ANTHROPOLOGY 311: NORTH AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY Winter Term 2015
Tuesday, Thursday: 9:30-10:50 TB 108
John W. (Jack) Ives, Executive Director, Institute of Prairie Archaeology Landrex Distinguished Professor, Department of Anthropology
8915 HUB, University of Alberta Ph. 780.248.2082 [email protected] Introduction & Objectives
This course is a survey of the archaeology of North America, ranging in time from the earliest occupations of the continent to the time of European contact and colonization. The basis for our exploration will be archaeological data, so a consideration of how archaeologists gain knowledge about past societies and critical evaluation of the theories and methods they use will be important aspects of the course. In addition, we will consider a number of issues that North American archaeologists are debating today. These include: the peopling of the Americas; the nature and variation of hunter-gatherer societies; the origins and consequences of agriculture; the emergence of complex societies; the roots of social inequality; the collapse of cultural institutions; and the impact of European colonization on Native American communities. We will explore archaeology as an alternative to written histories concerning First Nations peoples. The archaeological record itself, while biased, allows for the possibility of multiple interpretations and new appreciations. We will also consider the importance of working collaboratively with descendants of the people whose past we study. The course will include lectures, discussions, and a variety of assignments.
Text: The text for the course is: Seeking Our Past. An Introduction to North American Archaeology, by Sarah W. Neusis and G. Timothy Gross, 2014, Oxford University Press. This text has not been used previously; it is currently available in the University of Alberta bookstore. Additional reading materials will be required, lists for which will be provided for course segments. They will be available either through University of Alberta library electronic access or via eClass.
Office Hours
I will hold office hours between 12:30-15:00 each Wednesday and from 2:00-3:00 each Thursday in 8915 HUB. Students unable to use these time periods can make alternative arrangements with me, and should feel free to use my e-mail address above.
e-Class
Web support for the class will make use of University of Alberta access to eClass (i.e., Moodle). There you will find glossary and web link information, learning modules for each segment of the class, announcements and information about assignments and grades. You should be checking eClass routinely through the week. Note slides will be posted prior to lectures to facilitate note taking. eClass support is not a replacement for sound note taking in class.
University of Alberta Policy Statements
Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.
Academic Integrity
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommunityStandards/CodeofStud entBehaviour.aspx ) and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
Learning and Working Environment
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment. The department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
• Discuss the matter with the person whose behaviour is causing concern; or,
• If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the student ombudservice:
(http://www.ombudservice.ualberta.ca/ ). Information about the University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL at
https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Pages/DispPol.aspx?PID=110 . Academic Honesty
All students should consult the information provided by the Office of Judicial Affairs regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic dishonesty in general (see the Academic Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor.
Students involved in language courses and translation courses should be aware that on-line “translation engines” produce very dubious and unreliable “translations.” Students in language courses should be aware that, while seeking the advice of native or expert speakers is often helpful, excessive editorial and creative help in assignments is considered a form of “cheating” that violates the code of student conduct with dire consequences.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other
students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process . Recording of Lectures:
Audio or video recording of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor.
Attendance, Absences, and Missed Grade Components
Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. In cases of potentially excusable absences due to illness or domestic affliction, notify your instructor by e-mail within two days.
Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult sections 23.3(1) and 23.5.6 of the University Calendar. Be aware that unexcused absences will result in partial or total loss of the grade for the “attendance and participation”
component(s) of a course, as well as for any assignments that are not handed-in or completed as a result.
Assignments are due at the time of submission specified in this syllabus; marks will be deducted for late submissions (10% per day).
Specialized Support & Disability Services
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already registered with Specialized Support & Disability Services, contact their office immediately ( 2-800 SUB; Email [email protected]; Email; phone 780-492-3381; WEB www.ssds.ualberta.ca ).
Access to Past Evaluative Material (GFC 23.4 SEPT 2008)
As I have not taught this class before and as this text has not been used previously for the course, there is no relevant past evaluative material for this course offering. Details about all exams and assignments will be provided in advance of their scheduled dates. The Midterm and Final exams will involve questions about lecture materials, the text, and required readings.
Grading
Assignment Weight Date Due/held
Web/Blog Assignment 10% By midnight, January 29
Midterm 20% February 12, during class period
Term Paper Topic Selection -- Must be approved by Midnight, February 5 Term Paper Outline 10% By Midnight, February 26
Term Paper 30% By Midnight, April 9
Final Exam 30% 2 hrs, preliminary schedule: 9:00 AM, April 22
Grades will be based upon a web or blog assignment, two exams (an in-class Midterm and an in-class Final), and a term paper. The mid-term exam (valued at 20% of the final grade) will cover material indicated on the attached course schedule, up to the halfway point of the course. The final exam (valued at 30% of the final grade) is not cumulative: it will be based on the material covered after the mid-term, but there may be more general review questions that require integration of information from the first half of the course with information from the second half. Exam questions will be drawn from lecture materials, the text and assigned readings. The exam planner provided by the Registrar’s office indicates that the final exam for ANTHR 311 will be Wednesday, April 22 at 9:00 AM. Note that this is a tentative schedule; students must check the final version of the fall term examination schedule themselves. Any deferred final examination will be Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
The specific details for each assignment in the syllabus have been provided separately on eClass.
