GALEN UNIVERSITY
ANTH 215: MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY OF BELIZE
Course Syllabus
Course Number:
Course Title:
Credits:
Semester and Year:
Time:
Location:
Office Hours:
ANTH-215
Maya Archaeology of Belize
3
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Instructor:
Office hours:
Office Location:
Office Phone:
Email address:
Jaime Awe, Ph.D.
TBA
Main Building
501-824-3226
jaimeawe@yahoo.com
GOALS OF THIS COURSE:
The course is designed to provide students with instruction in archaeological excavation,
laboratory methods, database management, and the prehistory of Belize. Students will
participate in the excavation, surface collection, and mapping of Maya archaeological
sites in the Cayo District of Belize as well as the analysis of artifactual and organic
remains recovered from the sites. In addition to hands on training in field and laboratory
methods, the course will include workshops on the analysis of pottery, stone tools,
organic remains, and total station transit mapping. Through talks, readings, and site
tours, students also will gain an understanding of the Maya archaeology of Belize.
At the completion of this course, students should be able to:
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Excavate and map archaeological features such as rooms, hearths, and trash
deposits
Document archaeological excavations by filling out excavation and feature forms
Process artifacts and other samples
Conduct rudimentary analyses of stone tools and pottery
Explain the types of information that can be gained from various different types
of artifacts and organic remains
Describe some of the ways that ethnicity, class, and economic relationships are
manifested in archaeological remains
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Define the main cultural periods in Maya prehistory of Belize, and describe the
major sociopolitical and economic developments that occurred in each period
COURSE WORK
The course will consist of fieldwork, lab work, workshops, talks, group discussions, and
site tours. Guest speakers will present talks or workshops on a variety of topics.
In addition to gaining hands on training in excavation techniques and laboratory analysis,
through excavation, analysis, readings, and group discussions, we will examine how
ethnicity, class, and economic relationships are manifested in archaeological remains.
Students will also gain an understanding of the prehistory of Belize through site tours and
talks. Tours of local archaeological sites include Xunantunich, Caracol, Cahal Pech,
Baking Pot, Lamanai, and caves such as Actun Tunichil Muchal, Barton Creek and Che
Chem Ha.
READINGS
Awe, Jaime, Maya Cities and Sacred Caves, Belize: Cubola Books, 2006
A reader consisting of a collection of articles on Maya archaeology of Belize will be
available for purchase at the Reception Desk.
Optional books:
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Norman Hammond, Ancient Maya Civilization, 1982, Rutgers: The State
University of New Jersey.
Jeremy Sabloff, The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya, 1994, Scientific
American Library
P. A. B. Thompson, Belize: A Concise History, 2004. Oxford: MacMillan
Publishers
Archeological Investigations in the Eastern Maya Lowlands: Papers of the 2003,
2004, and 2005 Belize Archaeology Symposium, ed. Jaime Awe, John Morris
and Sherilyne Jones, Institute of Archeology: Belmopan, Belize.
Methods of Evaluation:
Grades will be computed as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Class Attendance and Participation ……………………….. 10%
2 written exams @ 15% each..…………………………….. 30%
Field Journal………………………………………………... 5%
Oral presentation ………………………………………….. 10%
Research paper ……………………………………………. 20%
Final exam (cumulative)…………………………………... 25%
Course Policies
1.
Attendance and Punctuality: Students are expected to attend all classes
and be on time. Excused or unexcused absence for more than 15% of the
total classes will result in F for the course.
2.
All assignments are expected on their due dates. Five points will be
deducted per day (not per class) for late assignments.
3.
Exam policy: Make up exams/quizzes will not be given. You may be
allowed to take an exam/quiz early if you know in advance that you will
be out of town. In the event that you miss a scheduled exam without
notification and approval, a grade of zero will be entered.
4.
There are no plans to curve grades in this course. Galen’s standard scale
for grading will be used: A = 93-100; A- = 90-92; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86;
B-, 80-82; range is C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76; C- = 70-72; D+ = 67-69; D =
63-66; D- = 60-62; F = 0-69.
5.
Gender neutral language in class and assignments: Galen University
values the diversity of its student body, staff and faculty. As such, the
university is committed to gender-neutral and bias-free language. We are
all expected to support this policy in written materials and spoken
contributions to class sessions.
Intellectual Integrity
Intellectual Integrity is one of the ideals for which Galen University stands. Students are
expected to adhere to high standards of intellectual integrity and honesty. Cheating and
plagiarism are contrary to the ideals of Galen University. Cheating is defined as
dishonesty of any kind in connection with assignments and examinations. It applies to
both giving and receiving unauthorized help. Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work
of someone else as one’s own. Cheating and plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the
following:
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Using any unauthorized aids on an exam or test
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Representing someone else’s work as your own
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Falsifying documents or grades
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Submitting someone else’s work as your own
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Submitting the same essay or report in more than one course (without permission)
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Looking at someone else’s answers during an examination or test
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Impersonating another person at an examination or test or having someone
impersonate you
·
Making up sources or facts for an essay or report
Cheating and plagiarism will be treated as a disciplinary offence in addition to failure in
that particular assignment or examination. (Taken from Galen University’s Academic
Policies).
Students are encouraged you to work with and collaborate with one another; however,
any written work you hand in must be your own.
Course Schedule
1. Introduction to course and other students
2. Maya Prehistory in Belize: An Introduction
Awe, pp.7-16, 80-99, Reading Packet, Week 1
3. Maya Archaeology: Monumental sites
Awe, pp.16-63, Reading Packet, Week 2
4. Maya Archaeology: Household sites
Reading Packet, Week 3
5. Maya Archaeology: Caves
Awe, pp. 64-79. Reading Packet, Week 4
6. Maya Archaeology: Pottery
Reading Packet, Week 5
7. Maya Archaeology: Tools
Reading Packet, Week 6
8. Maya Archaeology: Human remains, burials
Reading Packet, Week 7
9. Maya Archaeology: Stalae, inscriptions and hieroglyphs
Reading Packet, Week 8
10. The Maya in the 19th and 20th centuries
Reading Packet, Week 9
11. Diversity among the Maya of Belize
Reading Packet, Week 10
12. Introduction to Field Techniques
13. Fieldwork at various sites. Detailed lectures on different techniques will be given
at the site and then students will have the opportunity to practice.
14. Field visits to Maya sites in Cayo District and Belize.