COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an advanced undergraduate seminar covering the history of scientific archaeological exploration, theoretical paradigms and current trends in archaeological theory. The course covers the major movements within archaeological theory: descriptive-classificatory, processual and post-processual archaeology, as well as important intellectual developments from other disciplines which influenced archaeological thought (e.g., Marxism, feminism, structuralism, etc.). The purpose of this historically-oriented approach to data analysis and interpretation is to provide the students with an understanding of the context in which archaeological theory has developed and the valueable insights each of these approaches gives to modern researchers working in the field. Such an understanding is basic to any critique of contemporary archaeology and to the training of competent field archaeologists.

This course satisfies a departmental Core Requirement for Anthropology majors -- 3 credits.

Course Documents

The principal question addressed in this course is: how do archaeologists reconstruct past lifeways by looking at the meagre material remains left behind by past societies? The artifacts and buildings they excavate are at best pale reflections of the vibrant cultures that once produced them. Archaeological theory -- the subject of this course -- is the tool which bridges the gap between the archaeologist's pottery sherds and the ancient people who made them.

This course consists of both formal lectures on basic topics and detailed discussions about a series of readings. Students are required to read a range of short journal articles and book chapters which illustrate the broad trends described in the general textbook. During each class, students provide a summary presentation of the articles and then take lead roles in further discussion. In this way students are exposed to "classic" articles by established authorities, as well as the latest trends in archaeological theory.