ANTH 320 Section 001
PRINCIPLES OF ARCHAEOLOGY
MWF 12:20-1:10              153 Gambrell



Instructor: Dr. Gail E. Wagner                                
Office Hours:10:00-11:00 ; Thurs 1:00-1:45                                
or easily by email appointment                                  
300 Hamilton (corner Pickens & Pendleton)             
777-6548; gail.wagner@sc.edu



COURSE GOALS:

-- To introduce you to the basic methods, theories, and goals of archaeology

-- To acquaint you with the literature, issues, professionals, and history of archaeology

-- To give you experience in solving archaeological problems

INCLUDES:

-- Lectures, videos, class discussion, in-class workshops

-- Use of web resources

-- Opportunities for laboratory and field experiences

ONE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

Ashmore & Sharer, 2005, Discovering Our Past: A Brief Introduction to Archaeology, 4th ed.

CLASS ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED: most material is given in class:

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND CLASS REGULARLY, DO NOT SIGN UP!!!

 

GRADING:

There will be two tests during the semester (35 points each) and one final comprehensive examination (70 points). Test questions may include multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essays, and will include material covered in readings, lecture, laboratories, workshops, exercises, quizzes, and videos. You are expected to take tests on the day assigned: make-up tests, IF allowed, will be more difficult.

In addition to the tests, there will be 7 quizzes and 7 exercises. Exercises are expected to be handed in on time: credit will be subtracted for EACH DAY the exercise is overdue. Exercises must be completed before the test covering their material. There will be no make-ups for quizzes without a note from a doctor. The lowest QUIZ score will be dropped. The lowest EXERCISE score will be dropped. Non-attendance will subtract substantial points from your final score.

There are 200 points possible. Grading will be determined as follows:

181.5-200 pts A (91-100%)

Quizzes (6x10 divide by 2) 30 pts 15% 159.5-181 pts B (80-90%)

Exercises (6x10 divide by 2) 30 pts 15% 130-159 pts C (65-79%)

Tests (total) 70 pts 35% 100-129.5 pts D (50-64%)

Final Examination 70 pts 35% <100 pts F (<50%)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LIST OF EXERCISES

1 - Stratigraphic Analysis Assigned Jan. 22, DUE Jan. 31

2 - Relative and Absolute Dating Assigned Jan. 31, DUE Feb. 9

3 - Artifacts Assigned Feb. 19, DUE Mar. 2

4 - Reporting Analysis Results Assigned Feb. 26, DUE Mar. 9

5 - Experimental Archaeology Assigned Mar. 23, IN-CLASS Mar. 30

6 - Space and Social Organization Assigned Apr. 4, DUE Apr. 20

7 - Archaeology Today Assigned Apr. 9, DUE Apr. 18

PROJECTED COURSE OUTLINE

(4th edition of textbook)

PART I: ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUNDWORK

JAN 17 - What is archaeology? Vocabulary
         19 - Vocabulary
                 Read: Ch. 1 (1-24); Archaeological Data (61-66).

         22 - Stratigraphy and Site Formation
                 Read: Deposition and Transformation (66-76), Stratigraphy (104-108).
                 Assigned: Exercise 1: Stratigraphic Analysis

         24 - Stratigraphy and Soils
                 Read: Soils & Sediments (148-149).
                 Quiz on vocabulary.

         26 - Survey and Sampling
                 Read: Ch. 4 (76-79); Ch. 5 (87-102).
                 DUE: Post your homepage and email address on our Blackboard site.
                 Quiz on vocabulary and stratigraphy.

         29 - Survey and Sampling, cont.

         31 - Testing and Excavation
                 DUE: Exercise 1.
                 Assigned: Exercise 2: Relative and Absolute Dating

FEB    2 - Excavation, cont.
                 Read: Ch. 5 (102-115), Features (149-156).
                 Quiz on Survey, sampling, and excavation.

           5 - Research Design and Site Forms
                 Read: Finish Ch. 4 (79-85).

           7 - Dating
                 Read: Ch. 7 (147-158).

           9 - CLASS WORKSHOP: SERIATION
                 DUE: Exercise 2.

        12 - Dating, cont.
               Read: Ch. 7 (169-178).
               Archaeological Dating: Retracing Time (18 min)

        14 - Review for Test.

        16 - Test on Part I
                Ch. 1, 4, 5 (87-115), 6 (148-156), and 7.
                Council of SC Professional Archaeologists (COSCAPA) 10:00-12:00,
                Archives and History

        17 - [Saturday] Archaeological Society of SC (ASSC) annual conference
                Gambrell Hall

PART II: ARTIFACT ANALYSIS

        19 - CLASS WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO ARTIFACTS
                Assigned: Exercise 3: Artifacts

        21 – Classification
                Read: Ch. 5 (117-123).

        23 – Ceramic Artifacts
                Read: Ch. 6 (130-138).

        26 – Ceramic Artifacts, cont.
                Assigned: Exercise 4: Reporting Analysis Results

        28 – Lithic Artifacts
                Read: Ch. 6 (125-130).
                Quiz on classification and ceramic artifacts

MAR 2 - Lithic Artifacts, cont.
                Flintknapping (45 min) (video quiz)
                DUE: Exercise 3.

           5 - Faunal Remains
                SEMESTER MIDPOINT
                 Read: Ch. 6 (138-144).

           7 – Faunal and Floral Remains
                 Read: Ancient Gardening in South Carolina web page (Blackboard)

           9 – Floral Remains
                 DUE: Exercise 4.
                 Quiz on Lithic artifacts through faunal remains

        12-16 NO CLASS, Spring Break

        19 - Human Remains
                Read: Ch. 6 (144-147).

        21 – Case Study: West Side Story

        23 – Review for test.
                Assigned: Exercise 5: Experimental Archaeology

        26 – Test on Part II.
                Ch. 6, web page, and pp. 117-123.

PART III: INTERPRETATION

        28 – Case Study:Ethnoarchaeology
                Read: Ch. 8 (179-188).

        30 – CLASS WORKSHOP: EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
                In-class completion of Exercise 5.

APR  2 – Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology

         4 – Space and Social Organization
                Read: Ch. 8 (188-202).
                Assigned: Exercise 6: Space and Social Organization.

         6 – Space and Social Organization, cont.
                Quiz on Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology.

          9 – Ideology
                Read: Ch. 8 (202-210).
                Assigned: Exercise 7: Archaeology Today

        11 – Legislation
                Read: Ch. 10 (244-248).

        13 – Legislation
                Read: About the National Register of Historic Places (Blackboard)
                NRHP Board, 10:00-12:00, Archives and History

        16 - History of Archaeology in the United States
                Read: Ch. 2 (25-38).
                Quiz on Space and Social Organization through Legislation

        18 – History of Archaeology, continued
                DUE: Exercise 7.

        20 – Interpretation
                Read: Ch. 3 (39-52)
                DUE: Exercise 6.

        23 – Interpretation, cont.
                Read: Ch. 9 (212-228).

        25 – Interpretation, cont.
                Read: Ch. 3 (52-60), Ch. 9 (228-236).

        27 - Archaeology Today
                Read: Ch. 10 (238-244, 248-253).

        30 – Review for final exam

Final Comprehensive Examination

Thursday May 3, 2:00-4:00 pm