Question 2 of 21

What do archaeologists call the pile of soil they remove from an excavated site?

... Archaeologists refer to excavated earth as spoils. To avoid throwing away the smallest artifacts, the spoils are often screened prior to disposal.

Question 3 of 21

The Law of Superposition helps excavators with this task.

... The Law of Superposition states that objects found deeper in the earth are generally older than those found closer to the surface. This concept helps archaeologists assign relative ages or dates to an artifact.

Question 4 of 21

Fact or fiction: Radiocarbon dating can be used to date an artifact that's millions of years old.

... Fiction: Radiocarbon dating can only be used to date objects accurately if the object is less than about 50,000 years old. This technique is useful for dating organic materials, like human or animal bones. Other radiometric techniques are used to date older objects.

Question 5 of 21

What is the most common tool used by archaeologists in the field?

... The flat, pointed mason's trowel is the most commonly used tool in the archaeological field. This flat trowel allows excavators to scrape dirt horizontally rather than digging vertically, which is the safest way to preserve artifacts and information.

Question 6 of 21

What "lost" city was featured in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)?

... The ancient city of Petra, which appears in the climax of the Indiana Jones film, dates back to around the second century A.D. While archaeologists have been excavating for decades, more than 85 percent of the area still lies buried.

Question 7 of 21

What term is used to refer to the various layers of earth removed from a dig site?

... Each layer of earth is referred to as a stratum. The changes between strata provide important clues to archaeologists.

Question 8 of 21

The Munsell System provides standards that help archaeologists compare and document this.

... The Munsell System of Color Notation is widely used by archaeologists to note soil colors. Those who rely on this system may use a book of color samples, similar to paint chips.

Question 9 of 21

Most archaeological sites are organized in a grid pattern. What is the typical size of squares within the grid?

... Grids on a dig site are arranged into 1-meter (3.28-feet) squares. This allows excavators to carefully document the exact location of each artifact or feature.

Question 10 of 21

Ankor, a city located in this Asian country, is home to one of the largest and most spectacular dig sites on the planet.

... Visitors to Cambodia flock to Ankor to tour ancient stone temples. While many spectacular structures have been unearthed, plenty more still await excavation and preservation.

Question 11 of 21

What dating technique is based on measuring trace amounts of radioactive materials, such as uranium?

... Thermoluminescence dating involves measuring trace amounts of radioactive materials found within an artifact. This technique can be used on objects that are 300,000 years old or older.

Question 12 of 21

Fact or fiction: If you dig up a cool object on public land, it's yours to keep.

... Fiction: Unfortunately, excavators and archaeologists are not permitted to keep the items they find. Items found on private property belong to the land owner, while those found on public land belong to the local, state or federal government.

Question 13 of 21

What ancient garbage dumps provide a wealth of information for archaeologists?

... Middens are ancient garbage dumps found underground. Generally, middens consist of dark areas of soil rich in artifacts.

Question 14 of 21

What term do archaeologists use to describe permanent or non-portable artifacts they find during a dig?

... Archaeologists refer to non-portable structures as features. Features may include things like fences, posts, ditches or walls.

Question 15 of 21

What term is used to describe objects found on a dig site which were not made by humans?

... Ecofacts, or biofacts, are non-manmade objects found during a dig. They may include bones, seeds or other natural objects.

Question 16 of 21

Which of the following techniques is used to date objects which are one million years old or more?

... Potassium-argon dating is used to determine the age of an object based on the half-life of potassium. This technique can be used on objects that are millions of years old, but is generally used on objects that are around a million to 1.5 million years of age.

Question 17 of 21

What city was buried by a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D.?

... After more than 1,500 years beneath the ash, excavations on Pompeii began in the mid-18th century. Today, about two-thirds of the city has been excavated, while the other third remains buried.

Question 18 of 21

What term describes removing too much material from the earth too rapidly or recklessly during an excavation?

... An overcut occurs when earth is removed from the ground too rapidly. Overcuts cause valuable information regarding the exact placement and relationship of artifacts to be lost for good.

Question 19 of 21

How do most archaeologists excavate a dig site?

... Archaeologists typically focus on removing one stratum of earth at a time from each square in the grid before proceeding to the next stratum. This helps them to spot relationships between artifacts and to determine their relative ages.

Question 20 of 21

What term do archaeologists use to refer to a mound or hill on the landscape?

... A tel is a mound or hill in the landscape. These structures are often a sign of human activity in the past, and serve as clues that the location could make a good dig site.

Question 21 of 21

What legendary excavator and archaeologist discovered the tomb of King Tut in 1922?

... While many believed that there were no more major sites to excavate in the Valley of the Kings, Howard Carter persisted and eventually discovered King Tut's tomb buried beneath the sand in 1922.

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