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Anthropology 2480
Archaeology: Discovering Our Past
Prerequisite: A/P 1030
SLOT 20 (Tuesday & Thursday 3:30-4:45pm)
Instructor: Dr. J. Erwin
Spencer Hall Rm. SP-2000A
Office Hours TBA |
Final Exam: Thursday Dec. 8th, 2005, 3-5pm, ED 1014
Anthropology 2480
Final Exam Questions
This exam consists of four
questions, each worth 25 marks, for a total 100 marks.
1. How are archaeological sites
found? Describe five methods by which sites are regularly discovered by
archaeologists and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
2. Describe the basis for the
radiocarbon method of dating. On what kinds of materials can it be
applied? What are some of the limitations of this method,
explain?
3. Archaeologists use a variety of
evidence to reconstruct the life ways of past peoples. Describe the
main archaeological indicators for five of the following areas of
archaeology.
i. Site Function
ii. Subsistence
iii. Settlement Patterning
iv. Social Organization
v. The Environment
vi. Trade and exchange
vii. Ideology
4. There have been many individuals
throughout the history of archaeology who have contributed to the study
of our past. Describe the most significant contributions of the
following people:
i. Lewis Binford
ii. Walter Taylor
iii. V. Gordon Childe
iv. Ian Hodder
v. William Flinders Petrie
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End of Exam
Course Outline
Anthropology 2480 is an introduction to archaeological techniques,
methodology and theory. The lectures cover the development of the
discipline of archaeology, techniques of survey, excavation, methods of
analysis and the interpretation of the past.
Introduction
Popular media depictions of archaeology have long portrayed its
practitioners as either stuffy museum types identifying and cataloguing
their collections, or as swashbuckling rouges roaming exotic locales in
search of golden treasures. While such fanciful portraits of the
archaeologist have little to do with the actual practice of
archaeology, they also share a common misconception: that archaeology
is primarily about artefacts. The aims of this course are to define
archaeology from historical perspectives and to examine the methods and
theories by which archaeology is now practiced as a means to
understanding humanity past and present.
Grading
Archaeology Scavenger Hunt (10%)
Biography Research Assignment (15%)
Archaeological Site Investigation Assignment (35%)
Final Exam (40%)
Required Text
Renfrew, Colin and Paul Bahn
2004 Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Fourth Edition,
Thames & Hudson
Anthropology 2480 Discovering Our Past - Course
Schedule
September
13 & 15 - Introduction
What is
archaeology and why do we do it? (pp.12-18)
Part I - Frameworks
September 20 & 22
The History of
Archaeology (pp. 19-52)
September
27 & 29
The Evidence of Archaeology
(pp. 53-74) and Excavation Methods (pp. 75-120)
Assignment #1 -
Scavenger Hunt (Due: September 29, 2005)
October
4 & 6
Dating the Past (pp. 121-174)
October
13
Explanation in
Archaeology Part I (pp. 469-504)
Part II - Questions in Archaeology
October 20 & 25
Social
Archaeology (pp.177-230) and Environmental Archaeology (pp. 231-274)
Assignment #2 - Biography Research (Due: October
27, 2005)
October
27
Subsistence Studies
(pp. 275-316)
November
1 & 3
Understanding
Technology (pp. 317-356)
November
8 & 10
Exchange and
Interaction (pp. 357-392) and Cognitive Archaeology (pp. 393-428)
November
15 & 17
Archaeology of
the Human Body (pp. 429-468)
November
22
Explanation in
Archaeology Part II (pp. 469-504)
Assignment #3 - Archaeological Site
Investigation (Due:
November 29, 2005)
November
24 & 29
Whose Past is
it? The Uses and Misuses of Archaeology. (pp.547-578)
December
1
Course Review
Final Exam:
Thursday Dec. 8th, 2005, 3-5pm, ED 1014