WEEK 1
1/13
- Introduction to the course
1/15
- What is it that archaeologists do anyway
- What can archaeology tell us about the past and human culture
- How archaeologists do what they do
- What is pseudoarchaeology, and why is it a bad thing?
Readings
- Fundamentals of Archaeology (download PDF)
WEEK 2
1/20
- What is it that archaeologists do anyway (continued)
1/22
- Brief Intro to course blogging
- A brief history of archaeology (yes, this is important to this class…really important)
Readings
- The Idea of the Past (download PDF)
WEEK 3
1/27
- A brief history of archaeology (continued)
1/29
- video lecture: Brief History of Archaeology (rest of lecture)
WEEK 4
(no class meeting this week, online video lectures)
2/3 & 2/5
- The Discovery of Tutankhamun
- Tutankamun in a Modern Archaeological Context
Video Lectures
- Tutankhamun – The Setting
- Tutankhamun – The Discovery
- Tutankhamun – The Historical & Cultural Context
WEEK 5
2/10 & 2/12
- Egypt Uncovered: Pyramid, the Resurrection Machine
- The Great Pyramids of Giza
- The Pyramids: of Slaves, Secret Codes, and the Storehouse of Joseph
- The Great Pyramid of Giza in a Modern Archaeological Context
- Who Built the Pyramids: Exploring the Lost City of the Pyramids
Readings
Assignments
- Blog #1 Due (post Due Thursday by 5pm, response due Sunday by 5pm)
WEEK 6
2/17 & 2/19
- Myth of the Moundbuilders
- Mississipians in a Modern Archaeological Context
WEEK 7
2/24
- Lecture overflow & catch-up (if necessary)
2/26
- Midterm
WEEK 8
3/3 & 3/5
- Cave of Forgotten Dreams
- The Upper Paleolithic – Lascaux in Context
Readings
- Patterns in Prehistory, Chapter 4: The Origins of Homo sapiens sapiens (read pp. 157-180)
Assignments
- Blog #2 Due (post Due Thursday by 5pm, response due Sunday by 5pm)
- Choose site for Archaeological Discovery Project (sent choice to Ethan by Friday @ 5pm). List of suggested sites can be found on the Assignments page.
WEEK 9
- No classes, Spring Break
WEEK 10
3/17 & 3/19
- As we talked about, this week you’re going to have a workshop on the digital tools and techniques you will use to build your Archaeological Discovery Project. These tutorials will take place in LEADR (Old Hort 112) – http://leadr.msu.edu/. The workshop will be during the regular class time. Because you won’t all fit into the lab at the same time, I’m going to split you up into two groups. So, if your last name starts with A-J, come during Tuesday’s class. If your last name starts with K-Z, come during Thursday’s class. Please be sure to come on your assigned day.
WEEK 11
3/24
(no class meeting this day, short online video lecture)
- Stonehenge
- Megaliths & Henges
- Stonehenge in a Modern Archaeological Context.
3/26
- Stonehenge (continued)
Assignments
- Blog #3 Due (post Due Thursday by 5pm, response due Sunday by 5pm)
WEEK 12
3/31
- Operation Stonehenge: What Lies Beneath
4/2
- Operation Stonehenge: What Lies Beneath
WEEK 13
4/7
- Machu Picchu
- The World of the Ancient Inca
4/9
(no class meeting, online video lecture)
- Remainder of 4/7 lecture (watch)
- Ghosts of Machu Picchu (watch online)
Readings
WEEK 14
4/14
- Tikal
- The Ancient World of the Maya
4/16 (no class meeting, online video lecture)
- Tikal & The Ancient World of the Maya (watch video lecture)
Readings
WEEK 15
4/21 & 4/23
- So what? Why should we care about archaeology?
- The Franklin Expedition
- Buried in Ice
WEEK 16
4/28
- The Franklin Expedition – New Research
- So What? Why should we care about archaeology?
4/30
- As we discussed in class on 4/28, I managed to get through all of the semester’s materials early. This means that we aren’t meeting today. See you at the final!
Assignments
- Blog #4 Due (post Due Thursday by 5pm, response due Sunday by 5pm)
- Archaeological Discoveries Project Due (Friday by 5pm)
FINAL EXAM
- Wednesday, May 6, 7:45-9:45 a.m.(regular classroom)