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Archeology and World Prehistory
Anthropology 3

Brief Course Description
This is an introductory course in Archeology and World Prehistory. We will focus on human cultural development throughout the world from the earliest human beginnings to the rise of urbanism in the Old World and the arrival of Columbus in the New World. The science of Archeology will be reviewed in terms of techniques, methodology, theoretical orientations, and contemporary policies and practices. We will review the prehistory of Africa, Europe, Asia, island cultures, and the Americas with respect to "names, dates, places, and events" from the several million year prehistory of the human species. Archeological evidence for variations in social, economic, and political customs, culture change, systems of kinship and family organization, inventions, arts, language, and other topics will be discussed. Archeological research will be considered from site location and survey; through excavation techniques; artifacts, features, and associated materials analysis; to the final publication of the project site report. Lastly, we will consider employment opportunities in the field and discuss current political and economic issues regarding professional archeology.

As a result of taking this course, students should be able to:

  1. understand the origins and development of the human species around the world;
2. understand various theoretical orientations with respect to explaining prehistory;
3. compare and contrast different societies in archeological terms;
4. understand the uniqueness of human prehistoric culture;
5. identify and describe characteristics of human culture as disclosed by archeological research;
6. locate and discuss the most important archeological sites on a world map;
7. explain the techniques of cultural reconstruction in the field;
8. discuss various archeological scientific theories;
9. discuss the ways in which archeologists are able to discuss kinship, religion, the arts, economics, political organization, and other cultural topics using only material culture and associated data; and
10. comprehend the structure and function of the science of archeology.
   
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