Written in Bone Sections 1 & 2 Study Guide

The word “archaeologist” comes from word roots archaeo-, meaning "ancient" and -logist, meaning “someone who studies”. From these word roots and the context in the excerpt above, what is the meaning of the word archaeologist?

• a person who studies the past, present, and future

• a person who studies history by analyzing artifacts and physical remains

• an older person who has spent his or her entire life studying human remains

• a smart person who studies an unsolved mystery

Which conclusion is presented by the author in Chapter 1 of Written in Bone?

• Archaeologists can locate old graves by looking for soil stains that are the size of a human body or coffin.

• • 
    

    Scientists identified the location of the original James fort by finding skeletal remains.

• Forensic anthropologists worked hard but were never able to find the original James Fort.

• • 
    

    Soil stains and other changes in the earth make it difficult for scientists to uncover the secrets of those who died.

Which quotation best supports the answer that the conclusion presented by the author in Chapter 1 of Written in bone is "Archaeologists can locate old graves by looking for soil stains that are the size of a human body or coffin".

• “As they find, excavate, and analyze these objects- including skeletons- archaeologists help us understand the past more fully and reclaim the histories of individuals who had been forgotten with the passage of time."

• “A photograph taken in 1852 shows a cart in front of the old church tower that marked the location of the Jamestown settlement."

• "The shape and pattern of the soil stains could have been made only by the palisade walls of James Fort."

• “Because the backfill soil contains the mixed soils of the excavated layers, it is a different color than the soil that forms the walls of the grave shaft. The result is a stain that remains even centuries later."

How does the inclusion of this photograph affect the reader’s understanding of the text?

• It reveals that archaeologists rarely work on uncovering skeletons and more often focus on buildings.

  It reveals that archaeologists rarely work on uncovering skeletons and more often focus on buildings.

• It reveals that skeletons can be buried in the most unique places.

• It emphasizes how careful archaeologists must be when uncovering artifacts buried underground.

• It emphasizes how difficult it can be to locate an old settlement like Jamestown. 

Which quotation best supports the answer that the inclusion of the photograph affects the reader’s understanding of the text because "it emphasizes how careful archaeologists must be when uncovering artifacts buried underground."

• “The excavation also revealed features such as floors, brick fireplaces, trash pits, and wells."

• “Those early scientists may not have found the fort simply because they didn’t expect to and therefore weren’t looking for it."

• "No matter how high the level of excitement may be at an archaeological dig, nothing can be permitted to disrupt the meticulous use of scientific methods and procedures."

• “As long as burial space was still available inside the fort, the colonists may have preferred to bury their dead alongside the church."

Which author's craft move is used in this quotation from Chapter 1 of Written in Bone?

“Sunlight flooded the beige-colored soil. At the bottom of a carefully excavated pit, the rounded surface of a human skull gleamed with a yellow brown luster.”

• anecdote

• dialogue

• rhetorical question

• play on words

Which author's craft move is used in this quotation from Chapter 1 of Written in Bone?

“‘He was about fifteen years old when he died. And he was European,’ Owsley told the others.”

• anecdote

• dialogue

• rhetorical question

• play on words

Which author's craft move is used in this quotation from Chapter 1 of Written in Bone?

"Who was this person?"

• anecdote

• dialogue

• rhetorical question

• play on words

Which author's craft move is used in this quotation from Chapter 1 of Written in Bone?

"A Grave Mystery"

• anecdote

• dialogue

• rhetorical question

• play on words

Which of the following statements best paraphrases the excerpt?

• Be careful not to disrupt the shore or you will be punished.

• When you see the shore of the New World, you should celebrate.

• When you are blessed by God, you too will go to the New World.

• Be careful to express your happiness and thanks only after you reach the shore.