ANTH P370: Ancient Cultures of South America

Final Exam Questions

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Questions? e-mail Dr. Sutter

Instructions:

1) BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS!!!

2) COMPLETENESS: I expect clear, well written answers (no outlines or short choppy answers). In other words, completely and thoroughly answer each question. Make sure to run your exam through a spell check and be sure to spell site names correctly.

3) LENTH: BE CONCISE! A Key to completing the exam and doing well on it is to answer the question and not include irrelevant information.

4) FORMAT: Answers are to be typed (word processor) in a standard 12 pt. font (i.e., Times, Helvetica, Courier, Palatino, New York), double-spaced, with 1" margins around the paper (top, bottom, sides).

5) LABELLING: Be sure your name appears on each page of your answers (i.e., in the header). Number all answers and pages accordingly (i.e., IB, IIA, etc.). DO answer each bullet in order (do not skip information for the first bullet then provide the information at the end of your answer). This will help me identify what it is you are trying to answer.

6) UNCLEAR ON SOMETHING? If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at SutterR@ipfw.edu, or call my office. If you leave a message I can get back to you either by calling or sending you an e-mail (be sure to clearly state either your phone number or e-mail address). My office number is the following: 481-6676.

I) The Initial Period - 10 points (about 1.5 pages)

• What is the Initial Period, when did it occur, and what are some of the significant "firsts" that are associated with this period? [Hint: how does the Initial Period similar to the previous archaeological period, and how does it differ socially, economically, settlement patterns, diet, etc.?
• What are some of the building traditions associated with the Initial Period (i.e., are the constructions the same everywhere)? What are some of the inferences made regarding the nature of these traditions (i.e., ceremonial, administrative, domestic, etc.), and what is the evidence for this (i.e., discuss site information)?
• What is the nature of Initial Period societies? Were they centralized states or localized communities, and what is the nature of the evidence (Hint: briefly define what a state is and build your argument from this definition)? Be specific!
• Discuss any phenomena we described for the Inca (i.e., construction and labor, community structure, settlement policies, religious phenomena, ceremonies, specific kinds of artifacts, etc.) that we see evidence for during this time period (i.e., that appear to have clear archaeological evidence). What is the archaeological evidence for each of the earliest occurences of the(se) phenomena?

II) The Early Horizon - 20 points (about 2 pages)
(Be sure to use and define appropriate terminology and discuss site locations when necessary!)

• What was primary cultural influence in the Andes during the Early Horizon (what, when, where, etc.)? How extensive was its influence (where do we find it)?
• What important changes in Andean societies are clearly seen for the first time during the Early Horizon? What is the nature of Chavin Iconography, and what might it imply? Discuss the archaeological evidence.
• What is thought to be the nature of this cultural influence? Discuss the archaeological evidence.
• Discuss any phenomena we described for the Inca (i.e., construction and labor, community structure, settlement policies, religious phenomena, ceremonies, specific kinds of artifacts, etc.) that we see evidence for during this time period (i.e., that appear to have clear archaeological evidence). What is the archaeological evidence for each of the earliest occurences of the(se) phenomena?

III) The Early Intermediate Period - The Moche - 20 points (about 2 pages)

• Describe in general terms the nature of the Moche society [when, where was it located, nature of the society (local communities, state, etc.], and support your description with evidence.
• How was it's art style unique and how did it differ from societies that preceded it?
• Why is Moche art so important to our uncerstanding of prehistoric Andean societies
• [Hint: discuss recent finds as they relate to the artifactual evidence - what does this say about our inferences from the artifacts? Do their artifacts seem to reflect fictitious people and events or real people and events?]?
• Discuss any phenomena we described for the Inca (i.e., construction and labor,community structure, settlement policies, religious phenomena, ceremonies, specific kinds of artifacts, etc.) that we see evidence for during this time period (i.e., that appear to have clear archaeological evidence). What is the archaeological evidence for each of the earliest occurences of the(se) phenomena?

IV) The Middle Horizon - The Tiwanaku - 20 points (about 2 pages)
(Be sure to use and define appropriate terminology and discuss site locations when necessary!)

• Who were the Tiwanaku, where were they located, and how long did the influence of this society last?
• What are some of the prominent cultural influences and technological developments of this Middle Horizon society (i.e., iconography, ceremonial architecture, domestic architecture, inferred religious practices, economic base)?
• What strategies did this society employ during its expansion [HINT: was there only one strategy, or does it appear as though they used more than one]? Discuss the evidence.
• What is/are the prevalent theories regarding collapse of this society, and what is the evidence for or against this/these theories?
• Discuss any phenomena we described for the Inca (i.e., construction and labor, community structure, settlement policies, religious phenomena, ceremonies, specific kinds of artifacts, etc.) that we see evidence for during this time period (i.e., that appear to have clear archaeological evidence). What is the archaeological evidence for each of the earliest occurences of the(se) phenomena?

V) The Middle Horizon - The Wari - 20 points (about 2 pages)
(Be sure to use and define appropriate terminology and discuss site locations when necessary!)

• Who were the Wari, where were they located, and how long did the influence of this society last?
• What are some of the prominent cultural influences and technological developments of this Middle Horizon society (i.e., iconography, ceremonial architecture, domestic architecture, inferred religious practices, economic base)?
• What strategies did this society employ during its expansion? Discuss the evidence.
• What is/are the prevalent theories regarding collapse of this society, and what is the evidence for or against this/these theories?
• Discuss any phenomena we described for the Inca (i.e., construction and labor, community structure, settlement policies, religious phenomena, ceremonies, specific kinds of artifacts, etc.) that we see evidence for during this time period (i.e., that appear to have clear archaeological evidence). What is the archaeological evidence for each of the earliest occurences of the(se) phenomena?

VI) The Late Intermediate Period - 10 points (about 1.5 pages)

• What characterizes Late Intermediate Period settlement patterns? Are they the same everywhere? What do we infer regarding the sociopolitical organization (i.e., chiefdoms, states, etc.) from these settlement patterns?
• What is vertical complementarity (careful! read both Sutter 2000 and relevant sections in Wilson)? Does direct verticality appear to be a widely applicable model describing Late Intermediate Period economic strategies? What about on the coast? What alternative model(s) has/have been proposed to explain economic strategies of Late Intermediate Period societies? Are these models mutually exclusive? Is the evidence the same everywhere?

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This page was created by Richard Sutter.

Last updated 4/17/08.