North American Archaeology

Catalog description

The story of the indigenous peoples of North America and its parallels with developments elsewhere in the world have captured the imaginations of many people over the years. But it takes more than imagination to explore this saga -- it takes the careful application of archaeology. This course surveys the archaeology of North America, including Mexico. The archaeological history of North American Indians is traced from their origins in Eurasia over 14,000 years ago into the period of European colonization. An ecological approach is taken to the examination of all major regions of the continent. The Eastern Woodlands coverage will include the many burial mound and temple mound cultures of the region. The objectives of the course are to familiarize students with the wide range of human adaptations that prevailed over time and space, to link the evolution of those adaptations to the surviving descendant native cultures of North America, and to provide students with a framework for understanding the many archaeological sites that are open to the public across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A secondary objective of the course is to familiarize students with the techniques and methods archaeologists use to test hypotheses using archaeological data. The course takes an explicitly scientific approach to the subject, one that is based upon well-established evolutionary and ecological theory and is also firmly grounded in the evidence. The course makes extensive use of images of sites and artifacts as well as other graphics that are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the subject. ANTH 11 fulfills both US and IL requirements. The course is structured to cultivate students¿ understanding of the similarities and differences among past Native American cultures of North America. Additional international focus is provided through exploration of the archaeological evidence for indigenous cultural traditions in locations within present-day Canada (Arctic, Iroquoians) and Mexico (Archaic, Classic, Post-Classic periods). The course fulfills the IL designation by introducing students to cultural and behavioral variation and cultural achievements of indigenous North Americans. In addition, the course fulfills the US designation by interweaving discussion of the significant influence and impact of Native American history/culture on the history and development of the United States. The ethics associated with North American archaeology and their impact on US culture and cultural perception are also explored.