Archaeology - 6th Grade Social Studies
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- What is the basic function of archaeologists?
- Archaeologists study the remains of ancient human societies and cultures.
- What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) botanists?
- (Archaeological) botanists study ancient pollen found in soil and rocks.
- What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) chemists?
- (Archaeological)chemists determine the age of ancient objects.
- What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) geologists?
- (Archaeological)geologists describe and explain the changes in the earth's suface that occur over time.
- What is the basic function of ... paleoanthropologists?
- Paleoanthropolists study the biological and cultural development of humans.
- What is the basic function of ...(archaeological) linguists?
- (Archaeological) linguists study and compare ancient languages looking for similarities among them.
- What are the 6 basic archaeological specialties?
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1. archaeology
2. botanists
3. chemists
4. geologists
5. linguists
6. paleoanthropolgy - Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... study the remains of buildings, artwork, tools, and pottery?
- archaeologist
- 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?
- botanists
- 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?
- geologists
- Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... compare ancient languages to determine whether the speakers lived in the same geographic area?
- linguists
- Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology ... study the size and shape of skeletal remains such as, teeth and bones?
- paleoanthropologists
- Why do botonist study the plants from which pollen came?
- They use this information to understand the vegetation of a particular area that existed up to 60,000 years ago.
- Name the 4 basic steps that archaeologistsgoes through in their work.
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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. - Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology study the materials from rocks?
- geologists
- Why do geologists want to understand the material of a rock?
- Geologists want to discover how ancient people got the stone to make their tools.
- What are 3 reasons linguists compare ancient languages?
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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. - Which of the basic 6 specialties in archaeology study the biological and cultural development of humans?
- paleoanthropoligists
- Why do paleoanthropologists focus on the size and shape of skeletal remains such as, teeth, skulls, and other bones?
- Paleoanthropologists study teeth, skulls and other bones to reveal information on the size, sex, and age of a hominid when he or she died.
- Name 5 aspects an anthropologist tries to understand about people's lives.
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1. Culture
2. Community
3. Communication
4. Religion
5. Traditions - What is a culture?
- Culture is how people live, and the ways of living that they have in common.
- What is a community?
- Community is where people live, and the social structure and buildings.
- What is communication?
- Communication is how people exchange ideas, language, pictures, and gestures.
- What is religion?
- Religion is what people value and/or worship.
- What is a tradition?
- Traditions are the actions and beliefs handed down from the past.
- What does excavate mean?
- To dig to examine a site.
- What are the 4 basic steps to excavating an archaeological site?
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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 - Name 2 large tools that archaeologists use during an excavation.
- shovels and picks
- Name 3 smaller tools that an archaeologists use during an excavation.
- trowel, ice picks and a firm brush
- Why would an archaeologist use a wire mesh sieve during an excavation?
- To sift through dirt to locate tiny objects which may otherwise be overlooked.
- Why would an archaeologist make a plaster cast of bones or fossils?
- Plaster casts are made of bones and fossils that are too difficult to move.
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Only large bones and fossils are labelled and recorded.
True or false? Why? - False. All relics, no matter the size of them, are labelled and recorded.
- What is stratigraphy?
- 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.
- Why is stratigraphy important?
- It's a process that helps to interpret archaeologists findings and uncover clues about different periods in history.
- What is a strata?
- A distinct change in a layer of soil and rock.
- What is an artifact?
- An artifact is an object that has been made or modified by humans.
- 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?
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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. - What are two methods used to determine the age of a fossil?
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1. radioactive-carbon dating or radioactive decay
2. layer-dating or examining the layer of earth the fossil was found - Why are rocks important in layer-dating a fossil?
- Geologists know that younger rocks are layered on top of older rocks.
- What is radioactive carbon dating?
- Dating artifacts, bones and teeth by chemically determining the amount of radio-active carbon decay there is in them.
- What is the maximum number of years that an artifact be dated using radioactive carbon dating?
- 50,000 years
- Why is radioactive carbon dating only effective for artifacts that are less than 50,000 years old?
- There is no radioactive carbon left in an artifact after it is 50,000 years old.