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Dig This Trivia Quiz

A quiz for the armchair archaeologist (myself included) on some basic terms. This is easy, have fun and enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by fiachra. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
fiachra

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
223,221

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1534

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following shapes best describes a henge? Hint

Oblong

Rectangular

Square

Circular

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Question 2 of 10

2. The leaves from which tree inspire a palmette design? Hint

Palm

Pine

Plum

Fern

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Question 3 of 10

3. Did Roman patricians use the hypocaust to cool their villas in the hot Roman Summers?

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is a tell (in archaeology)? Hint

River

Lake

Hill

Cave

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Question 5 of 10

5. A ______________ point. Which French king completes the name of this weapon? Hint

Clovis

Pippin

Charlemagne

Charles

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which ancient civilisation is associated with cartouches? Hint

Egyptian

Chinese

Celtic

Greek

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Question 7 of 10

7. Was a lynchet used for executions?

Yes

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which language gives us the word Kurgan? Hint

Arabic

Russian

Greek

Turkish

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was a stele used for in ancient Egypt? Hint

Ploughing

Weaving

Fishing

Commemoration

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was a bracteate made from? Hint

Wood

Stone

Gold

Silver

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Nov 11 2024 : Guest 107: 9/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following shapes best describes a henge?

Answer: Circular

A henge is a circular area enclosed by a fixed boundary. As there are usually four entry/access points, their function is not defensive but ritualistic. The most famous example is Stonehenge, in Wiltshire England.

2. The leaves from which tree inspire a palmette design?

Answer: Palm

This is an elegant design based on the fan shaped leaves from the palm tree. It is often found on the necking of Ionic pillars.

3. Did Roman patricians use the hypocaust to cool their villas in the hot Roman Summers?

Answer: No

The hypocaust was part of the central heating system. From an outside furnace the heat passed to a central hollow beneath the living room to keep the occupants warm. An excellent example of how this ingenious system worked can be found in Bath in England.

4. What is a tell (in archaeology)?

Answer: Hill

This comes to us from Hebrew and the best example I can think of is Tel Aviv.

5. A ______________ point. Which French king completes the name of this weapon?

Answer: Clovis

This is made from flint or chert and was used by North American peoples (13,500 years ago)to kill big animals.

6. Which ancient civilisation is associated with cartouches?

Answer: Egyptian

This is part of hieroglyphs and consists of an oblong enclosure with a vertical line at one end. It was used to show the enclosed text was for royalty.
The word cartouche is French and comes from Napoleon's soldiers who thought the frequently repeated design was like a gun cartridge. (Cartouche is the French for gun cartridge.)

7. Was a lynchet used for executions?

Answer: No

A lynchet is a bank of earth which builds up over a very long time at the end of a sloping, ploughed field. Opinions differ as to whether it was the result of soil erosion or to prevent soil erosion.

8. Which language gives us the word Kurgan?

Answer: Turkish

This describes a burial mound over a burial chamber. Single chambers indicate an important person/leader; while chambers with several skeletons indicate ordinary people and are called clan chambers.

9. What was a stele used for in ancient Egypt?

Answer: Commemoration

This is a commemorative slab to either the dead or the living. Inscriptions were carved, painted, done in bas relief, etc.

10. What was a bracteate made from?

Answer: Gold

This was a thin, single sided, gold coin from Northern Europe. The same word was used later in the Middle Ages for a silver coin.

Quiz sources: Tiscali Reference. Merriam Webster On-line. Wikipedia. Discovery Channel TV.

Source: Author fiachra

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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