ANTHROPOLOGY 495: Bioarchaeology of the Near East
Archaeological Field School at Petra, Jordan
SYLLABUS: Summer II, 2012
Instructor: Megan A. Perry
Office: will be on site with students
Telephone: TBA
Email: perrym@ecu.edu
Class meeting times: N/A
Office hours: daily 12-1 pm
Description: Students will participate in an archaeological field school at the site of Petra in Jordan
during Summer II, 2012. After arrival in Amman and transfer to the site, students will receive basic
instruction in the excavation, recovery, and analysis of human remains from archaeological contexts,
bioarchaeological research in Jordan, and Nabataean mortuary practices at Petra and elsewhere. Students
will receive hands-on training excavating 1st century A.D. tombs at the site and assist in the cleaning and
sorting of recovered skeletal material and other mortuary objects. Students will work in the field for four
weeks (six days a week) alongside local Jordanian workers. Lectures will be offered some evenings by
the instructor. One day each week will be free for students to travel to other archaeological and historical
sites in Jordan.
Course Prerequisites: None.
Language of Instruction: English.
Credit Hours: 3
General Education Requirement: This course will satisfy a social science requirement of the GER.
Textbooks: All students will receive a CD including information on the excavation, recovery,
and analysis of human skeletal remains. This will be distributed at no charge.
Schedule:
May 17- base camp setup and student orientation
May 18- orientation continues; lectures on the history of Petra
May 19-24- 1st week of fieldwork (6 am-12 pm); learn bones of cranium and thorax
May 26-31- 2nd week of fieldwork (6 am-12 pm); learn bones of appendicular skeleton
June 2-7- 3rd week of fieldwork (6 am-12 pm); osteology quiz, lab: bioarchaeology
June 9-14- 4th week of fieldwork (6 am-12 pm); paleopathology
June 16-17- closedown of excavation
June 18- final research paper due
Assessment: Students will take a quiz on human osteology and present a paper outlining archaeological
and historical research questions that can be addressed through the analysis of the skeletal material they
are excavating from Petra. The instructor will also place a portion of the grade on the quality of students’
work in the field and post-field treatment of skeletal material:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Osteology quiz
Final paper
Quality of field work
Quality of laboratory work
Total
20%
40%
20%
20%
100%
Instructor’s policies on incomplete grades and late assignments: The instructor will consider
reasonable excuses (such as illness) for late submission of written work. Written work submitted
late without approval by the instructor will be marked down by one letter grade.
Attendance policy: Students are expected to work in the field each morning from 6 am to noon,
six days each week. Friday will be a day off each week. Students are also expected to attend
evening lectures three evenings each week. For the university policy on excused absences, go to
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.4.php
Academic integrity: Students are reminded of the university policy on academic integrity found
in the Code of Student Conduct Policy (POL11.35.1). Further, the instructor expects honesty
in the completion of all academic assignments. The student's signature on any assignment means
that the student neither gave nor received unauthorized aid.
Statement on extra expenses: Students will pay a fee that covers their room, board, local
transportation, and other costs associated with the project. Students will also pay for their own
international transportation to Jordan.