Archaeology RQ #5

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Austin Community College District *

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2302

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Anthropology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

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Uploaded by CaptainOtterMaster1022

Reading Questions - Chapter 5 1) What are the three basic categories of evidence archaeology uses to study hierarchy? Ans: Archaeologists study social hierarchy through artifact analysis, examining objects; architectural evidence, assessing structures; and bioarcheological evidence, analyzing human remains and burial practices. 2) Outline the classic four-fold scheme to classify polities in anthropology. Where is the boundary between stratified and unstratified societies? Ans: The classic four-fold scheme in anthropology classifies polities into bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. The boundary between stratified and unstratified societies lies between tribes and chiefdoms. Tribes typically exhibit egalitarian social structures with no centralized authority, while chiefdoms have centralized leadership and social stratification, marking a transition toward more complex, hierarchical societies. 3) What’s all this about achieved status and ascribed status? Ans: 1. Achieved Status: This is a social position that an individual attains through their actions, efforts, choices, or achievements. It is earned and reflects personal accomplishments, skills, education, or professional success. For example, becoming a doctor, athlete, or entrepreneur are examples of achieved statuses. 2. Ascribed Status: In contrast, an ascribed status is a social position that an individual is born into or acquires involuntarily. It is typically based on attributes such as race, gender, ethnicity, or family background. Ascribed statuses are not within one's control and can significantly influence an

individual's opportunities and experiences. Examples include being a daughter, belonging to a particular ethnicity, or inheriting a noble title. 4) What is a Thiessen polygon? Why should we care about human/economic geography in archaeology? Later, you can add to this answer by working in Central Place Theory. Ans: A Thiessen polygon is a spatial analysis tool creating polygons around points to study resource distribution. Human/economic geography in archaeology helps interpret past societies by analyzing settlement patterns and trade networks. Central Place Theory, part of this field, explores how settlements organize around central places providing goods and services, offering insights into ancient socio- economic structures. These tools enhance our understanding of spatial organization and economic relationships in archaeological contexts. 5) What are those two explanations for what is going on at Stonehenge? Ans: Stonehenge's purpose is debated, with two main explanations: a religious site for ceremonies and astronomical observations, or an astronomical observatory and calendar, tracking celestial events for practical or ceremonial purposes. 6) Which one do you like better? Why? Ok, now for the kind of question that might appear on an exam: why is Stonehenge here in the social structure chapter? I.e. what is the argument over Stonehenge really about? 7) Can we determine ethnicity from archaeological evidence? Warning: there is some really awful stuff done in the past in archaeology here, and, yes, Nazis figure here too, but nobody is publishing these things. Ans: Decoding ethnicity from ancient artifacts is challenging. The Nazis misused this, and now archaeologists approach it cautiously, avoiding assumptions. They

study carefully, considering context, to understand the past without spreading harmful ideas. It's a sensitive area due to past misuse in promoting discriminatory ideologies, emphasizing the need for ethical archaeological practices today. 8) I’m not even gonna ask about economic specialization and central places cause, duh, we are pretty good at those things. Not perfect, but pretty good, so just know them on the exam. But what about studying mobile foraging people? How do we do that? Ans: Studying mobile foraging people involves surveys, excavations, lithic analysis, ethnographic analogy, environmental reconstruction, isotopic analysis, and exploration of rock art for insights into settlement patterns, technology, diet, and cultural practices. 9) What does archaeology say about conflict and violence? Are humans “naturally” violent? Ans: Archaeology shows fights and violence in human history, but people argue about whether it means we're naturally violent. Some say yes, pointing to weapons and battles. Others say no, emphasizing teamwork. The idea that humans are naturally violent is debated because our behavior is influenced by many things like culture and environment. Archaeology tells us it's not simple and we shouldn't jump to conclusions about people always being violent. 10) Why all the mention of ethnoarchaeology? I thought we covered that already. Ans: Ethnoarchaeology is worth mentioning again because it involves studying living societies to understand how they interact with the material world. By observing modern communities, archaeologists gain insights into past behaviors, technologies, and social practices. This method helps bridge the gap between the present and the past, aiding in the interpretation of archaeological evidence. Ethnoarchaeology is a valuable tool for understanding cultural continuity, technological traditions, and the significance of artifacts in different societies, enhancing the overall understanding of past human lifeways.

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Archaeology RQ #5

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