Chapter 5 The Law Superposition Learning Objectives

subject Type Homework Help
subject Pages 11
subject Words 1835
subject Textbook Archaeology 7th Edition
subject Authors David Hurst Thomas, Robert L. Kelly
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1.Archaeological“siteformation”refersto:​
a.​thehumanactionsresponsibleforthecreationofanarchaeologicalsite.
b.thenaturalactionsresponsibleforthecreationofanarchaeologicalsite.​
c.​thehumanandnaturalactionsresponsibleforthecreationofanarchaeologicalsite.
d.​Noneoftheanswersarecorrect.
2.Whatcouldaccountforchronologicallyolderartifactsbeingfoundaboveyoungerartifactsinastratigraphic
sequence?​
a.​Faunalturbation(e.g.,rodentburrows)
b.​Culturaldisturbance(e.g.,prehistoricdiggingofahearthorpit)
c.​Graviturbation
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
3.TheLawofSuperpositionstatesthat,inanypileofsedimentaryrocksthathavenotbeendisturbedbyfoldingor
overturning:​
a.​stratigraphiclayerscannotbeusedtodatearchaeologicalsites.
b.​stratigraphiclayersatthebottomareyoungerthanstratigraphiclayersatthetop.
c.​stratigraphiclayersatthebottomareolderthanstratigraphiclayersatthetop.
d.​soildepthprovidesameasureoftheabsoluteageofastratum.
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4.Inanundisturbeddeposit,astonetoolfoundinastratumoverlyingastratumcontainingpotsherdsismostlikely:​
a.​olderthanthepotsherds.
b.​youngerthanthepotsherds.
c.​thesameageasthepotsherds.
d.​impossibletodeterminewhetherthestonetoolisolderoryoungerthanthepotsherds.
5.NicolausStenoarguedinhisPreliminaryDiscoursetoaDissertationonaSolidBodyNaturallyContained
withinaSolid(1669)thatfossilscametobelaiddowninsidesolidrockbecausethefossils:​
a.​hadgrowninsidetherock,acommonopinionofthetime.
b.​wereolder;therockwasoriginallylaiddownasaliquid,solidifyingaroundthefossils.
c.​wereyounger;theybecametrappedinsidetherockaftertherockhadalreadysolidifiedfromitsliquidstate.
d.​andtherockwerethesameage,bothformingtogetheratthesametime.
6.MaryLeakey’sdiscoveryoffossilfootprintsinvolcanicashatLaetoliwasimportantbecause:​
a.​itwarnedlocalsofthepresenceofanearbyactivevolcano.
b.​fossilanimalfootprintshadneverbeforebeendiscovered.
c.​thevolcanicashhadpreservedthefootprintsofatleasttwobipedalhominids.
d.​itprovedthathominidsmanufacturedandusedstonetoolspriortotheoriginofbipedalism.
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7.ThefootprintsatLaetoliwereremarkablywell-preservedbecause:​
a.​theyweremadeinanashslurrythatquicklyhardenedandwerethenburiedbyvolcanicashsoonafterthey
formed.
b.​theywereslowlyburiedbyvolcanicashaftersittingintheopenairforalongperiodoftime.
c.​theyareveryyoung;theirpreservationisthussolelyafunctionoftheirage.
d.​theywereneverburied;theLaetolilBedsthatpreservethefootprintsaretheyoungestofaseriesof
stratigraphicunits.
8.TheageoftheLaetolifootprintswasdeterminedby:​
a.​directlydatingthefootprintsthemselves.
b.​potassium-argondating.
c.​thelawofsuperposition.
d.​bothpotassium-argondatingandthelawofsuperposition.
9.MostofthestratainGatecliffrockshelterconsistof:​
a.​sedimentsbroughtintotheshelterbyhumans.
b.​naturallydepositedalluvialandeoliansediments.
c.​thicklayersofrockfromcollapseoftheshelterroofovertime.
d.​thicklayersofvolcanicash.
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10.WherearetheLaetolifootprintstoday?​
a.​Thefootprintswerestolenbyalootershortlyaftertheirdiscovery,andtheirwhereaboutsarestillunknown.
b.​Thefootprintswerecoveredwithsedimentandleftinplace,preservedinthegroundwheretheywere
discovered.
c.​ThefootprintsareondisplayinaTanzanianmuseum,wheretheyhavebeenpreservedandstabilized.
d.​Theyaregone,completelydestroyedbyrootactivity.
11.Amarkerbedis:​
a.​aneasilyidentifiedstratumthatisfoundinmultiplesitesinthesameregion.
b.​astratumuniquetoaparticulararchaeologicalsitethatisnotfoundanywhereelsethroughouttheregion.
c.​astratumthatiseasilydatedbythepotassium-argondatingmethod.
d.​astratummarkedbydistinctivesoilhorizons.
