Q&A Hero

Q: How do Anna Roosevelt's excavations at Pedra Pintada challenge the Clovis First model?

Q: The Mokaya of Mazatn: A. depended mostly on maize for subsistence B. were an early complex society, dating to around 1500 bc C. were organized into egalitarian tribal villages D. lacked cooperative labor, and items such as figurines or mirrors that were typical of contemporaneous cultures

Q: Why is the site of Monte Verde significant?

Q: When a particular status is conferred upon an individual at birth, it is called: A. ascribed B. achieved C. innate D. genetic

Q: What is the significance and controversy surrounding Meadowcroft Rockshelter?

Q: An example of an achieved status is a: A. tribal village headman B. queen C. male D. girl

Q: What is Clovis culture?

Q: What is the significance of Australian rock art?

Q: In the sociopolitical form known as a chiefdom: A. villages remain independent from each other B. the chief has the same functions as a tribal leader C. the chief is almost always a war leader D. society is most often lead by a female ruler

Q: What happened to the Pleistocene megafauna?

Q: Tribal leaders, as exemplified by those among the Yanomamo of South America: A. have great power to force their subjects to obey B. can also be shamans, polygynists, and the heads of their lineages C. have little or no authority among their own people D. typically have few allies to support them

Q: What was the geography of Southeast Asia and Australia like during periods of glacial advance and low sea level?

Q: The Yanomamo people: A. are a well-known contemporary Mesoamerican culture B. are classified by anthropologists as an egalitarian agricultural tribe C. have no leaders at all since they are a non-complex society D. live in small cities along the Amazon River

Q: Excavation of the bison kill at the Olsen-Chubbock site provided conclusive proof that humans were responsible for the extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna.

Q: The rise of the chiefdom: A. occurred only once in Mesoamerica B. is likely to have occurred many times over C. cannot be detected archaeologically D. happened before the adoption of agriculture

Q: The North American megafauna were driven to extinction after an asteroid struck the earth approximately 13,000 years ago.

Q: One's status in a chiefdom: A. is egalitarian, until one is the chief B. is the same as the chief's C. is dependent on one's relation to the chief D. varies according to the seasons

Q: During Mesoamerica's Initial Formative era, inhabitants of the Tropical Lowlands: A. and the Western Highlands exploited their environments in a similar fashion B. produced numerous elite pottery vessels for feasting C. built larger villages than people who lived in the Western Highlands D. had little or no social complexity evident in their villages

Q: Kennewick Man, found in Washington state, is a 40,000-year-old skeleton that bolsters the Early Arrival hypothesis.

Q: The Solutrean hypothesis argues that human migration from the Americas was responsible for the Solutrean culture of the Upper Paleolithic of Western Europe.

Q: The terminology used to describe the entire materials and practices, including the production, distribution, and consumption of goods as controlled or influenced by the decisions of a society's rulers is: A. "political economy" B. "political organization" C. "economics" D. "inequality"

Q: The mass production of prismatic blades: A. signifies the regularized production of goods B. did not occur until the Classic period C. allowed any type of stone to be manufactured into a tool D. probably took place in every Mesoamerican household over time

Q: An alternative to the ice-free corridor route into North America is a coastal migration route.

Q: Prismatic blades: A. are very easy to manufacture, even for the novice B. were manufactured in every ancient Mesoamerican household C. were made by specialists D. were first produced in Mesoamerica around 5000 bc

Q: What happened at the end of the Middle Stone Age/Paleolithic that led to the elaboration of the Upper Paleolithic?

Q: What differences are evident in the subsistence of modern humans and Neanderthals?

Q: Choose the correct statement regarding technology in ancient Mesoamerica. A. Metals were completely unknown to ancient Mesoamericans. B. Wheels were present, but had uses that were limited to a few tools and ritual items. C. Pottery was invented during the Classic period. D. Pottery was replaced by metal containers during the Classic period.

Q: What evidence is there of open air Upper Paleolithic sites?

Q: Mesoamerica's New Stone Age and the Old World's Neolithic stage: A. illustrate that similar forces of cultural evolution were in operation B. resulted in the addition of chipped stone artifacts to lithic assemblages for the first time C. occurred for vastly different reasons D. provide evidence for the success of humans during the Ice Age

Q: What is use-wear analysis?

