocence" in the 1960s refers to the realization within the archaeological community that their current methods lacked a solid theoretical foundation. This led to the development of the New Archaeology, also known as Processual Archaeology, which aimed to make archaeology more scientific and theory-driven.

Quiz 10: Explanation in Archaeology

Thomas Malthus has argued that human population tends to grow to the limit permitted by

The idea that the human mind evolved under the selective pressures faced by the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Ice-age humans is an important aspect of

Some Processualists have accused Critical Theorists of believing that one person's idea is as good as any other person's idea: basically that fringe and alternative beliefs are as good as those produced by experts and trained professionals.Such a belief is also called

When the Spanish reached Mexico in the early 16th century they found

Change in the archaeological record is sometimes attributed to struggles between social classes,a result of contradictions that arise between the forces of production and the relations of production (mainly the social organization) .Such an approach to understanding the past would be considered

If,in your explanation for a cultural change (for example,the origin of the state) ,you stress the importance and interaction of several different factors operating at the same time,this would be considered a(n)

The Classic Maya kings portrayed themselves as great guarantors of prosperity and stability,but during the critical 8th and 9th centuries leading up to the Maya collapse they were unable to deliver on these promises because of

The controversial framework developed by Carl Hempel and adopted by some New Archaeologists and heavily criticized by other New Archaeologists is based on the development of universal statements and

______________ is a theoretical approach developed by the "Frankfurt School" of German social thinkers.This approach stresses that all knowledge is historical,biased communication,and thus all claims to objective knowledge are illusory

Robert Carneiro,a major proponent of ______________,emphasized the importance of environmental constraints and territorial limitations to explain the origins of the state

Relying on a single dominant explanatory factor to account for a cultural change is known as a(n)

Which of the following has been put forth as a monocausal explanation for the origins of a state

______________ archaeologists stress that human actions are guided by beliefs and symbolic concepts,and that the proper object of study is the structures of thought-the ideas-of the human actors who made the artifacts and created the archaeological record

The argument that large-scale irrigation alone leads to urbanization is known as the

In migrationist and diffusionist explanations of the past,a "people" is defined as

Before the New Archaeology,changes observed in the archaeological record were often explained by the idea of

A notable feature of Lewis Binford's work on the origins of farming was its generality: he was seeking to explain the origins of agriculture worldwide.His is an example of a _________ approach to archaeology

The theoretical position in archaeology that nearly all archaeologists believe in and commands widespread respect is

One explanation for the emergence of state societies in the Maya lowlands is based on the lack of basic raw materials in the area,forcing the Maya to develop an intricate system of

In the 1960s,the "loss of innocence" that came with the realization that there was no well-established body of theory to underpin current archaeological methods sparked the development of