12.Amarkerbedcanbeusefultoarchaeologistsbecause:​
a.​ifithasbeendatedinothersites,itcanindicatetheageofsedimentsinanewsite.
b.​itisspecifictoaparticularsiteandcanthereforeprovideadetailedenvironmentalreconstructionofthat
particularsite.
c.​itgenerallyconsistsofsoftsedimentsthatareeasilyexcavated.
d.​Noneoftheanswers;amarkerbedisonlyusefultogeologists.
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13.TheMazamaashhasbeendatedatnumerouslocationsinthewesternUSto6900yearsold.Thismeansthatifan
archaeologistfindstheMazamaashinastratifiedcontext,heorsheknowsthateverythingaboveitislessthan
6900yearsold,andeverythingbelowitismorethan6900yearsold.TheMazamaashisanexampleofa:​
a.​colluvialsediment.
b.​soilhorizon.
c.​markerbed.
d.​sedimentarydepositthathasbeendisturbed,resultinginreversedstratigraphy.
14.Howdoessedimentgenerallyenterrockshelters?​
a.​Rocksfallfromtheshelter’sceilinganddripline.
b.​Colluvialsedimentsentertheshelterfromthesurroundinghillside.
c.​Fineeoliandustfromnearbyordistantsourcesblowsintotheshelter.
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
15.Soildevelopmentoccurs:​
a.​anytimesoilsaredepositedbywindorwater.
b.​whensedimentaccumulatesquicklyandisdeeplyandrapidlyburied.
c.​whensedimentsaccumulateslowlyandundergoinsituchemicalandmechanicalweathering.
d.​anytimesedimentsaresubjectedtointenseheatorcoldoveralongperiodoftime.
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16.Theupperpartofasoilwhereactiveorganicandmechanicaldecompositionofgeologicalandorganicmaterial
occursisthe:​
a.​Ahorizon.
b.​Bhorizon.
c.​Chorizon.
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
17.ABhorizonis:​
a.​theupperpartofasoilwhereactiveorganicandmechanicaldecompositionofgeologicalandorganic
materialoccurs.
b.​alayerbelowtheAhorizonwhereclaysaccumulatethataretransporteddownwardbywater.
c.​alayerabovetheAhorizonmarkedbytheleachingclaysandtheaccumulationoforganicmatter.
d.​unalteredorslightlyalteredparentmaterial.
18.Reversestratigraphywouldresultfromwhichofthefollowingsituations?​
a.​Ifapithouseisconstructedin1000BP,andin500BPanotherpithouseisconstructedontopoftheearlier
pithouse,andin300BPapuebloisconstructedontopofbothpithouses.
b.​Iftheconstructionofapuebloin500BPunearthsremainsofapithouseconstructedin1000BP,andthe
olderpithouseremainsarebroughttothesurface.
c.​Ifrodentdisturbanceresultsinthefillofanearlierfeaturelyingbeneaththefillofalaterfeature.
d.​Anytimenaturalorculturaldisturbanceprocessesactuponanarchaeologicalsite.
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19.Whichofthefollowingisanexampleofasystemiccontext?​
a.​Anartifactscatterleftonthefloorofanabandonedpithouseiscoveredbywindblownsediment.
b.​Aprojectilepointthathadbeenlostwhilehuntingiscarrieddownstreaminaflashflood,becomingpartof
thearchaeologicalrecord.
c.​Aceramicvesselismanufactured,decorated,andusedtocookwith.
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
20.Anarchaeologicalcontextdiffersfromasystemiccontextinthat:​
a.​Anartifactinarchaeologicalcontextdirectlyreflectsthedynamicbehavioralsystemofwhichitwasapartof,
whileanartifactinasystemiccontextisadistortedreflectionofthebehavioralsystem.
b.​Anartifactinanarchaeologicalcontextisnolongerapartofthedynamicbehavioralsystem.
c.​Anartifactinanarchaeologicalcontexthasseldombeenreused,whilereuseiscommoninasystemic
context.
d.​Noneoftheanswers;archaeologicalcontextsaresystemiccontexts.
21.Formationprocessesare:​
a.​processesbywhichculturalevolutionisrecognizedinthearchaeologicalrecord.
b.​thewaysinwhichnaturaldepositionalprocessesoperatetoproducethearchaeologicalrecord.
c.​thewaysinwhichbothhumanbehaviorsandnaturalactionsoperatetoproducethearchaeologicalrecord.
d.​processesbywhichartifactsaretransferredfromsystemictoarchaeologicalcontexts.
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22.Whichofthefollowingformationprocessescouldresultinreversestratigraphy?​
a.​Faunalturbation
b.​Floralturbation
c.​Cryoturbation
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
23.Anexampleofaformationprocessis:​
a.​artifactdiscard,loss,orpurposefulburial.
b.​artifactreuseorrecycling.
c.​naturaldisturbanceprocesses,suchasfloral-andfaunalturbation.
