Q&A Hero

Q: Nazi archaeology provides an example of: a. The insight into prehistory that can be gained when a single group appropriates complete control over the past. b. The misinterpretation and outright fabrication of prehistory that can occur when a single group appropriates complete control over the past. c. How a love of prehistory and sound scientific reasoning can overcome social and political domination. d. How archaeology can help people reestablish pride in their culture, history, and heritage.

Q: While prehistory was largely ignored in Germany prior to Hitler's rise to power, archaeological research flourished under Hitler's control. Nazi archaeology: a. Provided Europe with some of the best archaeological research that had ever been done, using cutting edge methods and sound scientific principles. b. Found evidence that Germanic people had emanated from a northern European core area, carrying with them all the major cultural achievements that then spread to the less civilized peoples of Europe. c. Was used to support claims for Aryan superiority, in spite of the fact that no such evidence existed. d. Found evidence of Aryan kings in locations as far away as Tibet and Iceland, thus proving the cultural and biological superiority of Germanic peoples.

Q: The Bighorn Medicine Wheel today: a. Is off limits to the general public. b. Remains a sacred site to many contemporary Indian people, where ceremonies are performed to this day. c. Has been abandoned by contemporary Indian people because it is overrun by large crowds of tourists. d. Has been completely looted and destroyed; sadly, nothing of the original site remains.

Q: The ethnohistoric record suggests that the Bighorn Medicine Wheel was: a. A site for vision quests. b. An astronomical observatory. c. A two-dimensional imitation of the 28-raftered lodge built as part of the Sun Dance ceremony. d. A burial ground.

Q: Archaeological evidence has shown that the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in the past was used as: a. An astronomical observatory. b. A directional aid for travelers. c. A burial ground; the rock cairns were graves, each one marking where a powerful person was buried. d. None of the above; we de not know what the Medicine Wheel was in the past.

Q: Wyoming's Bighorn Medicine Wheel site consists of: a. A rock art panel depicting what is thought to represent a medicine wheel along with abstract representations of bighorn sheep. b. A stone circle, or "wheel", nearly 90 feet in diameter, perched atop a 9640 foot high peak. c. A large, continuously occupied pithouse village along the banks of the Bighorn River. d. A portion of the natural landscape in the Bighorn Mountains that is sacred to Native American tribes in the region; the site itself contains nothing cultural in origin (in other words, no material remains).

Q: An artificial mound of stones, deliberately constructed in order to aid navigation, as a memorial, or to mark the location of a grave is a: a. Medicine wheel. b. Trail marker. c. Cairn. d. Spiritual site.

Q: The Battle of the Alamo is enshrined in American folklore as: a. A "holy altar", where the martyrs' deaths of Texan soldiers successfully delayed Mexican forces and ultimately set up a victory for Texas. b. A tragic and pointless slaughter of American soldiers by the Mexican troops who vastly outnumbered them. c. An unexpected victory for Texan soldiers, who although they were drastically outnumbered by the Mexican army, fought heroically and were able to overcome the Mexican soldiers. d. The ultimate triumph of good over evil, where Mexican soldiers, seeing the justness of the American cause, joined Texan troops to defeat the Mexican army.

Q: The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), the state-appointed custodians of the Alamo, for years discouraged mission-period research into the Alamo because: a. They believed it would perpetuate animosity between the current Texan and Mexican populations. b. They believed it would detract from the "true" historical significance of the Alamo as the cradle of Texas liberty. c. They did not believe that the Alamo even existed during mission times, and so did not want to devote time and money into its research. d. All of the above.

Q: It is important that archaeologists devote attention to public education because: a. It is ultimately the public that financially supports archaeological research. b. Members of an educated public are far less likely to loot or vandalize archaeological sites. c. Both A and B. d. None of the above; it is the archaeologist's job to conduct research, not waste valuable time and money talking to an uninformed public.

