Anth 252- Archaeological Wonders of the World

COURSE SYLLABUS - Spring 2012

T,TH 11:10-12:30 FINE ARTS BUILDING ROOM 302

Instructors

Kelly Dixon and Marta Amelia Timmons
Office: Social Sciences Building, Room 235
Telephone: 406.243.2450
Email: kelly.dixon@mso.umt.edu marta.timmons@mso.umt.edu
Office hours: Tuesday, 3:30-4:30pm and by appointment

LAST QUIZ (click here) -- BE SURE TO USE THIS TO STUDY FOR THE FINAL, ALONG WITH YOUR OTHER QUIZZES IF YOU ARE NOT DOING THE TAKE-HOME, ESSAY VERSION OF THE FINAL!

TA

Valerie Magnusen
Office: Social Sciences Building, Room 254a
Telephone: 406.370.2674
Email: Valerie.Magnusen@umontana.edu
Office hours: Tues 8:00-11:00am; Thurs 12:30-3:30pm

EXTRA CREDIT!  Montana Archaeology Month Presentations

Course Description

Archaeology covers more than four million years to study past human cultures through ruins and other physical remains. This course highlights major archaeological discoveries on a worldwide scale and will examine how archaeology evolved from a curiosity, into a pursuit of high adventure, and finally, to a science. We will spend extra time exploring text-aided fields of archaeology, such as Egyptology and Classical Archaeology, to discuss the ways in which anthropological methods, theory, and questions can be integrated with the scholarship in these fields. Students will gain an understanding of provocative archaeological discoveries and practice the ability to use critical thought to consider the ways in which various discoveries have changed how we view the past and how we understand the human condition. This course will help anthropology students–as well as students from other majors—understand the significance and ethical use of interdisciplinary evidence.

Optional Textbook

Images of the Past by T. Douglas Price and Gary M. Feinman. Mayfield-McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.

ADDITIONAL READINGS FOR THIS COURSE INCLUDE A FEW SELECTIONS FROM THE BOOK, Eyewitness to Discovery by Brian M. Fagan. The assigned selections from this book—along with other readings—will be posted on our course website; just peruse the schedule on the course website and you will find them as links on the appropriate dates.

 

Course Structure

This course meets for 80 minutes, two days a week, throughout the semester. Class meetings will include lectures, films, in-class activities/discussions, writing assignments, and weekly quizzes. Students are expected to participate in class by sharing their ideas with the rest of the class in informal discussions.

Attendance

Attendance will be taken frequently and will help make decisions about a student's final grade in borderline cases. Also, there will be some in-class projects and participation exercises that require attendance to get full points.

Grades

 

Quizzes * (12 quizzes; students can drop 2)	100 points	Quizzes will be on Tuesday
Final Exam **	100 points	Tuesday May 11th, 08:10-10:00
Writing Exercises	100 points	Ten writing exercises, 10 points each
TOTAL	300 points	(300 points = 100%)

 

The plus/minus system will be used and will be based upon the following average scores: A (100-95%), A- (94-90%), B+ (89-88%), B (87-83%), B- (82-80%), C+ (79-78%), C (77-73%), C- (72-70%), D+ (69-68%), D (67-63%), D- (62-60%), F (59% or less). Grading will be based on a floating straight scale.

* There will be no make-up quizzes; students are allowed to drop their two lowest-scoring quizzes.
**Make-up exams will be given ONLY in cases of verified and unavoidable emergencies. You must notify me IN ADVANCE if you are unable to take the regularly scheduled exam.

Students with Disabilities

The Department of Anthropology is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented physical disabilities or documented learning disabilities. University policy states that it is the responsibility of students with documented disabilities to contact instructors DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER to discuss appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading, classroom experiences, and outside assignments. Please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) (http://life.umt.edu/dss/); DSS phone 243.2243 (voice/text); dss@umontana.edu (email).

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