Question

There are two main formation processes that affect which finds become buried and what happens to them after they are buried. Identify whether the following are examples of cultural formation processes or natural formation processes.

A. Deposition of sediment in a riverbed
B. A pottery shard being broken and discarded by a prehistoric civilization
C. A tree falling and being buried in a forest
D. Formation of a stalactite in a limestone cave
E. Human construction of a landfill burying waste materials

Answer 1

The examples in A, C, and D are natural formation processes, while B and E are cultural formation processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

A. Deposition of sediment in a riverbed - Natural formation process

B. A pottery shard being broken and discarded by a prehistoric civilization - Cultural formation process

C. A tree falling and being buried in a forest - Natural formation process

D. Formation of a stalactite in a limestone cave - Natural formation process

E. Human construction of a landfill burying waste materials - Cultural formation process

Cultural formation processes involve human activities such as pottery-making and landfill construction. Natural formation processes, on the other hand, occur in nature without direct human intervention, like the deposition of sediment in a riverbed, the falling and burial of a tree in a forest, and the formation of stalactites in caves.