Q: Mirrors in the archaeological record of Mesoamerica: A. appeared for the first time during the Archaic period B. may signify the practice of shamanism C. have been found in the remains of every single Formative period household D. primarily functioned as utilitarian devices, as they do today

Q: Mirrors in ancient Mesoamerica were: A. used as modern people use them today for providing an image of themselves B. found inside residences in areas where the bathrooms were located C. made by chipped stone manufacture D. probably used by shamans

Q: What have we learned about social inequality from burials of the Upper Paleolithic?

Q: Having excavated the remains of a village, you could conclude that it represented an egalitarian tribe if: A. there is one building that is larger than any other buildings where ceremonies seem to have taken place B. a few burials contain exotic goods while other burials are lacking grave goods C. this village is the same size as all others in the settlement system D. one of the houses contains a set of unique symbols that originated hundreds of kilometers away

Q: Archaeologists recognize social inequality in the archaeological record by: A. the absence of civic-ceremonial structures B. the similarity in housing sizes C. variation among artifacts D. burial goods that are similar in value from one individual to another

Q: How do Upper Paleolithic tools differ from the Middle Paleolithic industries?

Q: What is the archaeological evidence for the fate of the Neanderthals?

Q: What is the significance of the Blombos Cave objects?

Q: The Initial Formative era of Mesoamerica: A. dates from 2000 bc to 1200 bc B. is when agriculture was first adopted C. is when the Olmecs reached their peak of complexity D. is when all Mesoamericans were incorporated into chiefdoms and states

Q: The Formative period of Mesoamerica is so named because: A. pottery vessels were first formed during this time B. humans first experimented with a form of agriculture C. domestication of plants and animals occurred D. the cultural institutions that characterized the remainder of Mesoamerican prehistory were developed

Q: What is the African Middle Stone Age?

Q: What is a modern human?

Q: The earliest known painted cave is Lascaux in northern France.

Q: By the end of the Formative period: A. the Olmecs had conquered all of the Gulf Coast of Mexico B. all Mesoamericans lived in hierarchical societies C. there was still a heavy reliance on hunting and gathering for subsistence D. small autonomous agricultural villages were found only in coastal areas

Q: MATCHING 2 1) Guil Naquitz Cave 2) El Riego Cave 3) Zohapilco 4) Chantuto 5) Tamaulipas A. Tehuacn Valley B. Northeast Mexico C. Coastal Chiapas D. Central Highlands E. Valley of Oaxaca

Q: The hallmark of the Upper Paleolithic is the dramatic appearance of a spectacular range of art objects.

Q: MATCHING 1 1) Ajuereado Phase 2) El Riego Phase 3) Coxcatln Phase 4) Abejas Phase 5) Purrn Phase A. Subsistence here is based entirely on wild plants and animals B. Diet is 35 percent domesticated plants C. A few permanent settlements emerge D. Initial occupation of Tehuacn Valley E. Incipient plant domestication

Q: The material in this chapter on the origins of food production: A. demonstrates that early agriculture was so obviously superior to hunting and gathering that, within a short time, it was immediately adopted throughout Mesoamerica B. stresses that the appearance of food production was revolutionary in its effects on human society, but not in the speed with which it occurred C. shows that the technology in the field is so advanced that we are able to determine exactly when and where certain plants and animals were domesticated D. asserts that the steps in the process of domestication were very different in Mesoamerica than in other parts of the world

Q: The stone tool industries of the Upper Paleolithic remain remarkably unchanged through time.

Q: An advantage of settling down is: A. groups get to move around frequently B. the weak and infirm do not have to be mobile C. it affords a healthier lifestyle than foraging D. people lessen their chances of contracting communicable diseases

Q: The Neanderthals died out shortly after the appearance of modern humans in Europe.

Q: The Chtelperronian is a transitional tool industry between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic.

Q: It was during the Initial Formative that: A. ceramics were first used in Mesoamerica B. sedentism was first adopted by Mesoamericans C. a few signs of status difference emerged in Mesoamerican societies D. agriculture was first adopted in Mesoamerica

Q: The earliest-known ceramics from Middle America (Intermediate Area) came from _____, while Mesoamerica's earliest-known ceramics are found at_____. A. Monagrillo / Puerto Marques B. Puerto Hormigo / Puerto Marques C. Monagrillo / Puerto Hormigo D. Puerto Marques / Monagrillo

Q: During the Middle and Late Archaic, the sites of Laguna Chantuto in the Soconusco region: A. were composed of elaborate temple pyramids B. consisted primarily of shell middens used for food processing C were inhabited by early farmers D. were located inland to exploit terrestrial resources

Q: The Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition is marked by a gradual elaboration of material culture associated with Neanderthals.

