Author Question: Why are natural levels preferable to arbitrary levels? a. Arbitrary levels can potentially jumble ... (Read 226 times)

joesmith1212 · **on:** Jul 20, 2018

Why are natural levels preferable to arbitrary levels?

a. Arbitrary levels can potentially jumble together artifacts that come from different natural strata and thus different periods of time.
b. The depth of natural levels is determined by statistical sampling strategies, while arbitrary levels are chosen subjectively.
c. Arbitrary levels follow the natural stratigraphy, which may not be able to distinguish between occupational surfaces.
d. Natural levels are much simpler and faster to excavate than arbitrary levels.
e. Natural levels are the method taught in New World archaeology

Question 2

If an archaeologist is excavating in arbitrary levels,

a. he or she is following the natural breaks in the sediments (following the stratigraphy).
b. natural strata are probably lacking or difficult to recognize.
c. the natural strata may be less than 10 centimeters thick.
d. they are mindlessly shoving dirt into buckets to speed the task along
e. they are excavating in vertical, not horizontal units