ANTH 235 - Area Studies in Archaeology

Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1 unit(s)

This course is a detailed, intensive investigation of archaeological remains from a particular geographic region of the world. The area investigated varies from year to year and includes such areas as Eurasia, North America, and the native civilizations of Central and South America.

May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.

Topic for 2016/17a: Archaeology of Native North America. Native Americans have been in North America for at least the last 10,000 years. From the archaeological record of their cultures, we can see how they farmed in the scorching desert, hunted in the frozen tundra, and traded resources between groups over thousands of miles. Native creativity and resiliency is evident in their past and their present, as indigenous archaeologists and community archaeology programs are changing how archaeology is done, who it is done by and for, and what questions are asked of the past. This course will survey the archaeology of two distinct geographical culture areas, the Southwest and the Northeast. The Southwest, centered on the four-corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, is characterized by elaborately painted pottery and standing stone ruins. The Northeast, from Maryland to Maine, is characterized by an unpainted pottery and architectural remnants that are visible as stains in the soil. Because of its greater aesthetic appeal, the Southwest has received much more attention. This contrast will allow us to examine how knowledge of the past is constructed by archaeologists, museum professionals, descendant communities, and public interest. April Beisaw.

Topic for 2016/17b: Central Asian Prehistory. Central Asia is at the crossroads of the East and West. Now comprised of the Former Soviet Union’s “-stans”, archaeology and ethnography reveal a deep antiquity with many unanswered questions. Who were the Andronovoans that buried horses and chariots here 2,000 years ago? How are they related to the Scythians, who are known for their elaborate tattoos? Who built the geometrically patterned earthworks and why? Starting with the earliest traces of human occupation in the region, possibly 1,000,000 years ago, this course assesses the evidence of early Central Asian populations. Linking past and present, the course also examines the role of prehistory in shaping identity of modern Central Asian states. Zachary Cofran.

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

Two 75-minute periods.