Q&A Hero

Q: The way humans have affected the environment of Mesoamerica is evidenced by: A. the relatively recent creation of the Valley of Mexico through swamp drainage B. the changes in altitude that occur across the regions C. its subtropical latitude D. its Nearctic and Neotropical biota

Q: The global climate record, as revealed by the oxygen isotope curve has been remarkably stable for the past 100,000 years.

Q: The native flora and fauna of Mesoamerica: A. are both Nearctic and Neotropical B. do not include any animal species that could be domesticated C. are entirely tropical D. are characterized by a single biotic habitat

Q: The Pleistocene is characterized by the frequent buildup and retreat of continental ice sheets.

Q: The environment of Mesoamerica can be characterized as: A. extremely diverse B. dry desert areas C. tropical jungles D. high altitude plains

Q: Marcelin Boule's characterization of the Neanderthal as a degenerate side branch of human evolution has been recognized as generally correct.

Q: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is: A. the highest mountain peak in Mesoamerica B. a broad, relatively flat plain C. a peninsula covered by tropical rainforest D. where the Aztecs established their capital city

Q: The name of the major chain of mountain ranges in Mesoamerica is the: A. Rockies B. Himalaya C. Andes D. Sierra Madres

Q: Mary Stiner characterized Neanderthal populations as -__________. a. warlike and savage b. exceptionally small and mobile c. quite civilized and peaceful d. fully sedentary cave-dwellers

Q: MATCHING 2 1) Tezcatlipoca 2) Quetzalcoatl 3) Tlaloc 4) Chalchihuitlicue 5) Tonatiuh A. God of storms and rain B. Sun god C. Goddess of water D. God of wind and life E. All-knowing, all-powerful god

Q: Skeletal evidence from the site of Moula-Guercy suggests that Neanderthals __________. a. buried their dead b. could speak c. practiced cannibalism d. hunted Homo erectus

Q: Which site has sparked claims of intentional Neanderthal burials? a. Shanidar Cave b. Lascaux Cave c. Moula-Guercy d. La Cotte de St. Brelade

Q: MATCHING 1 1)Paleoindian 2)Archaic 3)Formative 4) Classic 5) Postclassic 6) Colonial 7) Republican A. ad 300"900 B. Early 1800s"present C. 8000 bc"2000 bc D. 2000 bc"ad 300 E. ad 1521"early 1800s F. Unknown"8000 bc G. ad 900"1521

Q: The site of La Cotte de St. Brelade shows evidence of __________. a. cannibalism b. the controlled use of fire c. hunting by stampeding animals over a cliff d. intentional human burial

Q: The rise of modern archaeology occurred: A. with the Spanish Conquest in ad 1521 B. during the Republican period of Mesoamerican history C. in the 21st century in Mexico D. in the Colonial period of Mesoamerican history

Q: The ________ refers to the entire life history of a stone tool, from gathering the raw material to discard.a. lithic use cycleb. method lithiquec. artifact genesis effectd. chane opratoire

Q: The name "Mexica" comes from the: A. Toltecs of Tula B. Maya of Tikal C. Aztecs of Tenochtitlan D. the Olmecs of La Venta

Q: The recognition that the shape of stone tools evolves throughout their use-life is referred to as the __________. a. adaptive cycle b. Darwin effect c. Frison effect d. lithic tool cycle

Q: Tula, Chichn Itz, and Tenochtitlan were cities that flourished during the: A. Formative period B. Archaic period C. Classic period D. Postclassic period

Q: What is the cultural period associated with the Neanderthals? a. Mousterian b. Lower Paleolithic c. Oldowan d. Middle Paleolithic

Q: Where was the oldest fossil that can clearly be classified as Neanderthal (175,000 years ago) discovered? a. Biache-Saint-Vaast b. Le Moustier c. Mezmaiska Cave d. Shanidar Cave

Q: What specimen from Atapuerca has been proposed as intermediate between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens? a. Homo habilis b. Homo rudolphensis c. Homo ergaster d. Homo antecessor

Q: The Classic period of Mesoamerica was characterized by: A. bands B. tribes C. chiefdoms D. states

Q: The recovery of a hyoid bone from the Kebara site suggests that Neanderthals were __________. a. closely related to chimpanzees b. physically capable of speech c. fully bipedal d. incapable of making stone tools

