Faculty Syllabus

Introduction to Archaeology

ATNH 2302 Lec 001 – 72222                                                                                       Paul Lehman

Fall 2023                                                                                                        plehman@austincc.edu

MW 12-1:20pm                                                                Office Hours MW 9-10am, TTh 10-11am

RGC 10                                                                                  Office Hours virtually via Blackboard

Course Description: This course covers archaeological techniques for reconstructing ancient societies. Emphasis is placed on archaeological questions, scientific methods, and culture change.

Course Outcome: Introduction to Archaeology is designed to provide students with an understanding of the interaction of culture and biology as it bears on the evolution of hominid and cultural diversity. This course will allow students to apply general archaeological knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an Associate degree at Austin Community College, and to prepare them for success in upper division courses in Anthropology and Archaeology at other institutions.
 

Text: Renfrew & Bahn. Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice, 8th edition. Norton, 2018.

Instructional methodology: This is a classroom learning course in the old-fashioned style of lectures, classroom discussion and as much interrogation of the professor as the students desire. No, really. PowerPoint-format lecture notes, required homework, and other materials are available on Blackboard. Contact with the professor and with other students is mainly in the classroom, but we have discussion boards, email, office hours, and y’all can set up a GroupMe if you want. If COVID comes back, well, who knows what will happen.

Grading: Attendance (100 points, % of classes attended), short answer reading questions for each chapter (160 points), projects for most chapters (140 points), 4 multiple choice exams (400 points), and four short written assignments (200 points). 1000 points total.

Reading questions and short written projects will be graded on a completion rather than a quality basis. They are your guide to both what I consider important you just learn by rote and your introduction to the more interesting, big questions of archaeology. The reading questions are an example of the “you get out of it what you put into it” aspect of studying. I certainly encourage you to bring any comments or questions about the reading questions to class, office hours, discussion boards, or email, preferably in that order. The projects include an empirical component to do on your own and an essay portion we will do together in class. All reading questions and assignments are submitted on Blackboard. Due dates are found on Blackboard as well. Late assignments will be penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof. Exams are multiple choice and are administered online, on Blackboard, as per the tentative course schedule below. Once again, reading questions and projects are graded for completion, not quality, but short writing assignments are graded for quality.

Final grades will follow the standard ACC system of 10 points per letter grade, such that an A = 90% or more (of 1000 points), B = 80% or more (of 1000 points), and so on. Lately almost none of my classes have had curves, and none are guaranteed here.

Course Policies: This is a full semester, classroom-based course. You will have classes twice per week. We’ll have some videos and some artifacts to pass around. Perhaps some lab-type exercises. You can stay after class for a few minutes to ask me questions. You can interrupt class to ask stuff. Heck, please do. You can do the reading questions during class. I’ll try to cover them all during class, but I will probably forget a few here and there. Remind me, politely and forcefully, if I do. We will cover the projects in class. The more discussion the better. And, of course, you can come to office hours. You do need to submit all work to Blackboard, but I’ll go over that in the first meeting. Late work is penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof, as already covered above.

Incompletes are discouraged, and will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. Students must talk with me directly about incompletes before the end of the semester. Students are also responsible for knowing and following ACC administrative rules on incompletes.

Withdrawals are the responsibility of the student. I might choose to withdraw students who disappear halfway into the semester. You should familiarize yourself with the rules and deadlines concerning withdrawals. Withdrawals solely on account of grades are discouraged. Students are encouraged to talk with me at any time about their progress and grades.

Tentative Schedule

Module 1                                       Framework of Archaeology                                     Chapters 0-4

     By the end of Sunday, 9/24          Exam #1 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 2                                       Fundamental Questions                                            Chapters 5-8

     By the end of Sunday, 10/22        Exam #2 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 3                                       Advanced Questions                                              Chapters 9-12

     By the end of Sunday, 11/19        Exam #3 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 4                                       The Meta of Archaeology                                    Chapters 13-15

     By the end of Sunday, 12/10        Exam #4 due (other assignments earlier)

End of Sunday, 12/10/2023 = absolute deadline for ANY late work to be submitted

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student:
- Will be able to describe what anthropology and anthropological archaeology are.
- Will understand the methods and theories of anthropological archaeology.
- Will understand the processes that affect the archaeological record.
- Will understand cultural diversity and how and why cultures change through time.
 

Anthropology/Archaeology Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes:

- Apply cultural relativism and understand the issues of multiculturalism, globalization, or cultural difference (Cultural Relativisim).

- Describe and analyze the ways that humans have adapted biologically and/or culturally to their surroundings over time (e.g.,reflect on different subsistence strategies, types of social organization, or other variables, etc.) (Cultural and Biological Adaptation).

- Explain, plan, and conduct original research based on observations and/or scholarly review of scientific writings using appropriate anthropological theories and methods (Research Methods and Theories).

General Education Competencies in this course:

Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices

Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information

Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods

Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium           

Introduction to Archaeology

ATNH 2302 Lec 001 – 72222                                                                                       Paul Lehman

Fall 2023                                                                                                        plehman@austincc.edu

MW 12-1:20pm                                                                Office Hours MW 9-10am, TTh 10-11am

RGC 10                                                                                  Office Hours virtually via Blackboard

Course Description: This course covers archaeological techniques for reconstructing ancient societies. Emphasis is placed on archaeological questions, scientific methods, and culture change.

