SPRING 2008
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY 12:10 TO 1:00 PM
COURSE SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Kelly J. Dixon
Office: Social Sciences Building, Room 235
Telephone: 406.243.2450
Email: kelly.dixon@mso.umt.edu
Office hours: On leave Spring 2008
GUEST INSTRUCTOR Spring 2008:
Christopher Merritt
Office: Social Sciences Building, Room 235
Telephone: 406.243.2450
Email: christopher.merritt@umontana.edu
Office hours: By appointment only
Historical Archaeology is the study of post-prehistoric human cultures using physical remains, historical records, and a range of multidisciplinary techniques. Sometimes this discipline is referred to as "Historic Sites Archaeology."
The purpose of this course is to demonstrate how historic archaeological remains, methods, and theories can be used to understand and interpret the recent past
Required Textbooks:
1. James Deetz, In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life (Anchor Books, 1996).
2. Charles E. Orser, Jr. Historical Archaeology (HarperCollins, 2004).
Course Website: http://www.cas.umt.edu/departments/anthropology/courses/anth456/
Course Structure:
This course meets for 50 minutes, three days a week, throughout the semester. Class meetings will include lectures, in-class exercises, films, and visits to lab and archive facilities. Students may be asked to participate in class by sharing their ideas with the rest of the class in informal discussions. Throughout the semester, I may assign readings or handouts not listed in this syllabus; such items will provide you with the opportunity to examine more specific subjects in Historical Archaeology than those outlined in the required texts.
Grading Policy:
Course grades will be based upon student performance on three examinations and a series of in-class exercises. Graduate students will be responsible for all of the above and book reviews associated with the optional readings.
Points Per Assignment:
1st Exam* 50 points
2nd Exam* 50 points
Final Exam/Paper* 100 points
In-class exercises 100 points ________________________________________________
TOTAL 300 points
4 Book Reviews (Graduate Students Only) 200 points
GRADUATE STUDENT TOTAL 600 points
I will assign +/- grades for this course and final grades will be based upon the following average scores for the exams, in-class exercises, and graduate student book reviews: 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).
* 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.
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken during each class and will help make decisions about a student’s final grade in borderline cases. Also, the in-class exercises require attendance to get full points.
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. The instructor will meet with the student and the staff of the Disability Services for Students (DSS) to formulate a plan for accommodations. Please contact Jim Marks in DSS (243.2373, Lommasson Center 154) for more information.
Course Schedule:
Week 1 Assigned Readings
January 21 NO CLASS MEETING – MLK Jr. Day
January 23 Course Description/Syllabus
January 25 Course Outline, Intro to Historical Archaeology Orser (Chapter 1)
Week 2: What is Historical Archaeology? Assigned Readings
January 28 What is Historical Archaeology? Orser (Chapter 2)
Class Assignment for the week: Read all of Deetz In Small Things Forgotten
January 30 NO CLASS MEETING – Read Deetz
February 1 Types of Historical Archaeological Sites Orser (Chapter 3)
Week 3: Material Culture in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
February 4 Artifacts and Material Culture: Gravestone Art Review Deetz (pp. 89-124)
February 6 Using Artifacts to Interpret the Past Orser (Chapter 4)
February 8 Using Artifacts to Interpret the Past Review Deetz (pp. 165-186)
GRAD STUDENTS: 1st Book Review Due
Week 4: Historical Research in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
February 11 How to Get a Date; Time and Space Orser (Chapter 5)
February 13 Pre-fieldwork: Historical Research Orser (Chapter 7, pp. 171-184)
February 15 Historical Research in the Library at the U of M
Week 5: Architectural Studies in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
February 18 NO CLASS – Washington-Lincoln Birthday
February 20 Architecture as Artifact? Orser (pp. 184-190); review Deetz (pp. 125-164)
February 22 Montana Topics: Architecture in Missoula
Week 6: Field/Survey Work in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
February 25 Montana Topics: Battle of the Little Bighorn to be announced
February 27 X-marks the Spot: Survey and Location Orser (Chapter 6)
February 29 X-marks the Spot: Survey and Location, cont’d
GRAD STUDENTS: 2nd Book Review Due
Week 7: Laboratory Work in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
March 3 Field and Laboratory Work Orser (Chapter 8)
March 5 Artifact Curation & Artifact Databases
March 7 1st Mid-Term
Week 8: Explanation in Historical Archaeology Assigned Readings
March 10 Theoretical Paradigms Orser (Chapter 9)
March 12 History of Theoretical Explanation in Historical Archaeology
March 14 How is Theory Reflected in Historical Archaeological Research?
Week 9: Historical Archaeology - Globalization and Social Groups Assigned Readings
March 17 Montana Topics: Coloma Ghost Town Overview to be announced
March 19 Globalization and the Archaeology of Frontiers Orser (Chapter 11)
March 21 People Without History Review Deetz (pp. 187-211)
GRAD STUDENTS: 3rd Book Review Due
Week 10: Spring Break _____________________________________
March 24
March 26 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
March 28
Week 11: Historical Archaeology – Social Groups Assigned Readings
March 31 Class, Capitalism, and Culture Change Orser (Chapter 10)
April 2 Gender and Artifact Interpretation; Gender and Forensic Science
April 4 2nd Mid-Term
Week 12: Historical Archaeology and Social Groups Assigned Readings
April 7 Ethnicity and Race review Orser (pp. 251-261)
April 9 African American Archaeology review Deetz (pp. 212-252)
April 11 African Burial Ground in Manhattan
GRAD STUDENTS: 4th Book Review Due
Week 13: Historical Archaeology and Social Groups Assigned Readings
April 14 Asian American Archaeology
April 16 Asian American Material Culture to be announced
April 18 Montana Topics: Chinese in Montana
** Discuss final exams/final projects
Week 14: Historical Archaeology and the American West Assigned Readings
April 21 Montana Topics: Big Timber’s Chinatown
April 23 Boomtown Saloons in an Urban Archaeology Setting
April 25 Underwater Archaeology
Week 15: Historical Archaeology and the American West Assigned Readings
April 28 Industrial Archaeology to be announced
April 30 Landscape Archaeology
May 2 Assessing Site Significance Orser (Chapter 12)
____________________________________________________________________________
May 6 (T) Final Exam Time Slot: 10:10-12:10
Course Notes/Power Point Lectures:
Theories in Historical Archaeology (ppt)
back to top
Graphics, Design, and Layout by Brooke Davidson. Copyright© Spectral Fusion 2004. All Rights Reserved.