ANTH 231 - Topics in Archaeology

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

An examination of topics of interest in current archaeological analysis. We examine the anthropological reasons for such analyses, how analysis proceeds, what has been discovered to date through such analyses, and what the future of the topic seems to be. Possible topics include tools and human behavior, lithic technology, the archaeology of death, prehistoric settlement systems, origins of material culture.

May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.

Topic for 2014/15a: Maps, Culture, and Archaeology. Maps are used to document relationships between peoples, places, and the spaces in between. This course examines both the practical and hegemonic uses of maps while providing students with hands-on experiences creating maps from archaeological and historical data. The central case study focuses on the megalithic monument of Stonehenge. This site seems quite mysterious when considered alone, but when Stonehenge is placed within the landscapes of its past, its meaning(s) and purpose(s) become clearer. Nonetheless, most people insist on seeing Stonehenge as an isolated place within the contemporary landscape of England, for that image is central to their worldview, cultural identity, and/or political agenda. If Stonehenge’s landscape is as important as the individual site, there are real implications for the rights of local landowners, the obligations of heritage management and tourism, and the patrimony of cultures who see Stonehenge as a sacred site. Additional case studies will include community networks in the Native American southwest, the development of Euro-American towns in Maryland, and the layout of present-day Poughkeepsie. Ms. Beisaw.

Prerequisite: previous coursework in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.