Q: Archaeological evidence has been used to reintroduce ancient technology in areas where it might be useful, such as in Andean farming communities. Results of these experiments indicate: a. That ancient technology cannot be effectively employed because the social, political, and economic systems of the past were completely different from those of today. b. That ancient technology can be highly efficient and cost effective even in the modern world. c. That modern communities are skeptical of the benefits of ancient technology, and are thus unwilling to invest resources in what they consider to be outdated techniques. d. That archaeologists do not know enough ancient technologies to effectively implement them in the modern world.

Q: At Home St. Jean in Rwanda, forensic archaeologists concluded that a mass grave site was part of a program of genocide because: a. Cut marks on bones showed that many individuals were killed by machetes from behind, as if they were fleeing their attackers. b. Cut marks on the bones of hands and forearms showed that some people were unmercifully macheted to death with their arms raised in self defense. c. The murdered civilians were unarmed. d. All of the above.

Q: DiBlasi's archaeological research in Louisville's Eastern Cemetery: a. Documented abundant grave reuse in the cemetery and was important in the effort to prosecute the cemetery's operators. b. Pointed out the problems that can arise in Kentucky cemeteries where reuse of graves is not illegal. c. Showed that grave reuse began only in the late 1980s. d. Documented that grave reuse had not occurred, contrary to accusations by the backhoe operator.

Q: A forensic archaeologist might be involved in: a. Using archaeological methods and techniques to help solve crimes. b. Training law enforcement personnel in basic archaeological principles. c. Documenting human rights violations by excavating mass grave sites. d. All of the above

Q: What types of archaeological knowledge could be useful for law enforcement personnel? a. Knowing how to distinguish human from animal bone. b. Knowing how to probe the ground to determine the location of subsurface pits. c. Knowing how to read soil profiles, topographic maps, and soil reports, as well as map surface evidence. d. All of the above.

Q: The application of archaeological and bioarchaeological knowledge for legal purposes is: a. Bioarchaeology. b. Applied science. c. Forensic archaeology. d. Forensic science.

Q: The Garbage Project demonstrated which of the following about America's landfills? a. Thanks to the recent public focus on recycling, only about 1% of our landfills' space is taken up by paper products. b. Disposable diapers, plastic bottles, and large appliances together make up roughly 50% of a landfill's volume. c. Very little in our landfills actually biodegrades; after 20 years, from 1/3 to 1/2 of all organic materials are still recognizable. d. Organic material tends to biodegrade rapidly in our landfills, leaving abundant room for other types of garbage; contrary to popular opinion, space for landfills around large cities is in no danger of running out.

Q: Why did Rathje resort to rooting through peoples' garbage rather than simply asking them questions about their consumption behavior? a. Because people do not always answer questionnaires accurately and honestly. b. Because the distribution of households made it impossible to conduct a random sample survey. c. Because only garbage associated with abandoned houses could legally be examined, and there was therefore no one to ask. d. Because so many households were included in the study, having people respond to questionnaires would have been an enormous and costly task.

Q: As demonstrated by the Garbage Project's research into landfills, the bulk of American landfills are comprised of: a. Plastic. b. Paper. c. Construction materials. d. Aluminum.

Q: The Garbage Project was started in Tucson, Arizona in 1973 by: a. Emil Haury. b. William Rathje. c. Wilson Hughes. d. Clea Koff.

Q: Applied archaeology: a. Brings the techniques of archaeology to non-traditional venues. b. Applies our knowledge of the human past to concrete economic or social problems. c. Can make archaeology relevant to the modern world. d. All of the above.

Q: Which of the following activities would an applied anthropologist be least likely to be involved in? a. Evaluating domestic social programs looking for ways to improve them. b. Helping corporations improve corporate working conditions. c. Conducting research to better understand how and why the major social institutions evolved. d. Helping to develop culturally appropriate methods of delivering health care.

Q: The difference between pure science and applied science is: a. Pure science is research to acquire the knowledge necessary to solve a specific, recognized problem, while applied science is systematic research directed toward acquisition of knowledge for its own sake. b. Pure science is systematic research directed toward acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, while applied science is research to acquire the knowledge necessary to solve a specific, recognized problem. c. Pure science is systematic research directed toward acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, while applied science is the application of scientific knowledge for legal purposes. d. Pure science has no hidden political agenda, while applied science does.

