ANTH 331 - Topics in Archaeological Theory and Method

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as STS 331 and ENST 331) The theoretical underpinnings of anthropological archaeology and the use of theory in studying particular bodies of data. The focus ranges from examination of published data covering topics such as architecture and society, the origin of complex society, the relationship between technology and ecology to more laboratory-oriented examination of such topics as archaeometry, archaeozoology, or lithic technology.

May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.

Topic for 2013/14a: Archaeology of Disaster. This course examines how archaeology can be used to understand the cultural elements of natural disasters, such as hurricane Katrina, as well as cultural disasters, such as terrorist attacks. Natural and cultural disasters often leave us wondering why the event happened and how we can either prevent it from happening again or be better prepared when it does. These questions are hard to answer without the perspective of time. The archaeological record is replete with examples of how cultures have dealt with disaster in the past and affords us the ability to see how their decisions played out over time. Archaeological methods also provide us with a means of learning from the remains of a disaster to piece together the events that led up to it and unfolded during it. In this course special attention will be paid to mass disasters but smaller scale ones will also be considered through the archaeology of crime scenes. Ms. Beisaw.

Prerequisite(s): previous coursework in Anthropology, or permission of the instructor.

One 3-hour period.

Topic for 2013/14b: Technology, Ecology, and Society. Examines the interactions between human beings and their environment as mediated by technology, focusing on the period from the earliest evidence of toolmaking approximately up to the Industrial Revolution. Student research projects often bring the course up to the present. Includes experimentation with ancient technologies and field trips to local markets and craft workshops. Ms. Johnson.

Prerequisite(s): previous coursework in Anthropology, Environmental Studies, or Science, Technology, and Society, or permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period; plus 4 hour lab.