Introduction to Archaeology: Method and Theory Anthropology 592
Gary W. Pahl. Office: Old Science 271 T/Th 12:35-1:50 Office Hours: T/Th 2-3 email: gwpahl@gmail.com Fall 2008
This course acts as a “How To…” course or “Cookbook” course in archaeological methods as developed by American archaeological institutions. It is touted as an introduction because the growing and changing field of archaeology as practiced in the U.S. encompasses so many sub-disciplines and specialties, regional interests, methods, and theories rendering it an eclectic “duke’s mixture” of a field ranging from epigraphy, taphonomy and otoliths to theoretical models and cognitive interpretations. The sequel course for this introduction is Anthropology 593, a 6-unit course dedicated to a special project involving focused collection lab and/or field work. Anthropology 593 may be taken twice for credit. The primary object of the course is bent on providing you with some basic practical and theoretical concepts and approaches for designing and conducting archaeological research with responsibility and some thoughtful awareness of what contemporary archaeologists argue about and practice. The course should prepare you for more advanced studies and pre-professional work in the field where there is indeed a sizeable job market for students in the field. Theory is considered as heavily as possible in this course through reading material while equal emphasis rests on applications and methodologies to get you up and started in the field. “Method follows theory.” (Mao Ze Dong). As a 4 unit course class time will be divided into lecture/discussion and lab time for practical projects. Lectures will be theme oriented . Readings for the week should be completed before the beginning of the week (1st week excepted). Students should expect to see lecture and reading material on the quizzes and exams. Do take notes in class during lecture lab. Review sessions are slated for the session prior to midterm and final exam. Lab time should be utilized to fully to complete project sets. No late submissions accepted. Reading Material: Sutton/Arkush, Archaeological Laboratory Methods. 4th edition. Kendall Hunt. D. Hurst Thomas and R. Kelly, Archaeology 1st edition. Thompson Wadsworth 2005 G.W. Pahl (ed.) Archaeology of De Silva Island, Mrn-17, Treganza Museum Pub. 17. 2004. Renfrew and Bahn, Archaeology: Method and Theory, 4th edition , Thames Hudson. R. M. Stewart Basic Field Methods in Archaeology. 2002. Kendall Hunt. *See Reading Schedule on accompanying page.. Project Sets: 1 Research Design and Grant Proposal 2. Map reading and Survey (site area visit) 3. Instrument Survey and Map 4. Artifact Typologies 5. Faunal 6. Publication and Illustration
Evaluation: Project Sets Midterm Final Research Design and Oral Presentation 40% 20% 20% 20%
Topics to be included (but not necessarily limited to these) in lecturer/practicums include: Site types careers law/CRM Survey strategies mapping burial analysis Sampling strategies typologies excavation strategies Field equipment logistics repatriation Conservation beads (Olivella) replication Ceramics publishing the future of archaeology Osteology chronology lithics Illustrations, rubbings, casts funding sources ethics Research Design technical analyses Remote sensing Nationalism and arch Cataloging/Documents micro-constituent analysis field visits