Q: The U.S. passed laws such as the 1983 Cultural Property Implementation Act and signed treaties with several countries that specifically prohibit the importing of artifacts without established "pedigrees." Some of these "grandfather in" artifacts excavated before the treaty's date. This means that a. there is no longer control over the artifact trade networks and illegal transfer of artifacts across national boundaries. b. an importer cannot be held responsible for artifacts that they did not know were illegal. c. an importer must now prove that artifacts were excavated prior to the treaty's date or were otherwise obtained in ways not prohibited by the treaty. d. it will become easier and easier for someone to import illegally acquired artifacts.

Q: Although the Pentagon had promised to protect Iraqi cultural institutions, the Baghdad Museum remained unguarded. An investigation by Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, USMC concluded that a. the Pentagon was not at fault. b. 40 items were stolen from the main galleries, and more than 13,000 items from storage rooms. c. no attempts would be made to recover the artifacts. d. the items probably never left Iraq.

Q: Jack Lee Harelson was a dangerous looter, illegal gun salesman and attempted murderer. In his backyard were found a. antiquities that amounted to the "Rosetta Stone" of Nevada. b. 10,000-year-old rifles that were some of the oldest dated in the world. c. baskets with bodies of two children, mummified in the dry desert. d. None of the above.

Q: In compliance with Section 106, if sites are located during survey, determined eligible for the register, but cannot be avoided by the project, they might be a. slated for preservation by local or state entities. b. slated for "data recovery", which means extensive excavations and associated analyses of artifacts, ecofacts, and sediments. c. slated for destruction without recovering data. d. reason for hot debates among citizens, officials, and the project manager.

Q: While private CRM firms carry out most of the compliance projects, who pays for the projects? a. The public through federal tax dollars. b. Concerned citizens who are interested in the welfare of properties. c. University research funding. d. Whoever is doing the construction.

Q: Compliance with Section 106 includes a systematic survey of the "area of potential effect" (APE). This area includes a. only the area directly affected. b. the area directly affected and anticipated to be affected after the project's completion. c. the area that funding allows. d. the area addressed in the research question.

Q: If you want to build something on Federal property or modify that landscape, or if you want to construct something that requires federal funding, licenses, or permits, regardless of whose property you will build it on, then you must a. make certain to be careful that you do the least amount of harm to the properties involved. b. determine if the undertaking will cause negative feelings among the neighboring population. c. consider the effects to future wildlife species. d. determine whether the project will adversely affect any sites "included or eligible for" the National Register.

Q: The NHPA requires that the government inventory federal lands for archaeological and historic sites. As a result a. many archaeologists cannot find jobs. b. many archeologist now work in Bureau of Land Management offices or the National Park Service. c. agencies have been able to enumerate all of the holdings on federal lands. d. agencies cannot work with college or university research programs.

Q: In the 1960's the American public became concerned about resource conservation. According to the text, many who recognized that wilderness and wildlife refuges alone could not stem the effects of pollution were aroused by a. the war in Vietnam. b. habitat threats to the whooping crane. c. increasing corruption among SHPO officials. d. Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring.

Q: The Antiquities Act is the foundation of all future archaeological legislation. It is not limited to archaeological sites, but includes a. dams to generate electricity, irrigate lands, and control floods that damage archaeological sites. b. all river basins prior to inundation. c. objects of historic or scientific interest. d. museums, universities, and other scientific institutions that deal with antiquities.

Q: Important sites exist in poor countries that cannot afford the luxuries of protecting their properties. A question brought out by the destruction of the 175-foot-tall, 1500-year-old Bamiyan Buddas by the Taliban was a. Does the world's interest in global heritage override national sovereignty? b. Should the world tell the Taliban what it can do to statues that are present in (what was) their country? c. Who pays for the cleanup of such destruction? d. A and B

Q: Archaeologists must balance the need for development with the need to protect precious archaeological resources. In the example of Machu Picchu a. tourist dollars are a source of income; archaeologists support the tourism to help the nation of Peru, even if it destroys the site. b. archaeologists want people to know about the site and are willing to see some of the value and beauty destroyed. c. archaeologists support making tourism viable in a way that maintains the site's integrity and scientific value. d. archaeologists are, by profession, required to maintain a non-political, hands-off policy.

