ANTH& 204: Archaeology

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Class Program

Anthropology

Credits

Weekly Contact Hours

Course ID

091422

Meets Degree Requirements For

Social Science

Description

Introduction to human cultural evolution as revealed by the interpretations of the material remains of our cultural past. Includes a critical look at the history of archaeology, its methodology and the accompanying analysis of data that focuses on cultural change.

Grading Basis

Graded

Course Learning Outcomes

Understand our human cultural past as it relates to the environment and evolution of our species.

Understand the empirical evidence for cultural diversity inherent in the archaeological record over the past three million years.

Understand the history of evolutionary thought, science and the scientific method as it pertains to the history and development of archaeology as a discipline.

Understand the evolution of the discipline from the Establishment of Human Antiquities in the Old World and the Americas, through Culture History, New Archaeology, and Evolutionary Archaeology.

Understand how Archaeology works through fieldwork, the Archaeological Record and Dating.

Understand the relevancy of Archaeology today through Cultural Resource Management and the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act of 1991 (NAGPRA).

Have gained an understanding of evolutionary theory, science and the scientific method as it pertains to our understanding of the dynamics of our cultural past.

Have gained an understanding of the history of archaeology as it pertains to the relevant aspects of world history.

Have gained an understanding of our human cultural past as it relates to the adaptation of our species to various environments.

Have gained an understanding of why our species is in its current distribution around the globe.

Understand the role Anthropology plays in Archaeology, gain a unique set of analytical skills, and an appreciation for the past and the relationship of this to archaeology.

Core Topics

The relationship of Archaeology to the discipline of Anthropology.
Epistemology: Culture, science, archaeology and evolutionary theory.
Establishment of Human Antiquity in the Old World and in the Americas.
Culture History, New Archaeology and Evolutionary Archaeology.
How Archaeology works: fieldwork, the nature of the Archaeological Record, Dating Techniques.
Peopling of the New World.
Culture Resource Management (CRM).
NAGPRA (Native American Graves and Repatriation Act 1991).