ANTH 643 - Environmental Archaeology

(3 units)

Topics selected from paleoecology, taphonomy, geoarchaeology, and dating methods; lectures, readings, and field trips cover advanced principles, method and theory, and practical applications.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Spring - Odd Years

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. describe the natural and cultural mechanisms driving environmental and climatic change.
2. interpret the results of various archaeological dating methods, calibrate radiocarbon dates using industry-standard calibration software, and explain how various dating methods and their calibrations work.
3. describe the processes that lead to different sedimentological structures, soil formation and landform evolution.
4. use zooarchaeological, macrobotanical and palynological datasets to reconstruct past environmental conditions and past human diet.
5. critically evaluate and model the way changes in human culture correspond to and operate within ecological contexts by specifically addressing: (a) the effects of climatic and environmental change on technology, social organization and politics; and conversely (b) how technology, social organization and politics affect climate and environment.

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