Q: Which of the following is true of the Elgin marbles? a. They were willingly given to the British museum by Greece because Greece at the time could not protect them from damage cause by pollution; however, Greece now wants them back. b. They were stolen from Greece by the British Museum, and the British Museum refuses to return them. c. They were legally purchased from Lord Elgin by the British Museum; however, there is much controversy over whether Elgin's acquisition of them was ethical, and whether or not the marbles should be returned to Greece. d. The British Museum has finally returned them to Greece in the spirit of "the unity of the European cultural heritage."

Q: The courts ruled in the "Kennewick Man" case that the 9400-year-old human skeleton: a. Was most likely a lineal descendant of the Umatilla, and should therefore be repatriated to the tribe for reburial. b. Was not Native American as defined under NAGPRA, and that even if he were, he could not be culturally affiliated with any of the tribes who claimed him. c. Was culturally affiliated with the Nez Perce, as evidenced by the abundant grave goods buried with the skeleton that are very similar to items made by the Nez Perce today. d. Could be culturally affiliated with multiple tribes on the basis of archaeology and oral traditions, and that therefore the tribes would have to decide amongst themselves who would receive the skeleton.

Q: Cultural affiliation under NAGPRA is determined by: a. Anthropological and archaeological evidence. b. Folklore and oral tradition. c. Geographical and historical evidence. d. All of the above.

Q: Under NAGPRA, how is cultural affiliation of human skeletal remains and other covered items determined? a. First, ownership resides with any lineal descendants, followed by the tribe on whose land the remains or objects were found, followed by the tribe with the closest cultural affiliation and who stakes a claim to the remains, followed by the tribe who is recognized as aboriginally occupying the land on which the remains were found. b. First ownership resides with any lineal descendants, followed by the tribe with the closest cultural affiliation and who stakes a claim to the remains, followed by the tribe who is recognized as aboriginally occupying the land on which the remains were found, followed by the tribe on whose land the remains or objects were actually found. c. First ownership resides with any lineal descendants, followed by the tribe who is recognized as aboriginally occupying the land on which the remains were found, followed by the tribe on whose land the remains or objects were actually found, followed by the tribe with the closest cultural affiliation and who stakes a claim to the remains. d. First ownership resides with the tribe who is recognized as aboriginally occupying the land on which the remains were found, followed by any lineal descendants, followed by the tribe on whose land the remains or objects were actually found, followed by the tribe with the closest cultural affiliation and who stakes a claim to the remains.

Q: NAGPRA requires the repatriation not only of human skeletal remains, but also of: a. Funerary objects, objects placed with a human body as part of a death rite or ceremony or made to contain human remains at the time of burial. b. Sacred objects, specific ceremonial objects necessary for current practice of traditional Native American religions by present-day adherents. c. Objects of cultural patrimony, objects that have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to a Native-American group or culture and that were inalienable at the time they left the tribe's possession. d. All of the above.

Q: NAGPRA: a. Allows scientists to study Native American skeletal material and associated grave goods for a specific amount of time before repatriating the material to a culturally affiliated tribe. b. Allows tribes to decide what happens to all pre-Columbian human remains and artifacts, regardless of whether or not cultural affiliation can be demonstrated. c. Requires the repatriation of Native American human skeletal remains, associated grave goods, or sacred objects to culturally affiliated tribes, who can then decide what to do with the remains or objects (study them, rebury them, etc). d. Requires Native Americans to return all previously repatriated Native American skeletal material and associated grave goods to scientists for further study.

Q: NAGPRA refers to the: a. North Atlantic Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. b. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. c. North American Graves Production and Redistribution Act. d. Native Alaskan Graves Production and Redistribution Act.

Q: What drives the continuation of the antiquities trade? a. Wealthy collectors willing to pay high prices who create a market. b. The native populations of poor countries who loot archaeological sites to feed their families. c. Museums that are willing to accept artifacts without proper documentation of how they were acquired. d. Unscrupulous archaeologists who secretly pocket any rare or otherwise valuable items during an excavation.

