ANTH 101.501 / Primates, Peoples, & Prehistory
Tuesday, Thursday / 11:00 – 12:15 / Hamilton 108
Friday / 12:20 – 1:10 / Hamilton 108
Professor: Ken Kelly
(3 credits)
Fulfills 3 hrs. of the 9 hr. Social Science Distribution Requirement
Restricted to Honors Students

For lab credit, see SCHC 393G

Course Readings:
Feder, Kenneth L., and Michael Alan Park 2007. Human Antiquity: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology (5th ed.) Mountain View, CA, Mayfield Publishing

and assigned readings for discussion.

Course Content:
NOTE: By also signing up for the one credit SCHC 393G Proseminar: Prehistory lab you can satisfy the Honor's College requirement for a third Lab Science Course.

The course is an introduction to biological and archeological anthropology. We study the basic concepts and mechanisms of evolution and the evolutionary history of humankind from primate beginnings to modern societies. The course is divided into 4 sections: 1) the science of anthropology and the models and mechanisms of human evolution; 2) modern human variation and adaptation, and our relationships to non-human primates; 3) origin and development of humans using evidence from the fossil record (paleoanthropology) and archaeological remains; and, 4) a brief overview of human prehistory from early migrations of modern humans across the globe to the development of food production and complex societies. Along the way, it illustrates the ways in which anthropologists learn about the past and how we can use our knowledge of the past to understand the present.
The most basic goal of this course is to become better informed of what it means to be a member of the human species. We are a product of our past as well as present, and this course hopes to show how understanding our biological and cultural history (through the theory and method of the science of anthropology) can provide us with a better understanding of humanity.

Course Presentation and Requirements:
Class content will be presented through lecture, films, debates, discussion, projects, and hands-on labs. There will be a basic text and additional readings to supplement the text and for classroom discussion. I will attempt to provide opportunities to participate in archaeological excavations on a weekend during the semester.

Method of Evaluation:
There will be a minimum of three exams, and a minimum of four additional projects and exercises during the class. These will deal with problems in human genetics, a visit to Riverbanks Zoo and observations of primate behavior, and examination and evaluation of human fossil material. Grading will be based upon the exams, projects, quizzes, video/film review sheets, and class participation. Grading scale is 90-100 (A), 80-89 (B), 70-79 (C), etc.