ANT 103 Section 001: Discoveries In Archaeol
Fall, 2009
3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Lisa LeCount
Core Designation: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Archaeology is the study of the human past, covering more than 4 million years of human prehistory and all continents (except Antarctica). Since it is impossible to describe the entirety of human prehistory in a single course, Great Discoveries in Archaeology focuses attention on those ancient achievements that capture our imagination and motivate us to learn more about our past.
At the end of this course students should be able to:
· Recognize and explain the scientific method, and evaluate scientific information.
· Understand the evolution of humans from the earliest species to Homo sapiens.
· Document technological developments and describe models for their innovation and change.
· Learn how to build interpretations of the past by using artifact assemblages and maps.
· Discriminate between reliable and less reliable information in laboratory activities.
· Comprehend models that account for the rise of complex societies.
· Practice collaborating and performing in team activities.
|
Date |
|
Topic |
Assignment |
|
Aug. 19 |
(W) |
Introduction to class |
Read the syllabus |
|
Aug. 21 |
(F) |
Introduction to Archaeology |
Read: Images of the Past chapter 1 |
|
Aug. 24 |
(M) |
Archaeological methods |
GO TO SECTION! |
|
Aug. 26 |
(W) |
What is science? |
|
|
Aug. 28 |
(F) |
Science as a method |
|
|
Aug. 31 |
(M) |
Bipedality section |
Section project 1 |
|
Sept. 2 |
(W) |
Our earliest ancestors |
Read: Images of the Past chapter 2 |
|
Sept. 4 |
(F) |
The genus Homo |
Read: Images of the Past chapter 3 |
|
Sept. 7 |
(M) |
Labor Day Holiday |
No class |
|
Sept. 9 |
(W) |
Homo erectus |
|
|
Sept. 11 |
(F) |
Survival in Africa |
Film study guide 1 |
|
Sept. 14 |
(M) |
Human traits |
Section project 2 |
|
Sept. 16 |
(W) |
Neanderthals |
|
|
Sept. 18 |
(F) |
Upper Paleolithic humans |
Read: Images of the Past chapter 4 |
|
Sept. 21 |
(M) |
Human crania review |
Section project 3 |
|
Sept. 23 |
(W) |
First Midterm Exam |
|
|
Sept. 25 |
(F) |
Peopling of the Americas |
Read: Images pages 145-157 |
|
Sept. 28 |
(M) |
Early Agriculturalists of the Americas |
Quiz 1: Images p. 182-186, 245-251, 256-257 |
|
Sept. 30 |
(W) |
SE Archaic societies |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
(F) |
SE Woodland societies |
|
|
Oct. 5 |
(M) |
SE Moundbuilders |
Quiz 2: Images pages 265-291 |
|
Oct. 7 |
(W) |
SE Mississippian societies |
|
|
Oct. 9 |
(F) |
Mid-semester break |
|
|
Oct. 12 |
(M) |
The Hearth |
Film Study Guide 2 |
|
Oct. 14 |
(W) |
Teotihuacanos of Central Mexico |
Images, Ch. 8: 319-323, 346-366 |
|
Oct. 16 |
(F) |
The Ancient Maya |
|
|
Oct. 19 |
(M) |
Craft specialization at Teotihuancan |
Teotihuacan Artifacts and Crafting |
|
Oct. 21 |
(W) |
Maya Hieroglyphs and Numerology |
|
|
Oct. 23 |
(F) |
Signs and Symbols |
Film Study Guide 3 |
|
Oct. 26 |
(M) |
Teotihuacan Artifacts and Maps |
Section project 4 |
|
Oct. 28 |
(W) |
Second Midterm Exam |
|
|
Oct. 30 |
(F) |
The Aztecs |
Images, Ch. 8: 374-383. |
|
Nov. 2 |
(M) |
Realms |
Film Study Guide 4 |
|
Nov. 4 |
(W) |
Aztec Heart Sacrifice |
|
|
Nov. 6 |
(F) |
The Inca Empire |
|
|
Nov. 9 |
(M) |
The Inca: Cuzco and Machu Picchu |
Quiz 3: Images, Ch.9: 385-388, 417-429 |
|
Nov. 11 |
(W) |
Pre-dynastic Egypt |
|
|
Nov. 13 |
(F) |
Ancient Egypt: Old Kingdom |
|
|
Nov. 16 |
(M) |
Ancient Egypt: Old Kingdom |
Quiz 4: Images, Ch. 10: 456-467 |
|
Nov. 18 |
(W) |
Secrets of the Dead |
Film Study Guide 5 |
|
Nov. 20 |
(F) |
Iron Age Africa |
|
|
Nov. 23 |
(M) |
Ancient African Civilizations |
Quiz 5: Images, Ch. 10: 484-497 |
|
Nov. 25-27 |
Thanksgiving Holiday! |
|
|
|
Nov. 30 |
(M) |
Prehistoric Europe |
Images: Image, Ch. 11: 499-522, 533-553 |
|
Dec. 2 |
(W) |
Prehistoric Europe: The Neolithic |
|
|
Dec. 4 |
(F) |
European Bronze & Iron Ages |
|
|
Dec. 7 |
(M) |
Final Exam |
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM ten Hoor 30 |
1) Exams: There are three exams: two midterms and a final. Exams contain 50 multiple-choice questions. Tests are not comprehensive.