Q: The best evidence for the early development of cities in Mesoamerica comes from _____, dating back to 500 bc. A. Monte Albn B. Teotihuacan C. Tikal D. La Venta

Q: Which of the following features distinguish Neanderthals from modern humans? a. physical adaptations to cold weather b. a hairy, brutish caveman appearance c. a larger than average brain size d. reduced sexual dimorphism

Q: Mesoamerican creation myths: A. accurately state that the Earth came into being about 4.5 billion years ago B. share the idea that the present world is one in a series C. are identical to modern scientific explanations of world origins D. focus primarily on one deity as the creator

Q: It was during the _____ period that the Olmec culture arose. A. Classic B. Archaic C. Formative D. Postclassic

Q: The site of the earliest ballcourt and elite residence is: A. Paso de la Amada B. Guil Naquitz C. San Lorenzo D. Monte Albn

Q: Which of the following scenarios has been advanced to account for the evolution of Neanderthals? a. Neanderthals were the direct ancestors to modern humans. b. Neanderthals evolved from Homo erectus, and modern humans evolved from Homo habilis. c. Neanderthals and modern humans each evolved separately from Homo erectus. d. Neanderthals and modern humans were separated by time and by geography.

Q: Domestication: A. in Mesoamerica happened at the same time as other places around the globe B. first occurred during the Formative period in Mesoamerica C. and sedentism must occur together D. is not a prerequisite for sedentism

Q: Examples of tools as funerary offerings can be found at __________. a. Kebara Cave b. Sima de los Huestos c. Lascaux Cave d. Divje Babe 1 Cave

Q: If you lived in Mesoamerica seven thousand years ago, you would most likely have been: A. hunting megafauna, such as mammoth, for dinner B. living in a city and trading craft items for your daily food needs C. farming for a living and relying on domesticated species D. hunting and gathering a variety of wild resources

Q: What 400,000 year-old, remarkable find has been discovered at the site of Schningen, Germany? a. over 100,000 stone tools, all chippers and flakes b. a mammoth vertebra with a spear point embedded in it c. the remains of more than 40 Homo erectus individuals d. three wooden spears

Q: This simple flake tool industry was an English contemporary of the Acheulian. a. Levallois b. Boxgrovian c. Clactonian d. Mousterian

Q: Which of the following European sites have occupations dating to over 500,000 years ago? a. Atapuerca b. Boxgrove c. Bose d. Schoningen

Q: The best preserved Archaic sites are caves, such as: A. Santa Isabel Iztapan B. Guil Naquitz C. Paso de la Amada D. Tehuantepec

Q: What does the climate record produced by the analysis of deep sea cores show? a. The world was covered by glaciers for the past 800,000 years. b. There were only two distinct ice ages. c. Today's global warming is unique in geologic history. d. The extent of glaciation and the rapidity of climate change vary considerably.

Q: Santa Isabel Iztapan is: A. the location of the first independent modern nation-state of Mexico B. where maize was first domesticated in Mesoamerica C. the earliest Olmec site where a large stone head was recovered D. a Paleoindian site where mammoth hunters brought down one of these large beasts

Q: The record of global climate fluctuations can be found in the __________. a. oxygen isotope curve b. tree rings of the bald cypress c. oxygen reduction line d. straight line regression curve

Q: In archaeology, the term "horizon" refers to: A. the widespread manifestation of the same kinds of traits over very large areas B. the level platforms on top of ancient structures C. the uppermost soil layers which contain organic matter D. the orientation of buildings toward the rising sun

Q: The ________ is the geological era beginning 1.8 million years ago and characterized by glacial activity. a. Jurassic b. Pleistocene c. Pliocene d. Holocene

Q: It is important for the student of archaeology to understand cultural history because: A. it provides insights into the cultural evolution of a region B. it allows one to make up phase names C. dates are the entire focus of archaeology D. the sequence is the same for all regions

Q: What evidence is there for use of fire among early hominins?

Q: The _____ period ushered in independence to nations of Mexico and Central America. A. Republican B. Colonial C. Classic D. Modern

Q: It was during the _____ period that indigenous religious and artistic elements were strongly suppressed. A. Postclassic B. Republican C. Formative D. Colonial

Q: The _____ period ended with the Spanish Conquest. A. Colonial B. Republican C. Democratic D. Postclassic

Q: What is the home-base/food-sharing model?

