Dr. Tristram R. Kidder Center for Archaeology 7041 Freret St. 862-3048 Kidder@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
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Office Hours: MWF 11:00-11:50 or by Appointment
Time: MWF, 10:00-10:50 A.M.
Place: Newcomb Hall, Room 115
Description: This course is intended as an introduction to the archaeology of pre-modern peoples and focuses on the origins and evolution of human cultures across the backdrop of archaeological time. We first examine the emergence and development of human societies after ca. 50,000 yrs B.P. (Before Present). How did early modern human culture evolve, and how did these early ancestors cope with environments radically different from our own? We will use this opportunity to explore the colonization of the Pacific and of the New World. We will also investigate how humans adapted to new climatic and environmental conditions after ca. 15,000 yrs B.P. Then, using case studies and selected examples from a number of areas around the globe, we will look at various patterns of human social and cultural organization. In each major geographic region we will study hunters and gatherers, tribes, chiefdoms, and finally, civilizations. In each case we seek to explore how these institutions and cultures developed, and how they evolved (or devolved) through time. Important sites will be discussed and used as examples. The goal of this course is to foster an appreciation for the diversity of human social and cultural organization and to understand the historical patterns that shape the emergence of the modern world.
We will also devote class time to developing your web literacy skills. Increasingly, web literacy is a required part of your education. The web offers unlimited possibilities, but in archaeology (and most subjects) these possibilities are not always accurate or well presented. Part of your required literacy is learning how to differentiate the good from the bad (and the ugly). Working in small groups, you will be required to create a web-based project as part of your grade. Developing a web research project is a very specific skill. We will go over the methods of writing HTML code, as well as finding research sources, writing research information, and composing citations and bibliographies.
ALL Students will be required to open both an e-mail account and a web page account. In order to get a web page account you need an e-mail account (an account on the RS6000 computer). Freshman have been assigned an e-mail account and should have been given their e-mail address and password during Orientation. All other students need to set up an account (if you already have an e-mail account on the RS6000 you can proceed to get a web page account). To set up an e-mail account go to Richardson (the Computer Center) Rm. 102 (865-5530) and fill out the "Academic Account Application." You must bring a valid Tulane student ID. Accounts are established in 3 to 5 working days and can be picked up at the same location. To get a WEB account you need to send an e-mail to: help@studentweb.tulane.edu indicating that you wish to set up a student web account. You should get a very rapid response.
Requirements: The course requirements consist of regular class attendance, a midterm examination, a final examination, five short homework assignments, five short in-class quizzes, and a Web Project (site report). The midterm will include short answer and identification questions. The final exam will consist of essay format questions and will be cumulative. In order to prepare you to create effective web projects I will conduct several sessions on HTML programming. The homework assignments will be based on web pages assigned in the syllabus. They will consist of short answer, true/false, or multiple choice questions about the web sites and their content. One homework assignment will be to attend a library class on "Hands-On Searching the Internet" to enhance your web searching skills. The major assignment will be a web project on a site or archaeological culture. The web project will be undertaken in small, collaborative, work groups. Each student in the work group will be responsible for the final product. Evaluation of the web project will include peer reviews by members of the research group. The purpose of this project is to familiarize you, in some depth, with the archaeology of a particular place or culture and to allow you to appreciate how the archaeological data are obtained. The completed assignment must be posted on each student's web site by 5:00 PM April 19. Specific information for each assignment will be distributed in class and is also available on the class web site.
Readings: We will use only one textbook, Brian Fagan’s People of the Earth (9th edition). The text is in the bookstore and a copy will be placed on reserve in the library. This text amplifies ideas discussed in the class and provides discussions of sites and cultures not covered in the regular lectures. It is very important that you keep up with the assigned readings. I will also assign Web sites for you to visit. These sites are given as links below. All sites were verified as of August 12, 1999. If you cannot get to a web site through the links provided here it is your responsibility to inform the instructor immediately.
The schedule of reading assignments is listed below.
Grades: Grading for the course is based on your performance in the homework assignments, quizzes, the web project, and two exams. Regular attendance will also constitute 5% of the final course grade. The homework assignments are worth 3% each (for a total of 15% of the final grade), the quizzes are worth 3% each (for a total of 15% of the final grade), and the web project counts for 20% of the final grade. The midterm exam counts for 20% of the final grade, and the final examination counts for 25% of the final grade.
Schedule: The schedule of lectures and the assigned readings for each week are presented below, along with the due dates for each assignment and the scheduled examination dates. Please read this carefully as you are responsible for attending class and keeping up with the reading.
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syllabusJan. 12 None Obtain e-mail and student web accounts Jan. 14 People Ch. 1 Jan. 17 No Class MLK Holiday Jan. 19 People Ch. 2 Web groups assigned Jan. 21 People Ch. 3 Neanderthals
[dead link 1-19-00]; Neandertal
Heaven Jan. 24 Jan. 26 People Ch. 4 Research group topics due Jan. 28 People Ch. 5 Jan. 31 People Chs. 5 & 6 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 People Ch. 7 Feb. 7 People Ch. 8 Feb. 9 People Ch. 9 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Preliminary Research bibliography Feb. 16 People Ch. 14 Feb. 18 People Ch. 15 Feb. 21 Writing a web report Feb. 23 Feb. 25 People Ch. 11 Feb. 28 People Ch. 16 March 1 People Ch. 17 March 3 The
Indus Valley (continued) Mar. 4-12 Mardi Gras Holiday March 13 March 15 People Ch. 12 March 17 People Ch. 18 March 20 March 22 Web group conferences (March 20-24) March 24 People Ch. 10 March 27 People Ch 20 March 29 March 31 People Ch. 19 April 3 April 5 People Ch. 13 April 7 Good Friday April 10 April 12 People Ch. 21 April 14 Teotihuacan April 17 April 19 The Maya & the Aztec People Ch. 22 WEB REPORT April 21 April 24 April 26 Conclusion
Monday, May 8, 2000 FINAL EXAM (1-5 P.M.)
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syllabuspage created 4/1/99
last modified 01/10/2000