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130 Freshman Seminar
This class engages and challenges freshman students in an open discussion
about prehistoric Mississippian community of Cahokia.
The focus of this course is two-fold. The first is to study the way in
which the archaeological evidence has been interpreted. The second is
to examine other perspectives on Cahokia, especially
from the Native American descendants who consecrated this landscape nearly
a millennium ago. An underlying tenet of this seminar in understanding
Cahokia can also be achieved through the
traditions and literature of Native American community and the role that
ritual and religion played in the rather dramatic and dynamic history
of this community and the surrounding region. Credit 3 units.
190 Introduction to Archaeology
A survey of the history, theory, and methods of archaeology.
An emphasis on important problems and discoveries in world prehistory.
Credit 3 units
200 World Archaeology
An introduction to the cultural history of the world, with examples
selected from the entire human past, from the evidence for the first
tool use 2.5 M. years ago up to historic archaeological studies of the
19th and 20th centuries. Themes are selected each semester, illustrated
by discussion of well-known sites, to highlight the diversity of archaeology.
Required for all archaeology majors and should be taken as a freshman
or sophomore. Credit 3 units.
232 Myths and Monuments of Antiquity
An introduction to the ancient world (circa 3500 BC to AD 400) based
on masterpieces of art and architecture from Mesopotamia,
Egypt, Greece,
and the Roman Empire. The monuments are
accompanied by a selection of myths and documents representing the cultural
life of these ancient societies and constituting their legacy to our modern
world. Credit 3 units.
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300 Internship in Archaeology
Internship with and archaeological project or organization where the
primary objective is to obtain professional experience outside of the
classroom. Student must have a faculty member sponsor, and a site
or project supervisor. Prerequisite: Open only to archaeology majors,
with junior standing, and permission of the department. Credit variable,
maximum 3 units.
3053 Nomadic Strategies and Extreme Ecologies
This course will explore the archaeology and anthropology of nomadic pastoral societies in light of their ecological, political, and cultural strategies and adaptation to extreme environments (deserts, mountains, and the arctic). The aim of the course is to understand both the early development of pastoral ways of life, and how nomads have had an essential role in the formation and transfer of culture, language, and power from prehistoric time to the current era.
310 Aztec, Maya and Inca: Ancient Civilizations of the
New World
The development, form, and history of pre-Columbian civilization.
Emphasis on the Inca, Maya, Aztec, and their predecessors. Credit
3 units.
3122 From Country to Heavy Metal: Ancient Civilizations of the Old World
This course will explore the archaeology of Europe, the Near East, and Central Asia from approximately 10,000 years ago to classical times (ending before Ancient Greece). A major focus will be the trajectory of cultural innovations of regional populations through time, and the complexity of their social, political, and ritual practices. We will also investigate the variation in human adaptive strategies to various environmental and social contexts, from hunter/gatherers to early Neolithic farmers, to the interactions between nomadic populations and larger scale, urban societies in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Credit 3 units.
314 First Americans: Prehistory of
North America
The predecessors of the Eskimo, Northwest Coast Indians, Pueblo mound builders, and other
North American Indian. Concentrates on deductions from archaeological
data for cultural development. Credit 3 units.
318 Prehistory of Africa
An overview of cultural development in Africa from approximately 2
million years ago until about 1000 A.D.; focus on research and interpretive
problems in a case-study approach to periods ranging from the earliest
archaeological traces to the spread of Bantu languages. Credit 3
units.
3211 Art in the Egypt
of the Pharaohs
A penetrating study of the artistic achievements in ancient Egypt
during the Old, Middle, and New
Kingdoms (circa 3000
to 1100 BC). The great monuments of Egypt
are considered both for their aesthetic importance and as expressions
of the superior culture developing, flourishing, and declining in the pristine
valley of the Nile. Prerequisite: sophomore
standing, or permission of the department. Credit 3 units.
3301 Homeric Archaeology
The art and culture of prehistoric Greece
as reflected in The Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer. The course will
examine, analyze, and research the Minoan/Mycenaean civilization beginning
in the twentieth century BC and its legacy that resulted in the renaissance
of the eighth century BC. Credits 3 units.
