Archaeology - 6Th Grade Social Studies

Front 1

What is the basic function of archaeologists?

Back 1

Archaeologists study the remains of ancient human societies and cultures.

Front 2

What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) botanists?

Back 2

(Archaeological) botanists study ancient pollen found in soil and rocks.

Front 3

What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) chemists?

Back 3

(Archaeological)chemists determine the age of ancient objects.

Front 4

What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) geologists?

Back 4

(Archaeological)geologists describe and explain the changes in the earth's suface that occur over time.

Front 5

What is the basic function of ... paleoanthropologists?

Back 5

Paleoanthropolists study the biological and cultural development of humans.

Front 6

What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) linguists?

Back 6

(Archaeological) linguists study and compare ancient languages looking for similarities among them.

Front 7

What are the 6 basic archaeological specialties?

Back 7

1. archaeology
2. botanists
3. chemists
4. geologists
5. linguists
6. paleoanthropolgy

Front 8

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... study the remains of buildings, artwork, tools, and pottery?

Back 8

archaeologist

Front 9

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... remove fossilized pollen with acid or by adding a liquid that causes the pollen to float on the top of the surface?

Back 9

botanists

Front 10

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... might discover a fossil of a sea creature in an area that is all land and conclude that the land was once water?

Back 10

geologists

Front 11

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... compare ancient languages to determine whether the speakers lived in the same geographic area?

Back 11

linguists

Front 12

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... study the size and shape of skeletal remains such as, teeth and bones?

Back 12

paleoanthropologists

Front 13

Why do botonist study the plants from which pollen came?

Back 13

They use this information to understand the vegetation of a particular area that existed up to 60,000 years ago.

Front 14

Name the 4 basic steps that archaeologistsgoes through in their work.

Back 14

1. Determine where an ancient society is likely to be baried;
2. Dig through the eaach and uncover, or excate, the remains;
3. Accurately record where the objects were found; and,
4. Carefully examine the objects to learn about the society.

Front 15

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology study the materials from rocks?

Back 15

geologists

Front 16

Why do geologists want to understand the material of a rock?

Back 16

Geologists want to discover how ancient people got the stone to make their tools.

Front 17

What are 3 reasons linguists compare ancient languages?

Back 17

Linguist study ancient languages to:
1. determine whether the groups lived in the same geographical area;
2. Track the movement of different societies; and,
Identify important information about the ancient cultures.

Front 18

Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology study the biological and cultural development of humans?

Back 18

paleoanthropoligists

Front 19

Why do paleoanthropologists focus on the size and shape of skeletal remains such as, teeth, skulls, and other bones?

Back 19

Paleoanthropologists study teeth, skulls and other bones to reveal information on the size, sex, and age of a hominid when he or she died.

Front 20

Name 5 aspects an anthropologist tries to understand about people's lives.

Back 20

1. Culture
2. Community
3. Communication
4. Religion
5. Traditions

Front 21

What is a culture?

Back 21

Culture is how people live, and the ways of living that they have in common.

Front 22

What is a community?

Back 22

Community is where people live, and the social structure and buildings.

Front 23

What is communication?

Back 23

Communication is how people exchange ideas, language, pictures, and gestures.

Front 24

What is religion?

Back 24

Religion is what people value and/or worship.

Front 25

What is a tradition?

Back 25

Traditions are the actions and beliefs handed down from the past.

Front 26

What does excavate mean?

Back 26

To dig to examine a site.

Front 27

What are the 4 basic steps to excavating an archaeological site?

Back 27

1. Map out the area
2. form area into squares or a grid pattern
3. labels coordinates.
4. measure, dig, sift and brush away dirt to reveal the relics

Front 28

Name 2 large tools that archaeologists use during an excavation.

Back 28

shovels and picks

Front 29

Name 3 smaller tools that an archaeologists use during an excavation.

Back 29

trowel, ice picks and a firm brush

Front 30

Why would an archaeologist use a wire mesh sieve during an excavation?

Back 30

To sift through dirt to locate tiny objects which may otherwise be overlooked.

Front 31

Why would an archaeologist make a plaster cast of bones or fossils?

Back 31

Plaster casts are made of bones and fossils that are too difficult to move.

Front 32

Only large bones and fossils are labelled and recorded.
True or false? Why?

Back 32

False. All relics, no matter the size of them, are labelled and recorded.

Front 33

What is stratigraphy?

Back 33

Stratigraphy is a method used to determine the age of artifacts by keeping a record of the layers of soil in which they were found.

Front 34

Why is stratigraphy important?

Back 34

It's a process that helps to interpret archaeologists findings and uncover clues about different periods in history.

Front 35

What is a strata?

Back 35

A distinct change in a layer of soil and rock.

Front 36

What is an artifact?

Back 36

An artifact is an object that has been made or modified by humans.

Front 37

What are 3 inferences an archaeologist may make about an artifact such as, an arrowhead made of flint in an area where flint is not naturally found?

Back 37

They can infer:
1. the flint was found while the people traveled;
2. people traded for it;
3. people were attached by people from an area where flint is naturally found.

Front 38

What are two methods used to determine the age of a fossil?

Back 38

1. radioactive-carbon dating or radioactive decay
2. layer-dating or examining the layer of earth the fossil was found

Front 39

Why are rocks important in layer-dating a fossil?

Back 39

Geologists know that younger rocks are layered on top of older rocks.

Front 40

What is radioactive carbon dating?

Back 40

Dating artifacts, bones and teeth by chemically determining the amount of radio-active carbon decay there is in them.

Front 41

What is the maximum number of years that an artifact be dated using radioactive carbon dating?

Back 41

50,000 years

Front 42

Why is radioactive carbon dating only effective for artifacts that are less than 50,000 years old?

Back 42

There is no radioactive carbon left in an artifact after it is 50,000 years old.