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
24.Whichofthefollowingisthetermforanaturalformationprocessinwhichfreeze/thawactivityinasoilselectively
pusheslargerartifactstothesurfaceofsite?​
a.​Cryoturbation
b.​Argilliturbation
c.​Graviturbation
d.​Imbrication
25.Cryoturbationresultsin:​
a.​largerartifactsbeingpushedtothesurfaceofasite.
b.​verticallysize-sortedartifacts.
c.​thelongaxisofburiedartifactsbeingorientedvertically.
d.​Alloftheanswersarecorrect.
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26.Anartifactdiscardedorlostbyanearlierpopulationandpickedupandreusedbyalaterpopulationisanexample
of:​
a.​areuseprocess.
b.​areclamationprocess.
c.​aculturaldisturbanceprocess.
d.​argilliturbation.
27.Anexampleofaformationprocessinthearchaeologicalcontextis:​
a.​reclamationofanartifact.
b.​disturbanceofmaterialwithinasitebyearthwormactivity.
c.​reuseofanartifact.
d.​constructionofapithouse.
28.Imbricationisaprocessthatresultsin:​
a.​anextremelywell-preservedarchaeologicalrecordthatdirectlyreflectshumanbehavior.
b.​clay-richsoilspushingartifactsupwardasthesedimentswellsandthenmovesthemdownascracksform
duringdrycycles.
c.​stonesinariverbedlyingwiththeirupstreamendsslightlyhigherthantheirdownstreamends.
d.​stonesinariverbedlyingwiththeirupstreamendsslightlylowerthantheirdownstreamends.
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29.Howcouldanarchaeologisttellifflowingwaterratherthanhumanbehaviorwasresponsibleforthedepositionof
artifactsatanarchaeologicalsite?​
a.​Artifactsandunmodifiedrocksmightbeimbricated.
b.​Artifactsandunmodifiedrocksmightbeorientedtothedirectionofflow.
c.​Bothartifactsandunmodifiedrocksmightbeimbricatedandartifactsandunmodifiedrocksmightbe
orientedtothedirectionofflow.
d.​Thereisnowaytotell,andthereforetheartifactassemblageislikelytobemisinterpreted.
30.Whatinformationdoicecorestakenfromseveralplacesintheworldindicate?​
a.​Thelast10,000yearshavebeenthewarmesttimeontheearthoutofthelast100,000.
b.Theclimateoverthelast10,000yearshasbeensurprisinglystable.​
c.​Boththelast10,000yearshavebeenthewarmesttimeontheearthoutofthelast100,000andtheclimate
overthelast10,000yearshasbeensurprisinglystable.
d.​Globaltemperatureshavedecreasedsignificantlyinthelast100years.
31.Thelawofsuperpositiongivesustheinformationthatthe“story”ofthepast​
a.​beginsatthesurface,withsucceeding“chapters”lyingbelow.
b.​beginsatthebottom,withsucceeding“chapters”lyingabove.
c.​cannotbereadmerelyfromthestrataoftheearth.
d.​isinterpretedonlythroughthepatientworkofthearchaeologist.
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32.InGatecliff’smasterstratigraphythereare16livingsurfacesresultingfrom​
a.​humanactivities.
b.​naturalflooddeposition.
c.​geologicalorigin.
d.​alluvialsediments.
33.Eoliansedimentsrefertomaterialstransported​
a.​andaccumulatedbywater.
b.​andaccumulatedbygeologicalmovementsoftheearth.
c.​bywind.
d.​byhumans.
34.Thebenefitofmarkerbedsisthat​
a.​theycanprovidecluestotheageofsiteswithnewsediments.
b.​theycanprovidecluestotheageofsedimentsinanewsite.
c.​theycanbeusedtoestimatethedateofhumanmaterials.
d.​theyareeasilytransportedbacktothelaboratoryforanalysis.
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35.Sedimentsdepositedprimarilythroughtheactionofgravityongeologicalmateriallyingonhillsidesarecalled​
a.​eoliansediments.
b.​markerbeds.
c.​colluvialsediments.
d.​soil.
36.Soilsaredevelopmentalsequences,distinctivelayersthatdevelopinplace.Bhorizonrefersto​
a.​thetopsoillayerwhereorganicmaterialandrockundergochemicalandmechanicaldecomposition.
b.​thelayerwhereclaysaccumulateasrainfallandsnowmelttransportthemdownward.
c.​amineralhorizonconsistingofparentmaterial.
d.​theculturallayerbetweenthetopsoilandmineralhorizon.
