Anthropology 282:
Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology
John M. O’Shea
Autumn, 2005
Course Outline
The course is designed to provide you with a general background to the methods and approaches of modern prehistoric archaeology,
and to provide a brief overview of human prehistory from earliest times to the emergence of complex societies.
The course will emphasize how
archaeologists come to know about the past.
Professor: John M. O’Shea (joshea@umich.edu)
Rm 4015 Ruthven Museum Building
Office Hours: Wednesday 10-11-, Thursday 1-2
GSI: Rachael Gruszka
(bgruszka@umich.edu)
Rm 236a West Hall
Office Hours: Monday 12-2
Textbooks:
Archaeology: Down to Earth, by David Hurst Thomas (ADE)
The Past in Perspective, by Kenneth L. Feder (TPP)
Grading:
Student performance will be assessed on the basis of two (2) hour exams, two (2) ‘projects’, and on a cumulative assessment of performance in weekly section.
The final grade will represent the average of the four (4) highest marks earned over the duration of the course.
Web Site:
A web site containing lecture outlines, study
guides and assorted other class related information is available to class
members at http://www.umich.edu/~anth282/
Tentative Class Schedule:
Week of |
Topic |
Readings |
September 6 |
Introduction to Archaeology |
ADE: Chapters 1, 2 |
September 13 |
Formation of the Archaeological Record |
ADE: Chapter 6 |
September 20 |
Chronology and Dating |
ADE: Chapter 3, 4 |
September 27 |
Typology and Classification |
ADE: Chapter 4 |
*September 27* |
Begin First Project |
Details on web site |
October 4 |
Archaeological as Archaeology |
ADE: Chapter 5 |
October 11 |
Archaeology as Anthropology |
ADE: Chapter 7, 8 |
*October 13* |
First
Project Due |
|
*October 18* |
Fall Recess |
|
October 20 |
Archaeology as Anthropology |
ADE: Chapter 9, 11 |
*October 25* |
Archaeology as Anthropology |
|
October 27 |
First
Hour Exam |
|
November 1 |
Early Humans, continued |
TPP: Chapters 3-4, 5-7 |
*November 3* |
Begin Second Project |
Details on web site |
November 8 |
Colonization of the New World |
TPP: Chapter 8 |
November 15 |
Post-Glacial Hunter-Gatherers: Mesolithic/Archaic |
TPP: Chapter 9 |
November 22 |
Origins and Dispersal of Agriculture |
TPP: Chapter 10 |
November 24 |
Thanksgiving Break |
|
November 29 |
Origins of Complexity and Inequality |
TPP: Chapter 11, 14 |
*November 30*
|
Second Project Due |
|
December 6 |
Rethinking Archaeology |
ADE:
Chapter 12 TPP: Chapter 15 |
*December 13* |
Second
Hour Exam |
|