331 Greek Art and Archaeology
A survey of the artistic achievements and material culture of the
Greeks from ca. 1000 BC. through the Hellenistic
period. Development of architecture, sculpture, and painting, as
well as minor arts and utilitarian objects, with emphasis on the insight
they offer into Greek society. Credit 3 units.
3333 The Art and Archaeology of Japan
The Art and Archaeology of Japan
and Korea.
Northern East Asia, in particular Japan
and Korea,
is now the location of several distinct national cultures. This course
will provide an overview of the cultural developments of Japan
and Korea
by introducing the art and archaeology of their major periods of development.
Both regional interaction and the indigenous developments that formed
the cultural heritage of this region will be looked at through an examination
of artifacts, architecture and monuments, all set within their social
and historical context. Credit 3 units.
334 Roman Art and Archaeology
The art and archaeology of the Romans, with emphasis on the late Republic
and the Imperial period. Major monuments of sculpture and architecture,
as well as town planning, domestic architecture, and the minor arts are
used as evidence for reconstructing ancient life. Credit 3 units.
336 Ancient Sanctuaries: the Archaeology of Sacred Space
in the Ancient Mediterranean
Like the Vatican
today, ancient sanctuaries were both the focus
of religious activities and repositories for artistic treasures.
Marked off from the secular world by physical boundaries, the sanctuary
provided a common ground where gods and humans came together, through
sacrifice, shared meals, and other rituals. Shrines were often
spectacularly sited and adorned with splendid architecture—both temples
for the divinities and treasuries for the gifts they received.
The course will focus on the great shrines of ancient Greece:
Eleusis,
the setting of the mysteries of Demeter; Olympia,
home of the Olympic games, and Delphi, center of
the world and site of the oracle of Apollo. In order to gain
a broader understanding of the concept of sanctuary in the ancient Mediterranean,
we will also explore the sacred settings of Egypt and Mesopotamia, cultures
which contributed much to the Greek world. Credit 3 units.
3369 Underwater Archaeology
Survey of the history, techniques, and results of underwater excavation
worldwide, with emphasis on the ancient Mediterranean. Prerequisite: ARC
190 or 200 or permission from the instructor. Credit 3 units.
3401 Chinese Art and Culture
Chinese art and culture from prehistory (circa 5000 B.C.E.) through
the Tang dynasty (9th century C.E.) Using new archaeological findings
and new interpretive strategies, the course "rewrites" the long-term
history of the arts within Chinese culture. Particular attention to changing
configurations of society and economy and the role of ideology. Prerequisite:
Art-Arch 111 or permission from instructor. Credit 3 units.
3420 The Archaeology of Ancient China
This course examines the development of Chinese civilization from
its beginnings in the many regional village-level societies that developed
around the country early in the Neolithic period to the emergence of
politically unified states in the Bronze Age. The archaeological evidence
for this transition, and the ritual evidence
for regional interaction and conflict, technological innovations, urbanization,
ceremony, and ritual is examined. Various theoretical perspectives for
this course, and students from all backgrounds
are welcome for the diversity of perspectives they will be able to provide.
Readings used for this class are in English and consist of materials from
a variety of disciplines (primarily archaeology, anthropology, art history,
and history). Credit 3 units.
345 The Art and Archaeology of Ancient China
An introduction to the art and archaeology of China
from the neolithic to the early Imperial
period. Emphasis on new discoveries and their implications for understanding
early Chinese art and culture. Prerequisite: Art-Arch 111.
Credit 3 units.
3450 Origins of Chinese Civilization
The emergence of the first proto-historic states, ca. 2000-1000 BCE,
in modern-day China.
Focus on the Shang culture and on its most
well-known archaeological site, the “ruins of Yin” near Anyang. Topics include: oracle-bone divination,
the royal cult, human sacrifice, and ritual bronzes and jades.
Prerequisite: Art-Arch 111, or permission of instructor. Credit 3
units.
