I. Course Description:
This course examines The basic concepts, methods and findings of modern archaeology. It covers the history of archaeology, the application of archaeological methods of recovery and interpretation and the analysis of archaeological evidence as it is used to reconstruct ancient societies and major trends in cultural development. Archaeology of the Middle East will be used as a backdrop for understanding archaeological concepts and methodologies.
II. Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Discuss the development of archaeology as a scientific discipline
- Explain how archaeologists find and explore new sites
- Explain how archaeologists go about interpreting remains of the past
- Explain the difference between anthropological, biblical and classical archaeology
- Discuss the methodology of dating in archaeology
- Explain the purpose for and process of analyzing ceramics
- Discuss what archaeology can tell us about cultural change
- Construct reasonable inferences from evidence about the characteristics of ancient society by intergrating the data, methods and interpretive frameworks of modern scientific archaeology
- Critically evaluate major theoretical and ethical debates in modern archaeology
- Apply basic archaeological fieldwork, analytical and dating techniques to appropriate situations in archaeology
- Differentiate between ethical and unethical exavation, intrepretation and publication practices in the field of archaeology
- Identify the basic goals, concepts and methods of archaeology
- Recognize, appreciate and explain the diverse contributions that the archaeology makes toward understanding ancient cultures and their civilizations.
III. Textbooks:
1) Renfrew, Colin and Paul Bahn. Archaeology Essentials: Theories, Methods and Practice. Thames and Hudson, 2011. Intercultural Press, 2006. ISBN0500289123
2) TBA
Credits: 3= 1 lecture hour 3 days per week avg.; 3 study hours per lecture; 6 study hours per exam; 10 study hours final exam; 12 study hours per research project; 15 weeks
This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
- Teacher: Bates, Robert