Final answer:
Systematic surveys are important for archaeologists because they allow for regional understanding, help answer research questions about social structures, and allow for the mitigation of impacts on cultural resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Systematic surveys are important for archaeologists for several reasons:
- They allow for regional understanding and reconstructing of settlement patterns over an expansive area. This means that archaeologists can analyze the distribution of sites and artifacts to gain insights into how ancient populations were organized geographically and how they interacted with one another.
- They help answer research questions about regional political and social structures. By studying the distribution and organization of archaeological sites, archaeologists can make inferences about the political, social, and economic systems that existed in the past.
- They allow archaeologists to locate sites and mitigate government or private constructor impacts on cultural resources. By conducting systematic surveys, archaeologists can identify archaeological sites that may be impacted by construction activities. This information can be used to protect and preserve cultural resources.
Therefore, the correct answer is e. all of the above.