3461 Native Americans at Westward Expansion
Issues precipitated by Euro-American contact, colonization, and expansion
between 1492 and 1810 across Eastern North America,
the Plains, and the Rocky Mountains. Impacts
of exploration and settlement and responses by native peoples: epidemics;
population loss; breakdown of Southeastern chiefdoms; resistance; relocation;
and shifts in economic strategies. Perspectives and policies of
Native Americans as well as Europeans and non-Indian American s, including
Lewis and Clark. Credit 3 units.
347 Ancient Mound Builders of the Mississippi Valley
Study of the peoples in North America who built mounds and other earthen
structures beginning more than 4,000 years ago; why they erected earthworks;
what the structures were used for; how they varied through time and across
space; and what significance they had to members of the society.
Credit 3 units.
372 Geoarchaeology
Geoarchaeology involves the application of analytical techniques,
concepts, and field methods from the earth sciences to help solve archaeological
problems. Issues
explored in this course include human and environmental processes involved
in archaeological site formation, the sedimentary context of archaeological
remains, soils and sediments relevant to archaeology, the relationship
between past settlement and landscape evolution, paleoclimatic
reconstruction, human impacts on the environment, geological sourcing
of artifact proveniences, and remote sensing of the physical environment.
Several field trips to local archaeological/geological sites provide an
opportunity to understand how geoarchaeology
is applied to specific research problems
379 Feast and Famine: Archaeology and Climate Change
This course examines the temporal, geographical, and environmental
aspects of past climate changes, and by using specific examples, explores
how climate changes may have affected the evolution of human culture and
the course of human history. Archaeological and documentary examples from
the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Near East will be used to explore if or how significant
events in human history have been influenced by changes in climate. Credit
3 units.
3793 Mississippi River Basin: Past, Present and Future
Interdisciplinary study of the past, present and future of the Mississippi
River Basin. The course provides a broad overview of the important
natural, historical, social, cultural and environmental issues surrounding
the Mississippi River and its tributaries. We encourage an understanding
and appreciation of the rivers from a holistic perspective. An emphasis
in the course is on experiential learning or ‘out-of-classroom’ field trips,
where students have the opportunity to see firsthand important issues related
to the Mississippi river, its environment, culture, and historic changes
wrought upon the river and their effects.
Credit 4 units.
390 Archaeological Excavation
Training in field techniques during actual excavation of a prehistoric site and introduction to laboratory
analysis of the materials recovered. Prerequisites: Anthro 190, 310, 312, and 314, or permission of
the instructor. May be repeated for credit. Credit variable,
maximum 9 units.
393 An Introduction to Archaeological Field Techniques (summer)
Introduction to archaeological fieldwork as practiced in the eastern
United States.
Includes a variety of techniques employed by archaeologists, the underlying
purpose of excavations, and the manner in which they explore past societies.
Field mapping and testing at an archaeological site near Cahokia Mounds.
3932 An Introduction to Archaeological Site Survey
The study and interpretation of the archaeological record begins in
most instances with an archaeological survey. The purpose of this
course is to provide students with a n introductory
level, hands-on experience to archaeological survey as practiced in eastern
North America. This involves an introduction
in the field to the various methods employed in the identification and
mapping of archaeological sites. Students will spend Saturdays in
the field mapping and recording archaeological sites including the mapping
of monumental earthworks such as those at the prehistoric site of Cahokia
or nearby mound centers. University College course. Credit
3 units.
3933 An Introduction to Archaeological Field Techniques
(spring)
Introduction to archaeological fieldwork as practiced in the eastern
United States.
Includes a variety of techniques employed by archaeologists, the underlying
purpose of excavations, and the manner in which they explore past societies.
Field mapping and testing at an archaeological site near Cahokia Mounds.
Course work on weekends only. Maximum credit, 3 units.
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400 Stone, Bone, Clay, and Fiber: A Hands-on Course in Materials & Pre- modern Production Techniques
Archaeologists and art
historians often have little opportunity in the course of their academic
training to obtain hands-on experience with materials forming the basis
of their study. This class is designed to provide several opportunities
for students to do just so. Students work with stone, bone, wood, and
shell to re-create tools and ornaments, clay to make pottery, pounded
earth to make walls, and fibers to make textiles and cordage. The instructor
includes any other areas of student interest where facilities/resources
can be arranged. Students produce several experiments using different
materials, document their experimental productions in written reports,
and present their projects to the class. Credit 3 units.