Q: Numerous states and proto-states, especially in the Central Highlands of Mexico and the Maya Lowlands first developed during the _____ period in Mesoamerican prehistory. A. Formative B. Archaic C. Postclassic D. Classic

Q: How can chimpanzees be used as an analogy for hominin hunting activity?

Q: How was Raymond Dartʹsʺkiller apeʺhypothesis called into question?

Q: The Formative period of Mesoamerica is characterized by: A. the stability of cultural patterns throughout the region B. adjustments to post-glacial landscapes C. dynamic culture changes from simple to complex societies D. the highest populations in the Maya Lowlands

Q: It was during the Archaic period in Mesoamerican prehistory that: A. humans hunted primarily Ice Age animals B. subsistence practices were characterized by broad-spectrum foraging C. the Maya built grand cities with ornate temples and palaces D. the Aztecs were conquered by the Spaniards

Q: Discuss the evidence for the earliest use of tools at the Gona site in Africa.

Q: What is lithic analysis?

Q: The time period during which all New World people were mobile foragers hunting Ice Age animals is called the _____ period in Mesoamerican prehistory. A. Archaic B. Classic C. Formative D. Paleoindian

Q: What was the Lower Paleolithic?

Q: The earliest Mesoamerican civilizations developed: A. before the earliest Old World civilizations B. later than the earliest Old World civilizations C. at the same time as the earliest Old World civilizations D. after contact with the Old World

Q: The world's earliest civilization arose in: A. Mesopotamia B. Mesoamerica C. North America D. Egypt

Q: Discuss the skeleton found at the site of Nariokotome, Kenya.

Q: In _____ societies, there is virtually no accumulation of wealth. A. egalitarian B. civilized C. ranked D. stratified

Q: What are the characteristics that distinguish early hominins from the other hominoids?

Q: If you were transported back in time, you could conclude that the people you were observing were egalitarian societies if they had: A. a permanent central community with high population density B. a leader who was able to force people to do his or her bidding C. temporary camps with a few dozen people in each D. houses that were constructed of varying sizes and materials

Q: How can genetics be used to calculate the human phylogeny?

Q: Hominins of the genus Paranthropus were the first to disperse out of Africa.

Q: Raymond Dart characterized the australopithecines as"brutal hunters."

Q: To understand the complexity of the world's cultural history from our origins to present-day societies: A. anthropologists may employ societal typologies B. archaeologists rely on historical information for interpretation C. archaeologists categorize only the earliest societies D. chronology and dating methods are not important factors

Q: Acheulian tools are associated with the Australopithecines.

Q: The textbook author defines the term "civilization" as: A. the main way that humans adapt to their environment B. societies that are organized into chiefdoms and states C. the earliest states that existed thousands of years ago D. a set of cultural features found in most complex societies

Q: Human culture is defined in the textbook as: A. those physical characteristics that allow for biological adaptation B. the adaptive behaviors that enhance our ability to survive C. a particular way of life for social animals D. the same as a society

Q: Analysis of tools from the site of Lokalalei indicates that the manufacturing process was relatively simple.

Q: The three most important staple crops of Mesoamerica were (and still are): A. maize, beans, and corn B. beans, squash, and maize C. maize, avocado, and beans D. corn, maize, and avocado

Q: The culture area of Mesoamerica may be referred to as "maize-o-america" because: A. its extent is based on where maize could produce reliable harvests B. maize was the only domesticated crop in this area C. the ancient civilizations that existed here were truly amazing D. the outline of the area resembles a corn cob

Q: The culture area of Mesoamerica includes: A. those states in the middle of the North American continent B. Mexico and all of the Central American countries C. only the Central American countries D. some of the Central American countries and Mexico

Q: Only humans have the ability to use tools.

Q: It was the year _____ when the Aztec huetlatoani Motecuzoma II met the Spanish conquistador Hernan Corts in the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. A. 1492 B. 1513 C. 1519 D. 1521

Q: The earliest known member of genus Homo is habilis.

Q: Australopithecus afarensis footprints at Laetoli indicate that this species walked quadrapedally.

Q: Homo habilis is the first primate with a brain size over 500 cc.

Q: The earliest evidence for walking upright is found in Ardipithecus ramidus.