The Web Page/Blog assignment (10% of the final grade) will involve finding and evaluating a Web Page or Blog involving a North American archaeological region, organization or topical area, and evaluating it according to criteria I will provide to you. The Web Page/Blog assignment can be used as a precursor to defining a term paper topic.
However you arrive at a term paper topic, that choice must be approved by the instructor by February 5. This approval is an important step in which I can advise you about how manageable the topic you have in mind will be, pertinent literature, and other key factors. Failure to secure instructor approval will effect grading of the term paper outline. Once a topic is agreed upon, the term paper research will require an outline (10% of the final grade), due February 26, in which you provide a framework for the paper you will write, along with an annotated bibliography of literature resources you will use.
The term paper (30% of the final grade) will involve an essay concerning a topic involving North American prehistoric or historic archaeology, of particular interest to the student. It is not to exceed 20 pages in length for text (illustrations and references can take additional pages), doubled spaced, with American Antiquity style citations. Specific instructions are in the eClass module for this assignment.
The Web/Blog, Term Paper Topic Selections, Term Paper Outlines, and Term Paper assignments must be submitted electronically to my email address, in Word Document (Word 97-2004 .doc) form, by Midnight of the dates specified for those assignments.
Marks for exams and term assignments will be given in both raw scores and percentages; the percentage mark resulting from the entire term work and examinations will then be used to determine the final letter grade for the course. Letter grades will be assigned at the end of the course, as per the University of Alberta Grading Scale (below).
Undergraduate Grading Scale
Letter % Pts Descriptor
A+ >95 4.0 Typical Grade breaks for a 300 Level Course
A ~90-94.9 4.0
A- ~85-89.9 3.7
B+ ~80-84.9 3.3
B ~75-79.9 3.0
B- ~70-74.9 2.7
C+ ~65-65.9 2.3
C ~60-64.9 2.0
C- ~55-59.9 1.7
D+ ~52.5-54.9 1.3
D ~50-52.4 1.0
F 0-49 0.0
Class Schedule
Week Dates Topic Assignments and Readings
1 T Jan 6 R Jan 8
Course Introduction Coming to the New World
Chapters 1 & 2, Neusius & Gross Chapter 3, Neusius & Gross 2 T Jan 13
R Jan 15
Pre-Clovis & Clovis Era Sites in North America
Chapter 3, Neusius & Gross &
Required Paleoindian Era readings 3 T Jan 20
R Jan 22
Later Paleoindian Period
NW Coast (Guest Lecture, Dr. Kisha Supernant)
Chapter 5, Neusius & Gross &
Required NW Coast Readings 4 T Jan 27
R Jan 29
NW Coast NW Coast
Chapter 5, Neusius & Gross Web Page/Blog Assignment Due 5 T Feb 3
R Feb 5 Arctic
Arctic Chapter 4, Neusius & Gross &
Required Northern Readings Term Paper Topic Selections Due 6 T Feb 10
R Feb 12 Subarctic
Midterm Exam Chapter 4, Neusius & Gross In Class
7 T Feb 17 R Feb 19
Reading Week Reading Week 8
T Feb 24 R Feb 26
Plateau California
Chapter 6, Neusius & Gross Chapter 7, Neusius & Gross Term Paper Outlines Due 9 T Mar 3
R Mar 5
Great Basin Great Basin
Chapter 8, Neusius & Gross &
Required Great Basin Readings
10 T Mar 10
R Mar 12 Southwest
Southwest Chapter 9, Neusius & Gross &
Required SW Readings 11 T Mar 17
R Mar 19
Southwest
Plains Chapter 10, Neusius & Gross
12 T Mar 24
R Mar 26 Plains
Eastern Woodlands: Heartland Required Plains Readings Chapter 11, Neusius & Gross 13 T Mar 31
R Apr 2
Eastern Woodlands: Heartland Eastern Woodlands: Coastal
Eastern Woodlands Readings Chapter 12, Neusius & Gross 14 T Apr 7
R Apr 9
Contact & Historic Period Wrap Up & Review
Chapter 13, Neusius & Gross Term Papers Due
W Apr 22 Preliminary Schedule, Final Exam 9:00 AM, TB-108
