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Archaeology Terms

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Instructions: Excavation and artifact terminology

  1. 1.

    What is an 'artifact' in archaeology?

    A
    An object made or modified by humans
    B
    A layer of soil
    C
    A natural rock formation
    D
    A type of fossil
  2. 2.

    What does 'stratigraphy' study in archaeology?

    A
    Ancient languages
    B
    Ancient trade routes
    C
    Prehistoric animal bones
    D
    The layers of soil and rock at an excavation site
  3. 3.

    What is a 'dig site' more formally called in archaeology?

    A
    A survey
    B
    A repository
    C
    An excavation
    D
    A quarry
  4. 4.

    What is 'carbon dating' used for?

    A
    Measuring the weight of artifacts
    B
    Mapping underground structures
    C
    Determining the age of organic materials
    D
    Analyzing the chemical composition of metals
  5. 5.

    What is a 'shard' or 'sherd' in archaeology?

    A
    A type of ancient weapon
    B
    A fossilized bone fragment
    C
    A broken piece of pottery
    D
    A stone tool
  6. 6.

    What does 'in situ' mean when archaeologists use the term?

    A
    In its original place or position
    B
    In a museum display
    C
    Under water
    D
    In the laboratory
  7. 7.

    What is a 'midden' in archaeology?

    A
    An ancient refuse heap or dump
    B
    A stone circle
    C
    A burial chamber
    D
    A clay tablet
  8. 8.

    What is a 'petroglyph'?

    A
    A stone used for grinding grain
    B
    A fossilized tree
    C
    A type of ancient pottery
    D
    A rock carving made by prehistoric people
  9. 9.

    What does 'Neolithic' mean?

    A
    Old Stone Age
    B
    New Stone Age
    C
    Bronze Age
    D
    Iron Age
  10. 10.

    What is a 'tumulus' in archaeology?

    A
    An ancient writing system
    B
    A mound of earth over a burial site
    C
    A prehistoric fishing tool
    D
    A type of Roman road
  11. 11.

    What does 'provenance' mean in archaeology?

    A
    The age of an artifact
    B
    The purpose of an ancient tool
    C
    The documented history of an artifact's origin and ownership
    D
    The material an artifact is made from
  12. 12.

    What is a 'megalith'?

    A
    A large stone used to build a prehistoric structure
    B
    An ancient metal coin
    C
    A small decorative bead
    D
    A type of cave painting
  13. 13.

    What is 'dendrochronology'?

    A
    The study of ancient teeth
    B
    The study of ancient DNA
    C
    Dating objects by analyzing tree ring patterns
    D
    The classification of dinosaur species
  14. 14.

    What is a 'cairn'?

    A
    An ancient irrigation canal
    B
    A man-made pile of stones, often marking a burial or trail
    C
    A type of prehistoric pottery kiln
    D
    A carved stone pillar
  15. 15.

    What does 'Paleolithic' refer to?

    A
    The Bronze Age
    B
    The New Stone Age
    C
    The Old Stone Age
    D
    The Middle Ages

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