Archaeology Quiz

What do archaeologists study?

• Rocks and minerals

• Very ancient reptiles

• People and how they lived in the past

• Stars and planets

Which of the following is NOT a task that archaeologists do?

• Study rocks and minerals

• Excavate sites

• Conduct site surveys

• Analyze old things and sites

What is the purpose of a site survey in archaeology?

• To destroy archaeological places

• To help archaeologists decide where to start digging

• To train new archaeologists

• To collect artifacts and keep them

Who might be part of a field crew in an archaeological excavation?

• Only experienced archaeologists

• Students and volunteers

• Paleontologists

• Geologists

Why are archaeologists careful about where they dig during an excavation?

• Because excavation can destroy an archaeological place

• Because they are looking for white ceramics

• To find the best artifacts quickly

• Because they want to use computer-driven equipment

What do archaeologists do before excavating a site?

• They carefully map the site and record findings.

• They dig until they hit subsoil and then start excavating.

• They grid a site and excavate layer by layer.

• They take photographs and leave the site as it is.

What is the purpose of archaeologists taking soil samples and bagging up artifacts?

• To sell them to museums.

• To document and understand what they see.

• To clean the site for visitors.

• To prepare the site for construction.

What does each new layer of soil, or stratum, signal in archaeology?

• The depth at which water is found.

• A different cultural time period.

• The presence of subsoil.

• The end of the archaeological site.

Why do archaeologists dig until they hit subsoil?

• Because it contains the most artifacts.

• To find water sources.

• Because subsoil indicates the deepest layer with artifacts.

• To make room for new constructions.

What is the importance of good recordkeeping in archaeology?

• It helps in selling the artifacts.

• It is used to guide tourists at the site.

• It documents what the archaeologists saw in the units.

• It is only for legal purposes.