Fall 2021  |  ANTH 4001 Section 001: Advanced Method and Theory in Archaeology -- Experimental Archaeology (35756)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Repeat Credit Limit:
9 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
Topics Course
Enrollment Requirements:
Anth 3001
Meets With:
ANTH 8510 Section 002
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
09/07/2021 - 12/08/2021
Thu 02:30PM - 05:00PM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 318
 
12/09/2021 - 12/15/2021
Thu 02:30PM - 05:00PM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 115
Enrollment Status:
Open (4 of 15 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
An upper-level archaeology class, highly recommended for anthropology students considering a career in archaeology or biological anthropology. Some years it is taught as a methods course (e.g., Experimental Archaeology), other years as a theory course (e.g., the Archaeology of Religion).
Class Notes:
Description: Experimental archaeology is one of the most important tools in archaeology for conducting Middle-Range Research, which enables us to propose and test models explaining the dynamic behavioral and natural processes which led to the formation of the archaeological record. It involves the replication of ancient technologies, such as flint-knapping and pottery-making, the study of human subsistence practices such as butchery and farming, and the study of the formation of the archaeological record, including taphonomy and preservation. The focus of this year's class will be on pyrotechnology, which is the controlled use of fire in order to deliberately alter materials such as stone, clay, metal, and calcite (plaster). Pyrotechnology also includes the use of fire for cooking and the resulting unintentional alteration of materials affected by fire such as wood, bone, and sediments. Pyrotechnology is at the heart of a great deal of archaeological research these days, because the development of control over fire is widely seen as a watershed in human evolution. In this class, we will discuss the latest hypotheses on the role of fire in human evolution, and what the evidence for fire consists of. We will explore the elements of good experimental design and procedure. Then, each student will design and carry out an experiment on some aspect of pyrotechnology in order to address a specific question that emerges from published experiments in the literature. Class time will often involve group discussions and group work. This class is designed for advanced undergraduate students who have taken Anth 3001 and, ideally, some upper-level archaeology courses.
Class Description:
Anth 4001 Advanced Method and Theory. Spring 2018 topic: Experimental Archaeology. Experimental archaeology is one of the most important tools in archaeology for conducting Middle-Range Research, which enables us to propose and test models explaining the dynamic behavioral and natural processes which led to the formation of the archaeological record. It involves the replication of ancient technologies, such as flintknapping and pottery-making, the study of human subsistence practices such as butchery and farming, and the study of the formation of the archaeological record, including taphonomy and preservation. In this class, we will explore the elements of good experimental design and procedure, and each student will carry out an experimental project of their own design, resulting in a poster or final paper. Class time will often involve group work, as students working on related topics will discuss their research and give each other feedback. This class is designed for advanced undergraduate students who have taken Anth 3001 and, preferably, one upper-level archaeology course. Graduate students are welcome, and will be given graduate credit. Please contact the instructor with any questions.
Who Should Take This Class?:
Anyone with a love of archaeology, experimentation, and science.
Grading:
50% Special Projects
30% Written Homework
10% In-class Presentations
10% Class Participation
Exam Format:
No exams.
Workload:
60 Pages Reading Per Week
35 Pages Writing Per Term
1 Presentation(s)
1 Special Project(s)
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/35756/1219
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
3 November 2017

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