Q: Which of the following actions is not required under NAGPRA for institutions receiving federal funding? a. Institutions must inventory burials/grave goods and objects of cultural patrimony. b. Institutions must consult with appropriate Native American tribes determined to be "culturally affiliated" with the remains and objects regarding their repatriation. c. Institutions must pay the tribe affiliated with burials/grave goods possessed by the institution. d. Institutions must agree to repatriate materials if requested.

Q: The 100 countries that have signed the UNESCO Convention of 1970 agree to: a. Regulate the import and export of cultural objects. b. Forbid their nations' museums from acquiring illegally exported cultural objects, and return or otherwise provide restitution of cultural objects stolen from public institutions. c. Establish ways to inform other nations when illegally exported objects are found within a country's borders, and establish a register of art dealers. d. All of the above.

Q: The illegal import of antiquities if hard to stop and the complexities of dealing with the illegal trade are comparable to : a. dealing with complexities related to illegal drug trade. b. dealing with global warming. c. dealing with forest conservation. d. preserving biodiversity.

Q: Which of the following laws apply to archaeological resources on private land? a. Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). b. Antiquities Act. c. National Historic Preservation Act. d. None of the above.

Q: The penalty for violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) is: a. Up to $500 and/or up to 90 days in prison. b. Up to $250,000 and/or up to 5 years in prison; the federal government can also confiscate any equipment used to loot sites, including vehicles. c. No monetary fine, but up to 5 years in prison. d. Nonexistent; this is part of the problem with trying to enforce the act.

Q: The federal government estimates that of the 2 million archaeological sites presently recorded in the American Southwest, _________ percent have been looted to some degree. a. 5 - 10. b. 25 - 40. c. 50 - 90. d. 100.

Q: CRM survey projects differ from research survey projects in that: a. More volunteers and students are usually present on CRM survey projects, and so these projects tend to move more slowly than research survey projects. b. In CRM, the research question determines the survey area. c. In CRM, the size and nature of the development project largely determines the survey area. d. If sites are located on CRM survey projects, investigators do not need to determine their significance.

Q: If an archaeological site is considered significant under the National Historic Preservation Act, then it is: a. Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. b. Automatically placed on the National Register of Historic Places. c. Protected from all future activities that might be considered destructive, including excavation. d. Still likely to be destroyed prior to investigation, as a determination of significance has no power to actually protect an archaeological site.

Q: According to the National Historic Preservation Act's regulations, an archaeological site is eligible for the National Register if it meets which of the following criteria? a. Association with people or events important in history or prehistory. b. Possession of distinctive characteristics of a school of architecture, construction method, or characteristics of high artistic value. c. Known to contain or likely to contain data important in history or prehistory. d. Any or all of the above.

Q: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act: a. Sets forth the criteria by which National Register status is determined. b. Requires all federal agencies to be good stewards of their cultural resources and inventory public lands for archaeological sites. c. Requires the government to take into account the effect of its actions on historic properties. d. All of the above.

Q: If sites are located during a survey and are determined eligible for the National Register they might be slated for "data recovery", which means a. excavations and associated analyses of the artifacts, ecofacts, and sediments. b. excavations sufficient to ensure that information is not lost. c. securing the site and making it off limits to the general public. d. proposing a well-reasoned research question to combat threat to the site from looting or construction activities.

Q: Which of the following is the most common and often the most difficult criteria used by archaeologists to establish a site as "significant" under the 1966 National Historic PreservationAct? a. Site is associated with an important person in history. b. Site is associated with an important event in history. c. Site is an example of an important class of architecture. d. Site is capable or potentially capable of providing information important to history or prehistory.

Q: The river basin survey program of the mid-20th century was important because: a. It stopped 1000s of archaeological sites from being flooded. b. In it, the federal government recognized its responsibility for the effects of federal projects on archaeological sites. c. It led to the passing of Archaeological Resources Protection Act, which was implemented just in time to save many archaeological sites from the destruction caused by dam construction. d. All of the above.

