| |
Oct 23, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
ANTH 2261 - Principles of Archaeology
Credits: 3
Catalog Description
This course focuses on the fundamentals of interpretation in archaeology including fieldwork methods and the uses of laboratory analysis. Students will gain an understanding of the purposes of archaeological research through the study of theory and research examples, both prehistoric and historic, drawn from cultures worldwide. Major trends in cultural evolution and ecological adaptation in various areas of the world will be explored. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the legacy of prehistoric cultures and the implications for contemporary culture and its problems. Emphasis will be placed on how knowledge of past peoples can be gained from their material remains. The course will prepare interested students for participation in excavations.
Recommended Skills, Abilities, or Coursework: Students should be prepared to do college level reading, analysis, and writing
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Goal Area(s) fulfilled: Goal 05B: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Goal 08: Global Perspective
Additional fee to student: No
Learner Outcomes
- Define anthropology and describe its four major subfields.
- Summarize the history and development of archaeological method and theory.
- Demonstrate the various purposes and goals of archaeological excavation.
- Differentiate between the methods used for discovering and examining different kinds of archaeological sites.
- Demonstrate the ethics of archaeological investigation, including pertinent legislation and laws.
- Explain the process of excavation and the possession and preservation of artifacts, ecofacts, and human remains.
- Explain the major trends in cultural evolution and ecological adaptation in various areas of the world and the cultural and ecological adaptations of the people in these areas.
- Articulate concepts, terms, and intellectual frameworks necessary to explain the evolution of behaviorally modern humans through the archaeological record.
- Describe important archaeological discoveries on every inhabited continent for various time periods.
Major Areas of Course Content
- Historical development of North American archaeology
- North American prehistory
- Humanity’s African origins and the evolution of behaviorally modern humans
- The scientific method in archaeology
- Fieldwork methods
- Laboratory methods and artifact typology
- Analysis of human remains
- Settlement and spatial analysis
- Environmental adaptations
- Interpreting past cultural systems and culture change
- Current archaeology of the Midwest, the United States, and the world
Credit for Prior Learning Options
No credit for prior learning option is available for this course.
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)
|
|