37.Icecorerecordstellusallofthefollowingexcept:​
a.​thatthelast10,000yearshavebeencoolerthanthepast100,000years.
b.​thatthelast100,000yearshavewarm.
c.thatthelast10,000yearshavebeenthewarmesttimeofthepast100,000years.
d.​thatthelast10,000yearshavenotbeenstable.
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38.Theexampleofpithouseconstruction​
a.​upholdsthelawofsuperposition.
b.​indicatesthatthelawofsuperpositiondoesnotapply.
c.​indicatesarchaeologicalsitescanbefrozenintime.
d.​isnotvaluabletoadiscussionofgeomorphology.
39.Inmostsites,stratigraphyresultsfromacomplexinterplaybetween​
a.​animalsandpeople.
b.​peopleandwater.
c.​natureandsocieties.
d.​climateandsocieties.
40.Artifactsleavethesystemiccontextandenterthearchaeologicalcontextthrough​
a.​loss.
b.​discard.
c.​animals.
d.​lossanddiscard.
41.Geoarchaeologyisthegeologicalstudyoflandformsandlandscapes,forinstance,soils,rivers,hills,sanddunes,
deltas,glacialdeposits,andmarshes.​
a.True
b.False
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42.The“LawofSuperposition”isalsoknownas“Steno’sLaw.”​
a.True
b.False
43.MaryandLouisLeakywerefamoushistoricarchaeologistswhoworkedinEastAfrica.​
a.True
b.False
44.Archaeologicalsitesresultfrombothhumanbehaviorandnaturalprocesses.​
a.True
b.False
45.Homininsaremembersoftheevolutionarylinethatcontainshumansandourearlybipedalancestors.​
a.True
b.False
46.Naturaldisturbanceprocessesaretheonlyprocessesthataffecttheformationofarchaeologicalsites.​
a.True
b.False
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47.Thearchaeologicalrecordisalmostalwaysadirectreflectionofthehumanbehaviorthatproducedit.​
a.True
b.False
48.Anartifactinsystemiccontextispartofanongoing,dynamicbehavioralsystem.​
a.True
b.False
49.Bythetimeanartifactreachesanarchaeologist’shand,ithasusuallylongsinceceasedtoparticipateinthesystemic
context.​
a.True
b.False
50.Formationprocessesonlyoccurinthearchaeologicalcontext,notinthesystemiccontext.​
a.True
b.False
51.Akrotovinaisevidenceoffloralturbation.​
a.True
b.False
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52.Graviturbationisanexampleofaformationprocessinthesystemiccontext.​
a.True
b.False
53.Icecoresamplesindicatethattheglobaltemperaturehasdecreasedsignificantlyinthelast100years.​
a.True
b.False
54.Whatisgeoarchaeology?Whatarethegoalsofgeoarchaeology?Howisgeoarchaeologyusefultoarchaeology?​
55.WhatistheLawofSuperposition?Whyisitimportantinarchaeology?Howdoesithelparchaeologistsinterpret
archaeologicalandgeologicdeposits?InwhatsituationsdoestheLawofSuperpositionnotapply?​
56.Whyisthearchaeologicalrecordrarelyadirectreflectionofpasthumanbehavior?Whataresiteformation
processes?Whatarethedifferencesbetweensystemicandarchaeologicalcontexts?​
57.Whyistherenosimplecorrespondencebetweenthedistributionofartifactsinanarchaeologicalsiteandhuman
behavior?Whatfactorsotherthanhumanbehaviormustarchaeologistsconsiderwheninterpretingasite?​
58.Whatformationprocessesoccurinthearchaeologicalcontext?Giveexamplesofeach.Whateffectcanthese
processeshaveonthearchaeologicalrecord?Bespecific.​
59.Whatformationprocessesoccurinthesystemiccontext?Giveexamplesofeach.Whateffectcantheseprocesses
haveonthearchaeologicalrecord?Bespecific.​
60.Howcanarchaeologistsdeterminetheeffectsofformationprocesses?Whatinformationmusttheycollectinorder
todoso?Giveexamples.​
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61.Whataretheargumentsforandagainstthereturnofantiquitiestotheircountriesoforigin?Whatisyouropinion?
Why?​
62.Whateffectcanflowingwaterhaveonanarchaeologicaldeposit?Howcouldanarchaeologisttellifflowingwater
wasresponsibleforthedepositionofartifactsinastratum?​
63.Canarchaeologicalsitesthathavebeensubjecttonaturalorculturaldisturbanceprocessesstillprovide
archaeologistswithmeaningfuldataabouthumanbehavior?Whyorwhynot?​
64.Icecoresampleshavebeentakenfromavarietyoflocationsthroughouttheworld?Whatdoesthisdatatell
researchersabouttheclimateoverthelast100,000years,thelast10,000years,andaboutthefuture?​

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