Q: Physical features, both natural and artificial, associated with human activity, including sites, structures, and objects possessing significance in history, architecture, or human development are: a. Historic landmarks. b. Part of the National Register. c. Natural resources. d. Cultural resources.

Q: Which of the following was not created by the National Historic Preservation Act? a. The National Register of Historic Places. b. Steep monetary penalties and mandatory jail time for the looting of archaeological sites on federal or tribal lands. c. State Historic Preservation Offices. d. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Q: The first national park created explicitly for its archaeological rather than environmental significance was: a. Devil's Tower. b. Yellowstone. c. Mesa Verde. d. Montezuma's Castle.

Q: The president was given the authority to create national monuments under which of the following? a. The National Environmental Policy Act. b. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act. c. The National Historic Preservation Act. d. The Antiquities Act.

Q: The 1906 Antiquities Act: a. Required a federal permit before excavating or collecting artifacts from federal land. b. Required tribal consultation on all archaeological discoveries located on federal lands. c. Required the repatriation of all Native American skeletal material and associated grave goods found on federal or tribal lands to culturally affiliated tribes. d. All of the above.

Q: A concern with historic preservation in the United States can be traced to: a. The late 18th century, when societies were formed to ensure the protection of historically significant properties. b. The early 20th century, when industrial development began to threaten significant sites. c. The 1960s and 1970s, coincident with more broadly based environmental preservation movements. d. None of the above; the overwhelming attitude in the United States is, and has always been, a lack of concern for historic preservation while development is allowed to run rampant no matter what the cost.

Q: The field that conducts activities related to compliance with legislation that protects cultural resources is: a. Academic archaeology. b. Historic archaeology. c. Cultural resource management. d. Natural resource management.

Q: Oral traditions are not used to trace shared group identity over time because oral traditions cannot provide valid accounts, even though they use metaphors that add power to stories and make them memorable.

Q: The sanctity of private land in the U.S. means that the commercial mining of terrestrial and underwater sites for artifacts is often completely legal or subject to only a minor penalty.

Q: Even with the protection of ARPA, policing federal land does not stop the looting that continues to destroy the nation's cultural heritage.

Q: NAGPRA does not say what happens to remains or objects that cannot be affiliated; they remain "unaffiliated."

Q: NAGPRA is fairly straightforward to implement because all Native American tribes want culturally affiliated skeletal material and grave goods to be repatriated to them so that they can rebury them.

Q: NAGPRA requires institutions receiving federal funds to inventory and attempt to affiliate and, if asked, repatriate human skeletal remains and associated grave goods to existing federally-recognized tribes.

Q: U. S. Customs has estimated that illegal trafficking in antiquities may be second only to the drug trade in international crime.

Q: The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 covers the protection and repatriation of Native American graves and grave goods.

Q: The cost of cultural resource management projects is always paid by the federal government.

Q: The "area of potential effect" in a CRM survey consists of the area directly affected by the construction project, as well as areas that are anticipated to be affected by the project after its completion.

Q: The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 establishes an on-going "National Register of Historic Places" of "significant" archaeological and historic sites.

Q: The Antiquities Act, passed in 1906, set firm penalties for the looting of archaeological sites, even by today's standards; because this law has worked so well to discourage looting, no additional acts have been necessary.

Q: The majority of field archaeologists are currently employed in educational institutions.

Q: Leone argues that appearance and popularity of formal Georgian gardens in wealthy Annapolis homes during the mid 18th century reflected an attempt by the upper class to maintain their social and economic control.

Q: The re-examination of the Battle of the Little Big Horn documented that, as was commonly believed by American settlers at the time, Custer and his men had indeed fought calmly and in a controlled manner, well-disciplined to the end.

Q: Critical theorists argue that the job of historians (and historical archaeologists) should be to discover the origin of modern class-based ideologies that have been used to rationalize forms of exploitation such as slavery, racism, and sexism.

Q: Although much could have been learned about the lives of early American slaves, archaeological research at the African Burial Ground in New York City was never allowed to take place; the City honored the wishes of descendant communities by immediately repatriating and reburying the remains prior to analysis.