Anthropology 282:
Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology

John M. O’Shea
Autumn, 2005

 

Course Outline

                The course is designed to provide you with a general background to the methods and approaches of modern prehistoric archaeology, 

and to provide a brief overview of human prehistory from earliest times to the emergence of complex societies. 

The course will emphasize how archaeologists come to know about the past.

 

Professor:                John M. O’Shea (joshea@umich.edu)
Rm 4015 Ruthven Museum Building
Office Hours: Wednesday 10-11-, Thursday 1-2

GSI:        Rachael Gruszka (bgruszka@umich.edu)
Rm 236a West Hall
Office Hours: Monday 12-2

 

Textbooks:

Archaeology: Down to Earth, by David Hurst Thomas                  (ADE)

The Past in Perspective, by Kenneth L. Feder                (TPP)

 

Grading:

                Student performance will be assessed on the basis of two (2) hour exams, two (2) ‘projects’, and on a cumulative assessment of performance in weekly section. 

The final grade will represent the average of the four (4) highest marks earned over the duration of the course.

 

Web Site:

A web site containing lecture outlines, study guides and assorted other class related information is available to class members at http://www.umich.edu/~anth282/

 

 

 

Tentative Class Schedule:

 

Week of

Topic

Readings

September 6

Introduction to Archaeology

ADE: Chapters 1, 2

September 13

Formation of the Archaeological Record

ADE: Chapter 6

September 20

Chronology and Dating

ADE: Chapter 3, 4

September 27

Typology and Classification

ADE: Chapter 4

*September 27*

Begin First Project

 Details on web site

October 4

Archaeological as Archaeology

ADE: Chapter 5

October 11

Archaeology as Anthropology

ADE: Chapter 7, 8

*October 13*

First Project Due

 

*October 18*

Fall Recess

 

October 20

Archaeology as Anthropology

ADE: Chapter 9, 11

*October 25*

Archaeology as Anthropology

 

October 27

First Hour Exam

 

November 1

Early Humans, continued

TPP: Chapters 3-4, 5-7

*November 3*

Begin Second Project

Details on web site

November 8

Colonization of the New World

TPP: Chapter 8

November 15

Post-Glacial Hunter-Gatherers: Mesolithic/Archaic

TPP: Chapter 9

November 22

Origins and Dispersal of Agriculture

TPP: Chapter 10

November 24

Thanksgiving Break

 

November 29

Origins of Complexity and Inequality

TPP: Chapter 11, 14

*November 30*

Second Project Due

 

December 6

Rethinking Archaeology

   ADE: Chapter 12     TPP: Chapter 15

*December 13*

Second Hour Exam