LAB METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGY (ANTH 452/552)

WTR 2004

T/TH 2:00-3:50

Instructor : Dr. Virginia L. Butler

Office : 141L, Cramer Hall

Office Hours : Tue/Wed 11:00-12:00; or by appointment

Phone : 725-3303; e-mail: butlerv@pdx.edu

“We cannot go out and describe the world in any old way we please and then sit back and demand that an explanatory and predictive theory be built from that description.” (Lewontin, R. 1974: The Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change)

This lab methods course will introduce you to classification and analysis of archaeological materials. Classification is a fundamental aspect of archaeological inquiry. Classifications are best viewed not as self-evident and intuitive devices, but as archaeological constructs designed to help identify and explain temporal and spatial patterning in the archaeological record. Any archaeological phenomenon (site, feature, modified and unmodified object) can be classified in a multitude of ways and measured at some scale. Decisions about which attributes to measure and approaches to classification depend on the researcher’s theoretical perspective, the specific research question, as well as the facilities and expertise of the analyst.

This class will examine various approaches to classification, particularly related to technology, function, and style, and will focus on lithics--flaked and ground stone. These materials are ubiquitous in prehistoric archaeological contexts---and their study underlie numerous interpretations of mobility and land use patterns, subsistence, and regional interaction and trade, just to name a few examples. This class will give you a working knowledge of these materials, as well as sufficient background to develop and evaluate classifications and measurements for other archaeological remains.

This class will involve a mix of lecture, discussion and in-class (and out-of-class) analysis of materials. I have tried to organize each week’s meetings around a research topic; in Tuesday’s class we will review the topic in a lecture-discussion format and in Thursday’s class you will put some of the issues into practice through a lab exercise, most of which will have to be completed outside of class. The last 2.5 weeks of the course will have an open format--you will primarily be working on a final project that you will develop as a formally written paper. I will be in class to answer questions and give suggestions.

Besides the Banning text, you will also be reading several papers (from a CLEAN COPY COURSE PACKET). These are required and should be read by class time on the date they are listed in the course schedule. Part of your grade is based on class participation--so be prepared to discuss the papers in class. I have also put together a loose packet (available from CLEAN COPY) of descriptions, illustrations, definitions, and short papers that relate to the materials and issues we cover in class. Bring these to class so that you can refer to them during our meeting. You may want to purchase a 3-ring binder, loose-leaf notebook and keep all the materials and your notes/assignments bound in the notebook.

Given the quantitative nature of archaeological data and the importance of quantification to artifact analysis, you will be asked to complete several of the lab exercises using a statistical software package, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for Windows. I will provide detailed information on the computer, data entry, and analysis during class. Previous background in computers or statistics is not required for this class. Hopefully, however, after you complete the course, you will appreciate the value of quantitative approaches in archaeology and be inspired to take other classes to increase your knowledge of these most important tools. OPTIONAL: graduate students and others that want additional practice and background using SPSS, may purchase an SPSS user manual from many bookstores ( Using SPSS for Windows: Analyzing and Understanding Data, S.B. Green et al., 2000 see listings on Amazon ~$13-15) as well as the software itself (PSU bookstore has copies of SPSS Graduate Pack, 12.0 for windows for PC).

In sum, this class will give you hands-on experience with archaeological materials, hopefully a clear sense of what we can learn from them, how to go about setting up an analysis project, and some facility with the computer so that you can assess the significance of your findings quantitatively.

Class attendance is mandatory . Unless you have a medical excuse or family emergency, I will deduct four points (out of possible 200 pts) from your grade for every missed class, except for the last several sessions, which are open labs for your final projects. I will not make any exceptions to this policy so please do not ask.

Course Requirements: Undergraduates students

-8 Lab exercises (ea. 10 pts; total 80 pts)

- Readings and Class Discussion (30 pts)

-Final Project Write-up (90 pts)

TOTAL 200 points

GRADUATE STUDENTS : in addition to the above requirements, you will have two additional assignments. 1) An annotated bibliography on a topic related to analytic methods in archaeology. And 2) Oral presentation of your final project to the class.

-8 lab exercises (ea. 6 pts; total 48)

-Readings & Discussion (22 pts)

-Final Project (write-up) (50 pts)

- Final project (oral presentation) (40 pts)

- Annotated Bibliography (40 pts)

TOTAL 200 points

I will provide specific information on these assignments on separate handouts. I will not accept any assignments after their due date, unless of illness or family emergency.

Additional Notes:

Incompletes : The Department of Anthropology does not permit instructors to give students "incompletes" unless the student, the faculty, and the Department Chair endorse a student-initiated petition. You need a really, really, good reason (serious illness or family emergency) to obtain an incomplete. Pass/No Pass: Also note that Anthropology majors taking the class to fulfill major requirements must take the course for a grade, not Pass/No Pass.

Required Text ( available from Bookstore)

Banning, E.B.