Goals: In this course the student will be introduced to the basic elements of archaeology and its place in the social sciences. Some of the topics we will cover include the history of archaeology, fundamental aspects of fieldwork and analysis, and the prehistoric record from the first humans to the origins of civilization. Since lectures will have to be selective in presenting material, it is vital that the student stay abreast of the readings. Questions and comments are always welcome. Slides will supplement lectures. I will provide a list of videos available in the library for your individual viewing. Class participation is an important component of the class and, thus, regular attendance is mandatory.

Texts:

Ceram, C.W.
1968 Gods, Graves and Scholars. Vintage, New York.

1. Exams. Three exams will be given during the semester. Each will be worth 100 points. The exams will consist of matching, fill-ins, short answers, and essays. The essays will ask you to integrate material from class with readings from the several texts; you will need to cite specific examples from the books to bolster your arguments. Make-up exams will be permitted only under extreme conditions (e.g., medical emergency); otherwise, absence from class on an exam date will result in a zero (0) score for that test. Each of the first two exams will count for 15%, and the final exam for 20% of the final grade (total of 50%). I encourage students to ask questions in class or during office hours.

2. Reaction Paper. There will be a two-page reaction paper on the Ceram book. In this paper you should try to identify some of the key themes in the book and illustrate them with several examples. The paper should be typed single-spaced with one-inch margins all around. Be sure to spell check this document before you hand it in. It will be due September 9. I will accept late papers, but I will dock these 5 points for each day beyond the deadline. 10% of final grade

3. Bibliography. Each student will compile an annotated bibliography of 20 items concerning some topic in archaeology. There will be no more than 5 entries by one author and no more than 5 items from a single source (i.e., 1 periodical). Materials from the popular press (e.g., newspapers, Time, Newsweek, etc.) are not acceptable sources; consult professional journals and monographs (books). Please use the same reference format as on the SAA style guide; see American Antiquity volume 48, number 2, pages 429 442; or the SAA web page at http://www.saa.org/Publications/StyleGuide/saaguide.pdf. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to read this web page file. I have samples of previous successful bibliographies on hand for you to examine if that would be helpful. A one-page description of your topic will be due September 16. The completed typed bibliography assignment will be due November 13 and will count as 25% of the final grade. There will be a penalty of 5 points (out of 100) for each day the assignment is late in being handed in. The annotation for each reference will be one paragraph in length (ca. 1 page). The bibliography should be typed and double-spaced, with a title page. Please use a Times, or Times Roman 12 point font, with one-inch margins. The first page should be a concise statement of the topic. Each entry should appear on a separate page, with the bibliographic information at the top. The student should summarize the content of the source in his or her own words. Keep direct quotations to a minimum. The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with techniques for doing library research in archaeology. Select a topic as you would for a term paper. The topic should not be too broad. For example, the archaeology of ancient Egypt covers a wide range of material; you could concentrate on one aspect of a specific period, such as burial customs in the Old Kingdom. The subject of the bibliography can be a particular culture (e.g., the Hopewell in Ohio, or Romans in Britain), or an examination of a particular method (e.g., micro-wear analysis of stone tools, dating by dendrochronology, the study of ancient diseases from archaeological remains, etc.), or a major issue of debate (e.g., what happened to the Neanderthals, how and why did civilization arise in Mesopotamia or elsewhere, etc.). To begin the selection process, think about a particular area of the world in which you have an interest and a time period (e.g., Early Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Classical Greece, Historical archaeology of the colonial period in North America, etc.) on which you want to concentrate. Use the reference search tools of the library, such as the Humanities Index, Social Science Index, and various aspects of the Internet system; library personnel offer instructional classes on the use of these various resources.

4. Quizzes. There will be three unannounced quizzes during the semester. The quiz questions will deal with the reading material from the text and other articles assigned for that day. 5% of final grade.

5. Discussion and other Assignments. It is imperative that all students participate frequently and vigorously in the discussion of readings and issues raised in class. To undertake this assignment successfully you must read the articles thoroughly and critically. Ask yourself some of the following questions: Does the author present the evidence thoroughly and make good use of it in constructing an argument? What are the key points the author tries to make? Are there additional questions with which the author could have or should have dealt? Can you discern a theoretical perspective or bias in the article? How has such a viewpoint affected the author's treatment of the material? Do various sources agree? Point out discrepancies and explain. Each student will prepare one or two questions or comments on each of the readings and will share these observations or queries when called upon. Each student will keep a journal with notes, questions, reflections, and other comments on the readings from Archaeology 01/02 and Beyond the Site; on occasion, I may ask to see the entry for a particular day and reading(s). 10% of final grade.

6. Lab and Fieldwork. Depending on several factors, I may be conducting fieldwork at sites in the area on some weekends during the fall. Although participation is not required, for anyone interested in pursuing a major in archaeology or a related discipline the fieldwork will offer an opportunity for hands-on experience.
Each student, however, will be required to spend a 3-hour session in the archaeology lab (Rooms 28 and 29 in Kauke Hall) processing artifacts from several local excavations or undertaking other tasks. The work will involve recording, washing, labeling, and preliminary analysis of prehistoric and historic materials. Lab hours will be established and groups of five or six students will be able to sign up for any particular day. This requirement will not receive a formal grade, but will be a factor in the evaluation of the semester's work, particularly for those who are on the border between grades.

Plagiarism. Any improper citation of another person's work that makes it appear as one's own constitutes plagiarism and is a serious academic offense. If there is evidence of plagiarism on any written assignment, the work will receive a 0 (F). If you have any questions, or do not fully understand precisely what plagiarism means do not hesitate to ask me. In addition, please read the relevant section in The Scot's Key.

Schedule:

There will be several lectures on campus during the semester that I will require you to attend. On Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM in Lean Lecture Room of Wishart Hall, Dr. John Camp, Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations in Greece, will discuss what archaeology has revealed about the nature of ancient Athenian democracy.