Q.1 What is the primary focus of bioarchaeology?
The study of plant remains in archaeological sites
The study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts
The study of ancient tools and artifacts
The study of historical texts and manuscripts
Explanation - Bioarchaeology focuses on analyzing human skeletal remains to understand health, diet, disease, and lifestyle of past populations.
Correct answer is: The study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts
Q.2 Which of the following can bioarchaeologists learn from skeletal remains?
The population's ancient language
Causes of death, diet, and disease
The exact occupation of each individual
The political system of the society
Explanation - Skeletal analysis can reveal signs of disease, nutritional deficiencies, trauma, and age at death, but not exact occupations or political systems.
Correct answer is: Causes of death, diet, and disease
Q.3 Which method is commonly used to determine the age at death of skeletal remains?
Carbon dating
Dental eruption and epiphyseal fusion
DNA sequencing
Stratigraphic analysis
Explanation - Bioarchaeologists estimate age at death by examining dental development and the fusion of growth plates in bones.
Correct answer is: Dental eruption and epiphyseal fusion
Q.4 The study of isotopes in bones can provide information about:
The climate of the past
The individual's diet and migration patterns
The person's favorite activities
The type of tools they used
Explanation - Stable isotope analysis of bones and teeth can reveal dietary habits and mobility of past populations.
Correct answer is: The individual's diet and migration patterns
Q.5 Which skeletal feature is most reliable for determining biological sex?
Femur length
Pelvis morphology
Skull color
Hand bones
Explanation - Pelvic bones exhibit the most distinctive sexual dimorphism, making them reliable for sex determination.
Correct answer is: Pelvis morphology
Q.6 Enamel hypoplasia on teeth indicates:
Dietary deficiencies or childhood stress
Advanced age
Bone fractures
Occupational markers
Explanation - Enamel hypoplasia is a defect in tooth enamel that forms during childhood under stress or malnutrition.
Correct answer is: Dietary deficiencies or childhood stress
Q.7 Paleopathology is the study of:
Ancient plants
Diseases in ancient human populations
Rock formations
Ancient architecture
Explanation - Paleopathology focuses on detecting and understanding diseases and trauma in past populations.
Correct answer is: Diseases in ancient human populations
Q.8 Which bone is most commonly used for DNA extraction in bioarchaeology?
Femur
Petrous portion of the temporal bone
Rib
Vertebra
Explanation - The dense petrous portion preserves DNA better than most other bones.
Correct answer is: Petrous portion of the temporal bone
Q.9 What does cribra orbitalia on a skull suggest?
Occupational activity
Iron deficiency anemia
Advanced age
Violent trauma
Explanation - Cribra orbitalia is a porous lesion in the eye sockets indicative of anemia, often due to nutritional deficiency or disease.
Correct answer is: Iron deficiency anemia
Q.10 The study of burial practices to understand social structure is called:
Osteology
Funerary archaeology
Ethnobotany
Stratigraphy
Explanation - Funerary archaeology examines graves and burial practices to infer social hierarchy, beliefs, and rituals.
Correct answer is: Funerary archaeology
Q.11 Which of the following can indicate repetitive physical activity in skeletal remains?
Muscle attachment sites (entheses)
Bone color
Dental caries
Cranial sutures
Explanation - Enlarged or robust muscle attachment sites suggest repetitive use of certain muscles.
Correct answer is: Muscle attachment sites (entheses)
Q.12 What information can stable carbon isotopes provide in bioarchaeology?
Geographical origin
Plant vs. animal protein consumption
Cause of death
Tool usage
Explanation - Carbon isotope ratios help distinguish between consumption of C3 plants, C4 plants, and animal protein.
Correct answer is: Plant vs. animal protein consumption
Q.13 Which skeletal marker is commonly used to infer childbirth history in females?
Pubic symphysis morphology
Femur length
Cranial sutures
Teeth wear
Explanation - Changes in the pubic symphysis and pelvic structures can indicate childbirth events.
Correct answer is: Pubic symphysis morphology
Q.14 Osteoarthritis in ancient skeletons often reflects:
Childhood malnutrition
Repetitive physical labor or aging
Diet high in carbohydrates
Violent trauma
Explanation - Degeneration of joints is often linked to aging or chronic mechanical stress.
Correct answer is: Repetitive physical labor or aging
Q.15 Which of these conditions can cause porotic hyperostosis?
Iron deficiency anemia
Tuberculosis
Trauma
Osteoporosis
Explanation - Porotic hyperostosis, seen on cranial bones, is associated with anemia from nutritional deficiency or disease.
Correct answer is: Iron deficiency anemia
Q.16 What can dental microwear analysis reveal?
Genetic ancestry
Recent dietary habits
Exact age
Cause of death
Explanation - Microscopic wear patterns on teeth show the types of food consumed shortly before death.
Correct answer is: Recent dietary habits
Q.17 Which factor most complicates sex estimation from subadult skeletons?
Rapid growth
Bone preservation
Skull morphology
Dental eruption
Explanation - Sexual dimorphism is not pronounced in children, making sex estimation less reliable.
Correct answer is: Rapid growth
Q.18 Trauma patterns on skeletons can help identify:
Cultural rituals
Cause and timing of injuries
Dietary preferences
Climate adaptation
Explanation - Analysis of fractures and bone healing can distinguish between perimortem and postmortem trauma.
Correct answer is: Cause and timing of injuries
Q.19 The presence of Harris lines in long bones indicates:
Periods of growth disruption in childhood
Bone infections in adulthood
Pregnancy history
Occupational activity
Explanation - Harris lines are dense lines in bones that reflect temporary cessation of growth due to stress or malnutrition.
Correct answer is: Periods of growth disruption in childhood
Q.20 Which technology allows non-destructive analysis of internal bone structure?
X-ray imaging and CT scans
DNA sequencing
Carbon dating
Pottery analysis
Explanation - CT scans and X-rays let bioarchaeologists examine bone internal structure without damaging the specimen.
Correct answer is: X-ray imaging and CT scans
Q.21 Which type of burial context provides the most information about individual health?
Mass graves
Well-preserved primary burials
Shallow, disturbed burials
Cremations
Explanation - Primary burials preserve skeletal integrity, allowing detailed analysis of age, sex, and pathology.
Correct answer is: Well-preserved primary burials
Q.22 The study of past human diets through bone chemistry is called:
Osteology
Isotopic analysis
Paleobotany
Lithic analysis
Explanation - Isotopic analysis examines ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and other isotopes in bones to infer dietary habits.
Correct answer is: Isotopic analysis
Q.23 What is an epiphyseal plate?
The end of a long bone where growth occurs
A bone in the skull
A type of dental enamel
A fracture line
Explanation - Epiphyseal plates (growth plates) are regions of cartilage in children and adolescents where bone lengthening occurs.
Correct answer is: The end of a long bone where growth occurs
Q.24 Skeletal evidence of rickets suggests a deficiency of:
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Iron
Calcium only
Explanation - Rickets results from insufficient vitamin D, affecting bone mineralization and causing deformities in children.
Correct answer is: Vitamin D
Q.25 What can be inferred from observing patterns of cranial modification?
Intentional cultural practices or social identity
Age at death
Cause of anemia
Dietary preferences
Explanation - Intentional cranial deformation reflects cultural identity, status, or aesthetic preferences.
Correct answer is: Intentional cultural practices or social identity