ANTH& 204: Archaeology
M-F 11:00-11:50 am in L141 (F11)
Dr. Kathryn Keith
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Archaeology is the study of (mostly) past human societies around the world. Archaeologists
seek to understand variation among ancient human societies, as well as how and why they have
changed over time. In the United States, archaeology is one of the four subfields of
Anthropology and is usually taught within Anthropology departments. Anthropologists in the four
subfields, including archaeology, look at different aspects of what it is to be human.
- Cultural anthropologists are concerned with describing and explaining the diversity
among contemporary human cultures.
- Archaeologists study cultures of the past, and attempt to understand how and why
human societies have changed over time.
- Linguistic anthropologists are interested in relationships between language and culture.
- Biological or Physical anthropologists study the origins and development of humans as
a species, as well as the biological variation among human beings today.
This course will introduce you to the data and methods used by archaeologists, and to the
concepts and interpretive frameworks that help them interpret the material remains of past
societies. Archaeologists are interested in understanding as much about the organization of past
societies as they can. Like other anthropologists, they are interested in economic systems,
political and legal systems, belief systems, and social institutions. Using techniques such as
remote sensing, survey, excavation, and laboratory analysis, they learn about ancient cultures
through their material remains – that is, their garbage.
OUTCOMES
Throughout the course, we'll be working on two main issues:
* Research Methods: You will learn about the actual process of archaeological research. You’ll
be able to explain what kinds of data archaeologists use. You’ll be able to discuss the
appropriate use of specific methods for locating, excavating, documenting, dating, and analyzing
archaeological remains. You’ll apply some of those methods to answer questions about
archaeological materials.
* Interpretation: You’ll be able to explain how archaeologists interpret the materials they find and
the patterns they identify. You’ll use the dimensions of archaeology and the methods you’ve
learned about to interpret material remains.
Since this course fulfills a quantitative requirement, you’ll also be using, constructing, and
interpreting quantitative models and approaches as part of your work. You’ll be using graphs,
maps, tables, and charts on a regular basis. You’ll also be expected to quantify your data and to
discuss the significance of those amounts for your archaeological interpretations.
COURSE MATERIALS
There are two required texts for this course, both available in the campus bookstore:
* Archaeology Essentials: Theories, Methods, and Practice (2nd edition) by Colin Renfrew and
Paul Bahn; this is our main text.
* Life in the Pueblo: Understanding the Past Through Archaeology (by Kathryn Kamp) is a case
study, where you can see how the methods you’re reading about are applied in an actual
archaeological excavation.
You’ll also be reading a few required articles during the term. These will be available online,
linked through our class website.
GRADING
Your grade in this course is based on the following components:
Participation, assignments: 40%
Quizzes:
20%
Exam #1:
20%
Exam #2:
20%
TOTAL:
100%
Calculating your grade: Not all points are weighted equally, so simply dividing your points by
the total possible points will NOT give you an accurate idea of your grade. See the Course
Information page on our website for instructions on how to calculate your grade. Angel’s overall
grade (on your grade sheet) is a rough approximation of your grade at any given time.
Incompletes or NC grades: These options are only available under specific (and relatively
unusual) circumstances. For example, if you completed nearly all the coursework, but were
hospitalized the last week of the term and unable to complete the last assignment or exam, a
grade of Incomplete might be an option for you. If your job or the military transferred you out of
state after the deadline to withdraw had passed, an NC grade might be an option for you. In
general, however, you should expect to receive the grade you have earned based on your work
in the course.
NOTE: * No late assignments will be accepted.
* No emailed assignments will be accepted.
* Missed exams or assignments cannot be made up.
* Extra credit is not generally available for this course.
If you can't come to class the day an assignment is due, you can turn it in early, have someone
else bring it in for you (to class or to my office), or email it to another student in the class and
have them print it out and turn it in for you (do not email it to me; I do not accept emailed
assignments).
If you are having printer problems at home, email your assignment to yourself (pasted into the
body of your email, NOT as an attachment) and print it out on campus. This might be a good
strategy to use in general, just in case… 
Your final course grade will be recorded based on the 4-point decimal grading system used at
Pierce College. The table below shows how the decimal grades relate to letter grades:
4.0-3.9 = A
3.4-3.2 = B+
2.4-2.2 =C+
1.4-1.2 = D+
3.8-3.5 = A3.1-2.9 = B
2.1-1.9 = C
1.1-0.9 = D
2.8-2.5 = B1.8-1.5 = C0.8-0.7 = DAnything below 0.7 (D-) is a failing grade.
Standard percentage equivalents are:
Grades in the 90s = A+ to AGrades in the 80s = B+ to BGrades in the 70s = C+ to CGrades in the 60s = D+ to DGrades of 59% or below are failing.
Expectations for adequate (C) work include: completing coursework on time and doing an
adequate job on it. To get an A or B in the course, your work must be of correspondingly higher
quality. For more information on grading standards and expectations, see the Grading
Standards document.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS - SUMMARY
This is a brief overview of the course requirements. For your success in the course, it is vital that
you carefully read the detailed instructions explained in the Course Requirements document
(in the syllabus folder on our class website)
EXAMS: There will be two exams during the term, each worth 20% of your grade.
NOTE THE FOLLOWING DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR. You must be present in class for each
exam on the day and time it is scheduled; makeup exams are ONLY offered in case of medical
or other emergency, and then both documentation and instructor permission are required. If you
have such an emergency that prevents you from coming to the scheduled exam, you must email
me as soon as possible that day with an explanation.
* Exam #1: TUESDAY 11/1, in class.
* Exam #2: WEDNESDAY 12/7, 11:00am-1:00 pm. NOTE THE TIME - if you come late,
you will not be allowed to take the exam if anyone has already completed it and left the
room.
QUIZZES: There will be an online quiz over the readings every week. The first quiz is due by
noon Saturday 9/24; the second quiz is due by class time (11am) the following Tuesday 9/27.
Most of the rest of the quizzes this term are due by class time (11:00 am) Tuesdays. See the
course calendar for specific readings and due dates. There will also be a comprehensive 50question optional quiz available the end of the term. If you choose to take the optional quiz, your
lowest quiz grade of the term will be dropped. Your quiz average is 20% of your grade.
ASSIGNMENTS: Several in-class and take-home assignments during the term will be collected
for 5-60 points each. Late assignments are not accepted; missed in-class assignments cannot
be made up. Assignments and participation, taken together, are 40% of your grade.
PARTICIPATION: Each class day is worth either 5 or 0 points; partial credit is not available. To
earn the points, you must be present, prepared, focused, and engaged during the entire 50
minutes.
CORE ABILITIES
Responsibility, Information Competency, and Effective Communication are important core
abilities for your success in any class. You’ll be building on them in part through the choices you
make regarding class attendance, completion of assignments, and independent study. You’ll
need to communicate effectively with your group as you solve various archaeological problems
together, with the class as you explain your conclusions, and with me as you explain your ideas
on your write-ups and assignments. You’ll work on information competency as you find,
evaluate, organize, and explain new vocabulary, information, and ideas.
Much of what you will be asked to do in this class - on assignments, discussions, and activities –
involves the core ability of Critical Thinking. You’ll be expected to identify, explain, analyze,
interpret, and evaluate patterns in archaeological data. Archaeology is a Multicultural endeavor
by its very nature; it involves not only learning about and trying to understand cultures and
societies that may be very different from our own, but also often working with people with
diverse backgrounds and interests.