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Introduction to Archaeology (ANTH 1110)
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Credits:
3
Description:
This course is an introduction to the archaeological field and profession. Archaeology is the study of human material culture, the things we create, carry around and leave behind. Through artifact and site study, lectures and videos, you will examine archaeology's history, theory, and methods including possible careers. You will gain a solid understanding of how archaeology is used on a daily basis, highlighting questions of ethics, economy, subsistence, status, race, consumption, inequality, and gender.
Topical Outline:
1. Archaeological method and theory
2. Archaeological analysis and interpretation
3. Archaeological ethics
4. Issues in archaeology (e.g., power, gender, status)
Learning Outcomes:
1. Use knowledge of archeological methods and theory to critically evaluate sources to distinguish between valid scientific archaeological research and non-scientific claims
2. Apply terms, theories, and methods within archaeological inquiry
3. Describe how environmental factors influence socio-cultural systems by analyzing the archaeological record.
4. Analyze how the interpretations of the archaeological record reflect cultural perceptions and values of today
5. Explain how human adaptive/economic strategies function within environmental constraints.
Prerequisites:
Placement into
READ 0200 or
ESOL 0052 or completion of
READ 0100 or
ESOL 0042
MnTC:
- Goal 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Goal 10: People and the Environment