4020 Jerusalem, the Holy City
An examination of the role that Jerusalem has played in three
religious traditions- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- through a study
of archaeology, history, literature, politics, and theology from antiquity
to contemporary times. A senior seminar in Jewish, Islamic, and Near
Eastern Studies. Credit 4 units.
403 Culture History of the Southwestern United States
Origins and development of Zuni, Hopi, Navaho, and related peoples
with reference to archaeological, ethnohistorical,
and ethnographical data. Prerequisites: advanced undergraduate
standing and Anthro 190, or 310, graduate
standing, or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
4211 Paleoethnobotany and Ethnobotany
Interrelationships between plants and people, esp. in past societies.
Recovery and analysis of plant remains from archaeological sites; interpreting
subsistence and vegetation changes; medical, ritual, and technological
uses of plants; plant domestication and agricultural intensification. Modern
efforts to understand and preserve threatened traditional ethnobotanical practices. Prerequisite: Anthro 190 or an introductory botany course, or
permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
4212 Advanced Methods in Paleoethnobotany
Advanced analytical techniques for the study of archaeological plant
remains. Tools and methods for micromorphological
recognition, including electron microscopy. Photomicroscopy at low magnification, management,
and tabulation, and reporting data. Prereq:
Anthro 4211, or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units.
4213 Plants and American People: Past & Present
This interdisciplinary course examines the relationship between
plants and the American people. Topics include the natural diversity
of plants used by Natice Americans for food,
fiber, and medicine, the significance of plants in the "Colombian Exchange'
for the history of the U.S. and the economies of the Old World, Native
American and Euro-American farming practices, modern agribusiness including
transgenic crops, and the modern conservation movement in the United
States. Several optional Saturday field trips are planned, in addition
to a five-day field trip to the Southwest over spring break. Prerequisite:
junior standing or above. Credit 3 units.
4214 The Archaeology of Food and Drink
Studies of past human diets have moved beyond analyses of animal bones
and seeds to encompass new theoretical goals and innovative analytical
techniques. In this seminar-style course, students will explore methods
of understanding food-related social interactions such as evidence including
residues, ancient DNA, isotopes, and trace elements, along with more
traditional artifacts and archaeobotanical and
zooarchaeological remains. By examining
case studies from around the world, we evaluate the current state of
research attempting to integrate the biological and cultural aspects
of eating and drinking. Credit 3 units.
426 Ancient Athens
Athens was one of the great
cities of antiquity. From lavishly decorated marble temples on
the Acropolis and public office buildings and inscriptions in the Agora
(civic center) to the houses of the living and the monuments of the dead,
the city has left a rich record of her material culture. These buildings
and objects, together with an exceptionally large number of literary and
historical texts, make it possible to paint a vivid picture of the ancient
city. The course concentrates on the physical setting and monuments
of Athens, as revealed by both archaeology and texts, and how they functioned
within the context of Athenian civic and religious life. Credit
3 units.
427 Athenian Vase Painting
From the late 7th to the late 4th century BCE, Athenian artisans produced
pottery of high quality that was particularly outstanding for its figured
decoration. This seminar will investigate the technology and history
of this craft, with particular emphasis on the iconography of the figured
scenes. Topics to be discussed include the relationship of form,
decoration and function, the relationship between figured decoration and
the textual sources, the role of pottery as an export, and genre scenes
as a basis for investigating ancient Athenian society. Prerequisite:
L52-ARC 331 ore permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
4321 Ancient Coins
The seminar is designed to research the rich world of Greek and Roman
coinage by using the University’s own resources, the J.M. Wulfing collection of coins, which is housed at
the Washington University Gallery of Art. Emphasis on coin typology,
works of art or buildings illustrated on the coins, and the history of
coinage. The course will make use of actual coins in the gallery.
Due to the delicate nature of the material, the course is by permission
of the instructor only. Credit 3 units.