2) Active and Collaborative Activities:
Five interactive quizzes cover assigned readings in Images of the Past and are worth 5 points each. Answers will be discussed in section. Some quiz questions appear on exams.
Four lab projects are designed to allow you hands-on experience with human osteological materials and archaeological artifacts. Exercises are accomplished completely in section, where students work in groups. Each is worth 5 points.
Five film study guides point out important concepts presented in films viewed in class or section. Some questions on film study guides appear on exams. Each film study guide is completed in class and worth 5 points. Students may work in groups.
Summary of Points and Important Dates:
First Midterm exam 50 points Wednesday, September 23
Second Midterm exam 50 points Wednesday, October 28
Film Study Guides 25 points total See outline below
Section Quizzes 25 points total See outline below
Section Labs 20 points total See outline below
Final Exam 50 points December 7, 11:30-2:00, tH 30
Drop Date (with a W) Wednesday, October 28
Midterm grade report Wednesday, October 7
Exam grade sheets are posted on the UA Scoring Service’s secured webpage. To access: go to mybama.ua.edu and login with your bama id and password. Click on the Academics Tab and scroll to the Testing Services Channel (box), then click on Student Exam Results. Grades will also be posted to the E-Learning website for this class. Your score is reported in two ways: raw score and percentage. Raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly; percentage is the proportion of a whole expressed in 100th and is based on the percentage of points you answered correctly. Exam and course curves are shown below. Plus and minus grades are used sparingly in this class. You must be within 1 point of the cut-off to receive them.
|
Exam
50 points per test |
|
Course
220 total points |
||||
|
Grade |
Curve % |
Point range |
|
Grade |
Curve % |
Point range |
|
A |
> 85 % |
50 - 43 pts |
|
A |
> 85 % |
220-187 |
|
B |
< 85 and > 75 % |
42 - 38 pts |
|
B |
< 85 and > 75 % |
186-165 |
|
C |
< 75 and > 60% |
37 - 30 pts |
|
C |
< 75 and > 60% |
164-132 |
|
D |
< 60 and > 50 % |
29 - 25 pts |
|
D |
< 60 and > 50 % |
131-110 |
|
F |
< 50 % |
< 25 |
|
F |
< 50 % |
<110 |
If you have questions regarding the grading of assignments please see your Graduate Teaching Assistant since he or she is responsible for grading them. I fully support the decisions of my GTAs. Your GTA keeps your paperwork and a running account of your grade.
Make-up policy: No make-ups will be allowed unless a valid excuse is given, and arrangements must be made through the professor. A doctor’s note must be presented to arrange for a make-up test. Make-up exams must be taken within one week of regularly scheduled test. There are no Final Exam make-ups. If I allow you to make-up an active and collaborative assignment, it will be in the form of a written essay on a topic of my choice.
Attendance is mandatory: Attendance is mandatory and recorded via signature on a “Sign-In” sheet. Failure to attend class regularly will result in a failing grade. If extra-curricular commitments don’t allow for regular attendance, then this course should be dropped.
none
none
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.
When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways: