ar100_syllabus_spring14

8/12/2019 AR100_Syllabus_Spring14

1/6

AR 100: Great Discoveries in ArchaeologySpring 2014

Morse 101T, Th 1112:30

Prof. Michael D. DantiStone 247C (675 Commonwealth Ave.)Office Phone: 617-358-1659Office Hours: T, Th 12:302:00

Teaching Fellows Stone 350Matthew Flynn ([email protected]) Office Hours TBALaura Heath ([email protected])Kyra Kaercher ([email protected])Jared Koller ([email protected])

Course DescriptionArchaeology is the systematic study of the human past based on the recovery and analysisof the material record and its context. The archaeological record has been described as "thematerial memory of our human predecessors on earth." The discipline of archaeologybegan with antiquarian curiosity about the past and a desire to collect its materialremnants. It has since developed into a scientific profession that seeks to discover, analyze,and conserve the material record in order to elucidate our past.

This course presents a survey of important archaeological discoveries, achievements, andknowledge, following a generally chronological scheme. The lectures and class readingsfocus on several topics that are of great interest to archaeologists, including the evolution ofhominids and the emergence of modern humans, the peopling of the regions of the earth,the rise of farming communities, the development of complex societies and civilization,and the collapse of ancient cultures. The course will also describe the history ofarchaeology, its aims and methods, and its role in contemporary society.

Required Text: T. Douglas Price and Gary M. Feinman, Images of the Past. 6thor 7thedition. McGraw Hill.

Course requirements: Students are expected to attend all classes, discussion sections, andcomplete all reading assignments. The class lectures present material not covered in thetexts, and some of the lectures do not have assigned readings. The readings also presentsome material not covered in the lectures.


2/6

2

Examinations and Grading: Final grades will be determined by two midterms (each 20%),a cumulative final exam (30%), and participation in weekly discussion sections (30%). Themidterm exams are held in class on February 25and April 1. The final exam will beTuesday May 6 from 12:302:30 in Morse 101. Please note that this is the first day offinals.

Discussions: The discussion sections led by the teaching fellows will start the week ofMonday January 27. No discussion sectionswill be held the weeks of the midterm exams(the weeks of February 24 and March 31) or during the shortened weeks of Feb. 17, April21, and April 28.

Expectations, Suggestions, and Notes:

1. Read this syllabus carefully; it contains important information about class requirementsand assignments. Check the Blackboard Learn website regularly for changes andupdates.

2. Make-up exams: None will be given except in the case of a documented illness oremergency. Travel plans do not constitute a valid excuse for missing an exam.Absences for BU athletes participating in events and for active military personnel arealways approved, but please let Prof. Danti and your TF know.

3. Academic Conduct Code: Students are expected to adhere to the Code; violators andsuspected violators will be brought to the attention of the Student Academic ConductCommittee.

4. Tips for Success: Attend each class, take good notes, and do all the readings. Duringthe course of the term we present many different cultures, civilizations, sites, and

people; for most students, there are many new names and terms to learn. Every classis illustrated with slides, and the slides will not be re-shown at a later date.

5. If you miss class: Do the reading, review the Powerpoint on Blackboard, and borrowclass notes from a fellow student. If you have questions after that, come to my officehours.

7. If you have a problem: Please come to see me sooner rather than later.

8. In the classroom: As a courtesy to the instructor and your fellow students, be on time toclass and refrain from engaging in distracting behavior during class.


3/6


4/6

4

6. Stonehenge (2/13)

Fantasy and reality at Stonehenge; the Megaliths of northwest Europe.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 515523; ed. 7: 497-505. Also scan this website:www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge (especially Historical Backgroundsection)

7. Mesopotamia: The First Cities (2/18, 2/20)

Emergence of civilization/complex societies. The "urban revolution." TheSumerians of Mesopotamia. Sir Leonard Woolley and the Royal Cemetery at Ur.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 436447; ed. 7: 418-429.

_________________________________________________________________

FEB. 25 FIRST EXAMINATION (in class)_________________________________________________________________

8. Pyramid Power: Egypt of the Pharaohs (2/27, 3/4)

Rediscovery of ancient Egypt. Belzoni, Napoleon, the Rosetta Stone, and thedecipherment of hieroglyphics. The first pharaohs. Pyramids and pharaohs.Howard Carter and the tomb of Tutankhamun.


9. Age of Heroes: Heinrich Schliemann and Troy (3/6)

Heinrich Schliemann and Homer's Troy. The Mycenaeans and the Greek BronzeAge.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 532-541; ed. 7: 514-523.

SPRING BREAK

10. The Golden Age of Greece (3/18)Athens in the days of Pericles. The archaeology of the Greek democracy. Agoraand Acropolis.

Reading: Scan website of the Athenian Agora:www.attalos.com


5/6

5

11. The Elgin/Parthenon Marbles Controversy (3/20)

The classic cultural property dispute. Greece wants its marbles back. The BritishMuseum wants to keep them.

Reading: British Museum website: The Parthenon Sculptures: Facts andFigures: www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/gr/debate.html

12. Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii (3/25)

A typical bustling Roman town of the early Empire comes to a swift and violentend in A.D. 79.

Reading: Look at some of the architectural photos at:harpy.uccs.edu/roman/html/pompeiislides.html

13. Great Zimbabwe: African History Denied (3/27)

European explorers discover Great Zimbabwe. Amateurs and politicians claim itto be the lost gold mines of the Queen of Sheba, but archaeologists find anindigenous African culture.


_________________________________________________________________

April 1 SECOND EXAMINATION (in class)

_________________________________________________________________

14. The First Americans (4/3)

Controversy over the peopling of the Americas. Pre-Clovis claims, Clovisarchaeology, a classic bison kill-site, and the Kennewick Man debate.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 147163; ed. 7: 139-146; 165-169.

15.The Myth of the Moundbuilders (4/8)

Early controversies over the origin of the earthen mounds of eastern NorthAmerica and the true story behind their constructions.


16. The Looting of the Moche Past (4/10)


6/6

6

A center of the coastal Peruvian Moche culture is plundered. Looting, selling,and collecting the past.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 384388, 399403, 405408ed. 7: 366-370, 381-385, 387-391.

17. The Inca Empire (4/15)One of the worlds greatest empires and how it was defeated by the Spanish.The sites of Cuzco and Machu Picchu.


18. Culture Shock: Aztecs vs. Conquistadors (4/17)

The Aztec Empire of central Mexico encounters the Spaniards under HernanCortes.

Reading: Images of the Pasted. 6: 320323, 374382; ed. 7: 302-370.

19. Open Topic TBA (4/22)

NOTE: No AR100 Lecture on 4/24 (Substitute Monday Schedule).

20. Pseudoarchaeology (4/29)

The dark side of archaeology: pseudoscientific views of the past, including Atlantis,

ancient astronauts, crop circles, the Mars Face, and Shroud of Turin.

21. Conclusion (5/1)

______________________________________________________________________

FINAL EXAM Tuesday MAY 6, 12:302:30, Morse Auditorium 101______________________________________________________________________

ar100_syllabus_spring14

Documents