Q: The use of the term "preceramic" is important to understand in the cultural evolution of Mesoamerica because it: A. connotes a sedentary lifestyle B. generally symbolizes a mobile lifestyle C. is not always possible to recover remains of ceramics D. is unique to Mesoamerica

Q: It is common to find remains of Neanderthals and modern humans at the same sites in the Middle East.

Q: The prepared field at the site of Gheo-Shih, Oaxaca, may have been used: A. as a ball court B. for planting maize C. for firing ceramics D. as a building foundation

Q: Neanderthal skeletons have been found at such Middle Paleolithic sites as Qafzeh and Skhul Caves.

Q: Mesoamerica's oldest example of a ceramic figurine comes from: A. Zohapilco B. Gheo-Shih C. Guil Naquitz D. Tehuacn Valley

Q: Bone tools, such as harpoons, have been found on Middle Paleolithic sites in England.

Q: Unlike the Middle Paleolithic in Europe, artwork has been found at Middle Stone Age sites such as Blombos Cave.

Q: Middle Stone Age tool industries included Gravettian and Solutrean.

Q: It is likely that maize domestication: A. occurred first in the Old World and then spread to the Americas B. happened immediately after the Ice Age C. had little impact on cultural developments in Mesoamerica D. took place by 6,000 years ago in Middle America

Q: The Middle Stone Age refers to the archaeological period of the earliest modern humans in Africa.

Q: Domesticated maize: A. emerged by 10,000 bc B. occurred in the highlands of Oaxaca and other places in Mesoamerica C. derived from its wild ancestor, maguey D. occurred in lowland areas

Q: There are no modern human fossils found in southern Africa.

Q: It is 6000 bc and you are in the Tehuacn Valley. Even though it is raining, you are still expecting company for dinner tonight. The menu is: A. your very own domesticated brand of corn, beans, and squash B. roast duck stuffed with wild grain, and avocados and chili peppers on the side for garnish C. a medley of wild cactus fruits, rice, and deer steak D. a three-course meal featuring heart of maguey, rabbit stew, and chocolate covered bananas for dessert

Q: The earliest modern Homo sapiens human fossil was discovered at the site of Hadar, Ethiopia.

Q: The Tehuacn Valley sequence is one of the most well-known chronologies for Mesoamerica because: A. the valley was explored early on in the 1800s B. numerous cave sites contain ancient hieroglyphs with dates C. excavations catalog the rise of states and urban life D it documents the transition from mobile foraging to settled farming life

Q: Sites in the Tehuacn Valley in Puebla, Mexico: A. show evidence for the transformation from village farming to life in cities B. contain evidence that may indicate the practice of human sacrifice C. received much more rainfall than those in the Valley of Oaxaca D. yield little information about Archaic diet

Q: The term "modern humans" refers to several subspecies of Homo sapiens, including Neanderthals.

Q: The Guil Naquitz Cave in Oaxaca, Mexico: A. is the site of the earliest Mesoamerican Paleoindians B. was primarily occupied between 8000 and 6500 bc C. provides a portrait of an early Archaic farming village D. contains evidence for early irrigation works

Q: You are permitted to choose one plant to take with you to live in the tierra fra lands of Mesoamerica. You choose ______, which can provide you with food, drink, and clothing. A. maize B. manioc C. maguey D. nopal cactus

Q: What important human trait does Richard Klein suggest accounts for the Upper Paleolithic art and material culture? a. bipedalism b. religion c. dexterity d. language

Q: The maguey plant: A. is a delicate species that survives in only frost-free lowland areas B. was the first domesticated plant species in Mesoamerica C. takes at least twenty-five years to mature D. can be used to produce a drinkable sap

Q: Which of these have been suggested as an interpretation of the purpose of cave art? a. recordings of debt and payments b. early writing of the group's history c. fertility magic d. mathematics

Q: The earliest domesticated plant in Mesoamerica was: A. the bottle gourd B. maize C. maguey D. beans

Q: What is the earliest-known painted cave (ca. 38,000"33,000 years old)? a. Qafzeh, Israel b. Lascaux, France c. Altamira, Spain d Chauvet, France