African Prehistory

Catalog description

This course’s main objective is to provide students with a firm understanding of the African prehistoric record and its importance for the evolution of human biology and cultural behavior. Africa provides the world’s longest and richest archaeological record. It furnishes evidence for the earliest representatives of the human family, the first artifacts, and the most complete account of the development of a hunting-gathering way of life. This course takes a different approach to African prehistory focused on thematic areas rather than chronological developments. Topics of discussion include archaeological approaches to diet and mobility, technology, climate change, cognition, and prehistoric population demography. The class is taught in a symposium format with specific importance placed on class discussions and debates.