437 Greek Sculpture
The development of Greek sculpture from its earliest beginnings (circa
800 BC.) through the time of Alexander. Early influences from Egypt
and the Near East. Sculptures relation to changing artistic concepts
an the changing character of Greek society.
Prerequisite: Art-Arch 331, or permission of the instructor. Credit
3 units.
4371 Greek and Roman Pottery
The course will examine the typology and chronology of the major pottery
types produced from the 6th century BCE to the 4th century CE, as well
as the ways in which pottery has been used to throw light on the culture
and society of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Prereq: permission of the instructor. Credit
3 units.
455 Archaeological Research Techniques
Discussion of dating techniques (C-14, K-AR, U-Th, ESR, PSL, TL, dendrochronology,
etc.); lithic dating analysis; magnetic survey
and dating; remote sensing; elemental and residue analyses; and other
technical methods employed in archaeological field research. Prerequisite:
3 units in archaeology, or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
456 Artifact Analysis
Introduction to the analytical methods employed for archaeological
research. Lithics and ceramic techniques
will be emphasized. Students will apply methods to individual research
projects.
4561 Ceramic Analysis
Method, techniques, and models for analyzing prehistoric ceramics.
Students will conduct hands-on analyses of collections from Cahokia Mounds
and the St. Louis region.
4562 Artifact Analysis: Mississippian Cultures
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introductory,
hands-on experience of the methods employed in the analysis of archaeological
materials common to the Mississippian culture. Students will conduct
class projects based on collections from Cahokia Mounds and the St. Louis
region. Prerequisite: Anthro 314
or equivalent, or graduate standing, or permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units.
4564 Archaeobotanical Analysis
Advanced; Labratory and analytical techniques.
Prerequisite: Anthro 4211 permission of instructor.
Credit 3 units.
4661 Historical Archaeology
Focus on the methods and techniques specific to historical archaeology.
Includes coverage of analytical procedures for artifact classes, integration
of written records through “contextual” studies, practical field-work
(depending on access to a suitable site), and other topics relevant to
the field. Prerequisite: 3 units of archaeology, or permission of
instructor. Credit 3 units.
4682 Ethnoarchaeology
Theories, methods, and techniques applied by archaeologists to contemporary
societies and materials to aid their understanding of extinct societies.
Analysis of ethnographic research in both the Old and New Worlds.
Prerequisite: Anthro 160 or 190, and permission
of instructor. Credit 3 units.
4752 Practicing Archaeology
Applied archaeology is where most graduating archaeology students
get their first job, and where most American field work is now found.
This course introduces the student top proper practices of cultural resource
management and contract archaeology. Among the issues covered will be
pragmatic approaches to funding agencies, compliance with regulations
such as NAGPRA and professional ethics. These will be covered via the
"writing intensive" approach, because one of the sills most sought by
project managers and employers is writing competence. Prerequisite: Junior
Standing. Credit 3 units.
4761 Pleistocene Peopling of Eurasia
The Paleolithic archaeology, human paleobiology,
and paleoecology of the geographical expansions
and adaptations of Eurasian humans through the Pleistocene. Prerequisite:
Anthro 150 or 190. Credit 3 units.
477 African Prehistory
Archaeological evidence for
changing human adaptations in Africa from 2.6 M.Y.
to 20,000 years ago. Discussion of early hominid adaptations between
2.6 and 1.6 M.Y., the abilities of Homo erectus (1.6 M.Y. to 10,000
years ago), and the evolution and spread of early Homo sapiens (100,000
to 20,000 years ago). Credit 3 units.
4791 Archaeological
Study of Social Complexity
A hallmark of anthropological
theory is the idea that human societies evolve toward greater complexity
or higher levels of organization
through time. Yet accurately defining complexity
or organization is such a difficult and frustrating undertaking that
many people give
up and fall back on an intuitive understanding, similar to Supreme Court
Justice Potter Stewart's famous definition of pornography: "I know it
when I see it." But, what exactly does it mean to be socially complex?
How does complexity in human societies emerge and how is it perpetuated?
