This course offers an introduction to the subject of archaeology. It is divided into three parts: l) The Nature and History of Archaeology, 2) Basic Archaeological Approaches, and 3) A Brief Survey of World Prehistory. Given time limitations, the latter section will focus on selected topics of major methodological and theoretical concern in the discipline. No prerequisites, limited to 30.
This seminar surveys the field and analytical methods of archaeology, and examines the theoretical premises of the discipline. The course will focus on the structure and history of the discipline, field and laboratory methods, temporal and behavioral frameworks, and theoretical principles for archaeology as a pillar of Anthropology. Prerequisite: an introductory course in archaeology or permission of the instructor; limited to 25.
This course offers an introduction to biological anthropology, and will focus on human evolution, biology and behavior, as well as on studies of non-human primates. Special emphasis will be placed on evolutionary theory, primate evolution and behavior, human origins and paleoanthropology, human adaptability, variability, and survivability, and contemporary issues in the interplay between biology and culture. No prerequisites, limited to 30.
This seminar examines the major trends in the development of ecological anthropology, with special emphasis on 1) the role of ecology in evolutionary theory, and 2) case studies of the interaction of people, culture and the environment. The following topics are covered: hunter-gatherers, pastoralism, agrarian ecology, the ecology of ritual and warfare, population ecology, ancient civilizations and the environment, ecology and culture change, environmental justice, and various current issues where culture and the environment intersect. This seminar does not offer a biological approach to the study of ecosystems, nor is it a trendy course on how to recycle beer cans; it is a comparative survey of the ways in which people interact with their physical environments, and how these interactions shape cultural development. Limited to 15, with prior coursework in Anthropology and/or Environmental Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Anthropologists have developed a variety of approaches to the study of urbanism, a fundamental part of the human experience in recent millenia. Through a survey of cases, from Sumer to Mexico City and Miami, we will explore a range of techniques and theoretical approaches and evaluate their contribution to our understanding of the nature and culture of the city. The seminar will focus on several themes, including the origin of cities, conflict in relation to class, ethnicity and racialized constructions, urban change, and urban planning. Limited to 15, with prior work in Anthropology and/or Urban Studies preferred.
This course offers a survey of Mesoamerican prehistory from Paleo-Indian times to the arrival of the Spanish. Special emphasis will be placed on the processes that led to the origins of food production, the development of Formative cultures, the rise and fall of Classic period states, and the emergence of Postclassic empires. No prerequisites, limited to 15.
This seminar examines the the history and culture of Mesoamerica from the Spanish Conquest to the present. Topics include the conquest and colonial period, the 19th century, a survey of modern ethnic groups, ethnographic case studies of selected societies, modern culture, and urban life. No prerequisites, limited to 15.
A seminar focusing on the evolution of Andean Civilization from Paleo-Indian times to the Spanish Conquest, with special emphasis on the origins of food production, Chavin culture, the Early Intermediate kingdoms, and the late Chimu and Inca empires. No prerequisites, limited to 15.
This course offers an intensive survey of Old World Prehistory, from the earliest hominids of the Pliocene to the emergence of civilization. We will focus on several topics, though specifically on the processes that led to 1) early hominid evolution and diaspora, 2) the emergence of modern humans, 3) the origins of food production, and 4) the development of regional cultures. Special emphasis will be placed on the past and present theoretical interpretations of the significance, causes, and effects of these processes. No prerequisites, limited to 15.
The goal of this course is to give students a broad knowledge and an understanding of the archaeology of eastern Mesoamerica, the best-known inhabitants of which are the Olmec and the Maya. The Olmec of the southern Gulf Coast (ca. 1400-500 B.C.) are considered by many archaeologists to have been the most precocious and artistically productive of the Early Formative societies of Mesoamerica. The Maya can be identified archaeologically as early as 1600 B.C., reached their greatest extent and development during the Classic period (ca. A.D. 250-1100), and were conquered by Spaniards beginning early in the sixteenth century. They number about five million today. At the end of the course we will examine the development of historical archaeology in the Maya area through a study of several case studies from the Colonial period and 19th century. Prior coursework in Mesoamerican Archaeology preferred; limited to 15.
Historical Archaeology of Latin America
History of American Archaeology
Human Paleoanthropology
Primate Evolution and Behavior
South American Ethnography
Underwater Archaeology