[3] ANT204 Introduction to Archaeology (Online)

Instructor: Dietrich Stout

Course Description: This course meets synchronously one day/week and has additional asynchronous components. This course provides an introduction to the history, methods, theory, and broader social context of modern archaeology. Archaeology is an incredibly diverse discipline unified by its use of material remains to study the human past. Modern archeologists work in all parts of the world studying time periods from the remote evolutionary past to the modern day. They investigate subjects ranging from ancient environments and climate change to prehistoric technology and social identity, using techniques that range from scientific excavation to satellite imaging, materials analysis, paleopathology, underwater exploration, landscape phenomenology, and more. In this class, we will explore some of the major questions that interest archeologists and the sources of evidence they use to investigate them. Among other things, we will consider the different kinds of information that can be gained from plant and animal remains, manufactured goods, and evidence of structures, as well as the use of modern analogs and experiments. The focus throughout will be on how archeologists know what they know and how this specialist knowledge is relevant to people throughout the world today.

My role: I was responsible for grading, facilitating discussion on Canvas as well as in-class activities during synchronous sessions, and designing assignments. I also delivered three guest lectures in the form of video recordings, which are respectively titled “A very brief history of Chinese archaeology”, “Radiocarbon Dating”, and “Absolute Dating Techniques beyond 14C”.