North American Prehistory (ANTH 365U)
SPR 2004
M/W/F 2:00-3:05
Instructor: Dr. Virginia L. Butler , 725-3303; e-mail butlerv@pdx.edu
Offc. Hours : Tues/Wed 3:15-4:15, or by appointment; Office Location: Cramer Hall Rm 141L
Course Description:
This course will critically examine the prehistory of North America, from the initial peopling of the continent to the development of complex societies. We will review the arguments and debates on when and how people came to the New World and the role of humans in the extinction of large game. We will examine the models used to account for changing human life ways during the Holocene, including changes in structure of hunter-gatherer and agriculturalist settlement-subsistence and socio-political systems. To what extent does environmental change, evolving technologies, changing population density or yet other factors account for the striking record of cultural change? We will also review the relationship between people and plants/animals/ physical and biotic environment. To what extent were environments (wildlife) affected by human use and modification? When and where are these effects observed and how do we measure them?
The course will involve a mix of lecture and class discussion. Since some of your grade is based on class participation, you need to come prepared to discuss the readings each class period.
Goals: Increase your skills in: critical thinking; hypothesis testing and developing arguments; visual presentation of ideas and comfort in discussing them. I also want you to gain a greater appreciation for the diversity of life ways of ancient Native Americans and contributions archaeology can make to the contemporary world.
Required Text:
1) Fagan, Brian M. (2000) Ancient North America, 3rd Edition, Thames and Hudson, New York.
This course assumes students have some background in archaeology from previous classes. If you lack this background and still want to take the class, I strongly recommend you obtain and review a textbook on archaeology that you can use for reference during the course. I can recommend several.
2) Course Pack from Clean Copy (shop on Broadway, across the street from Cramer Hall)
Course Requirements/Grading :
- 1 Map/short answer quiz (geography and basic terms related to dating/archaeology) (10%)
- Summary (~300 words) of archaeological site or survey report from North America (10%)
- 1 take-home essay exam (1-2 essays—500 words)(25%)
- Oral/Poster Presentation (20%)
- ~2000 word paper (write-up of presentation) (25%).
- Class participation (10%)
I will be giving out additional information on all of the assignments and quiz.
I will base your participation grade on attendance and extent you come prepared to answer and ask questions.
Additional Notes:
1) The Anthropology Department does not permit instructors to give students "Incompletes" except by petition to the Department Chair. Please see the PSU Bulletin for the only conditions under which an "Incomplete" may be authorized. 2) According to University and Anthropology Department policy, a grade of C- is needed to "Pass" the course, if taking the course "Pass/No Pass". 3) Students registered with DSS who need accomodation should notify the instructor.
Week Beginning Topic Readings
3/28 Introduction; European Contact Fagan, Ch 1, 22; Mann 2002 (see webpage) http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2002/03/mann.htm Fagan, Ch 2 & 3 REVIEW; read closely if limited archaeo background
Begin: Pleistocene Environments, Hoffecker & Elias 2003; Peopling the New World Meltzer and Dillehay 1999
Fagan TEXT Ch. 4
4/4 More on peopling the New World; Meltzer 1995;
Megafaunal extinctions; Martin 1967; Grayson 1991;
MAP/term QUIZ: FRI, 9 April Grayson & Meltzer 2003; Fagan TEXT Ch. 4;
4/11 Finish peopling/extinctions Cohen 1981;
People “Settling In”; Archaic O’Connell and Hawkes 1981
Optimal Foraging Models Fagan TEXT pp. 237-238
4/18 Finish Optimal Foraging
Resource Intensification
Begin Great Basin Fagan TEXT Ch. 12, Kelly 1997
Site Report Summary Due: April 19
Take Home Exam Handed Out Jones et al. 1999
4/25 Great Basin
5/2 Southwest Fagan TEXT Ch 13, 14, 15
Exam Due May 1, Thursday Hard and Roney 1998
5/9 Southwest Larson et al. 1996
5/16 Eastern Woodlands Fagan TEXT Ch 16, 17,18
Saunders et al. 1997
5/23 Eastern Woodlands
5/30 Eastern Woodlands Fagan TEXT Ch 19,20
2, 4 June: Oral/Poster Presentations
June 9, WED 12:30-:15-.2:20 Oral/Poster Presentations
June 10, FINAL PAPER DUE, 4:00 pm