How can we infer social complexity from the archaeological record? In
this seminar we will examine theoretical and methodological aspects of
social complexity as investigated by archaeologists. By means of case
studies drawn from around the globe and ranging from the earliest humans
to the recent past, we will seek to define, describe, and understand the
concept of social complexity and its manifestations in diverse societies
at different times.
4803 Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Landscape, and Spatial Analysis in Archaeology
The aim of this course is to learn to analyze archaeological data in terms of its spatial layout, geography, ecology, and temporal dynamics, using Geographic Information Systems and associated computer modeling techniques. A focus is placed on the relationship between natural environments, cultural geography, and the mapping of archaeological landscapes, and on the archaeologist’s ability to accurately recover, reconstruct and analyze this relationship in a virtual environment.
481 Zooarchaeology
Methods and techniques of analysis of faunal remains recovered in
archaeological context, including aging, sexing, and the study of cultural
modification of archaeological faunas. Prerequisite: any advanced
course in archaeology and permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
4812 Advanced Topics in Zooarchaeology
Analysis of animal bones excavated from archaeological sites and discussion
of current issues in zooarchaeology.
Prereq: Anthro
481. Credit 3 units.
482 Experimental Zooarchaeology
Experimental approaches to problems in interpretation of zooarchaeological data including species representation,
body part profiles, and bone modification. Emphasis is on designing
and conducting relevant experimental projects. Limit: 10 students.
Credit 3 units.
489 Pathways to Domestication
Survey of the evidence of the domestication of plants and animals,
focusing on processes leading to domestication and on the recognition
of pristine features of domestication in the archaeological record.
Prerequisite: one 300- or 400- level course in archaeology.
Credit 3 units.
4891 Human Patterns in Predation
Focus on ethnological and archaeological evidence for patterns of
human hunting and management of large mammal populations from 2 M. years
ago to the present. Prerequisite: 6 units of anthropology.
Credit 3 units.
4892 Hunter-Gatherer Socio-Economic Variation
This class will explore the nature and extent of variation in hunter-gatherer
socio-economic systems as documented in the literature on recent hunter-gatherers,
and in the archaeological record of the last 20,000 years. We will
discuss Woodburn’s concept of delayed return hunter-gatherers, Testart’s writing on hunter-gatherer socio-economic
organization, and archaeological concepts of simple and complex hunter-gatherers.
We will examine case studies of both delayed and immediate return hunter-gatherers
from the Americas,
Asia, Africa, and Australia,
and emphasize understanding underlying reasons for differences between
groups, and implications of differences for patterns of cultural change,
including the adoption of food production. Credit 3 units.
491 Archaeological Research
Undergraduate research experience sponsored by one of the archaeology
staff. May be taken more than once for credit. Prerequisite:
permission of the faculty member who will supervise the research.
Credit variable, maximum 3 units.
492 Independent Study
Primarily for students who wish to enroll in Archaeology 493 during
the spring semester. Prerequisite: permission of the department.
Credit variable, max 3 units.
493 Senior Honors Thesis
Prerequisite: permission of the department. Credit 3 units.
497 Senior Project
Required of all majors in Archaeology who have not satisfied their
college 'capstone' experience in another major, or who are not satisfying
this requirement by means of L52-ARC 493 Honors Thesis. A structured
research assignment, internship, fieldwork,
or independent project under the supervision of one of the department's
faculty is required. Limited to students in the junior level
and above. Permission of instructor who will supervise the work
is required. Credit variable, 1-3 units.
498 Intensive Writing: Archaeology
Required of all students who have not satisfied their college writing
requirement in another fashion. Ordinarily this course will be taken
in tandem with another 300 or 400 level course in Archaeology, with permission
to enroll in the intensive writing course to be granted by the instructor
in that course. This course requires a series of papers, which
must undergo the process of revision, as assigned by that course instructor.
In exceptional circumstances, this course may be taken as 'stand alone',
with the permission of the department. Because the course
usually will be integrated into another course, credit limited in most
cases to 1 credit. Credit variable, 1-3 units.
499 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Open to advanced undergraduates only. Usual duties of teaching
assistant in laboratory or other selected courses. Prerequisite:
permission of instructor. Credit variable, max 4 units.
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