Course Outcome: Introduction to Archaeology is designed to provide students with an understanding of the interaction of culture and biology as it bears on the evolution of hominid and cultural diversity. This course will allow students to apply general archaeological knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an Associate degree at Austin Community College, and to prepare them for success in upper division courses in Anthropology and Archaeology at other institutions.
 

Text: Renfrew & Bahn. Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice, 8th edition. Norton, 2018.

Instructional methodology: This is a classroom learning course in the old-fashioned style of lectures, classroom discussion and as much interrogation of the professor as the students desire. No, really. PowerPoint-format lecture notes, required homework, and other materials are available on Blackboard. Contact with the professor and with other students is mainly in the classroom, but we have discussion boards, email, office hours, and y’all can set up a GroupMe if you want. If COVID comes back, well, who knows what will happen.

Grading: Attendance (100 points, % of classes attended), short answer reading questions for each chapter (160 points), projects for most chapters (140 points), 4 multiple choice exams (400 points), and four short written assignments (200 points). 1000 points total.

Reading questions and short written projects will be graded on a completion rather than a quality basis. They are your guide to both what I consider important you just learn by rote and your introduction to the more interesting, big questions of archaeology. The reading questions are an example of the “you get out of it what you put into it” aspect of studying. I certainly encourage you to bring any comments or questions about the reading questions to class, office hours, discussion boards, or email, preferably in that order. The projects include an empirical component to do on your own and an essay portion we will do together in class. All reading questions and assignments are submitted on Blackboard. Due dates are found on Blackboard as well. Late assignments will be penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof. Exams are multiple choice and are administered online, on Blackboard, as per the tentative course schedule below. Once again, reading questions and projects are graded for completion, not quality, but short writing assignments are graded for quality.

Final grades will follow the standard ACC system of 10 points per letter grade, such that an A = 90% or more (of 1000 points), B = 80% or more (of 1000 points), and so on. Lately almost none of my classes have had curves, and none are guaranteed here.

Course Policies: This is a full semester, classroom-based course. You will have classes twice per week. We’ll have some videos and some artifacts to pass around. Perhaps some lab-type exercises. You can stay after class for a few minutes to ask me questions. You can interrupt class to ask stuff. Heck, please do. You can do the reading questions during class. I’ll try to cover them all during class, but I will probably forget a few here and there. Remind me, politely and forcefully, if I do. We will cover the projects in class. The more discussion the better. And, of course, you can come to office hours. You do need to submit all work to Blackboard, but I’ll go over that in the first meeting. Late work is penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof, as already covered above.

Incompletes are discouraged, and will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. Students must talk with me directly about incompletes before the end of the semester. Students are also responsible for knowing and following ACC administrative rules on incompletes.

Withdrawals are the responsibility of the student. I might choose to withdraw students who disappear halfway into the semester. You should familiarize yourself with the rules and deadlines concerning withdrawals. Withdrawals solely on account of grades are discouraged. Students are encouraged to talk with me at any time about their progress and grades.

Tentative Schedule

Module 1                                       Framework of Archaeology                                     Chapters 0-4

     By the end of Sunday, 9/24          Exam #1 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 2                                       Fundamental Questions                                            Chapters 5-8

     By the end of Sunday, 10/22        Exam #2 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 3                                       Advanced Questions                                              Chapters 9-12

     By the end of Sunday, 11/19        Exam #3 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 4                                       The Meta of Archaeology                                    Chapters 13-15

     By the end of Sunday, 12/10        Exam #4 due (other assignments earlier)

End of Sunday, 12/10/2023 = absolute deadline for ANY late work to be submitted

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student:
- Will be able to describe what anthropology and anthropological archaeology are.
- Will understand the methods and theories of anthropological archaeology.
- Will understand the processes that affect the archaeological record.
- Will understand cultural diversity and how and why cultures change through time.
 

Anthropology/Archaeology Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes:

- Apply cultural relativism and understand the issues of multiculturalism, globalization, or cultural difference (Cultural Relativisim).

- Describe and analyze the ways that humans have adapted biologically and/or culturally to their surroundings over time (e.g.,reflect on different subsistence strategies, types of social organization, or other variables, etc.) (Cultural and Biological Adaptation).

- Explain, plan, and conduct original research based on observations and/or scholarly review of scientific writings using appropriate anthropological theories and methods (Research Methods and Theories).

General Education Competencies in this course:

Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices

Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information

Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods

Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium           

Introduction to Archaeology

ATNH 2302 Lec 001 – 72222                                                                                       Paul Lehman

Fall 2023                                                                                                        plehman@austincc.edu

MW 12-1:20pm                                                                Office Hours MW 9-10am, TTh 10-11am

RGC 10                                                                                  Office Hours virtually via Blackboard

Course Description: This course covers archaeological techniques for reconstructing ancient societies. Emphasis is placed on archaeological questions, scientific methods, and culture change.

Course Outcome: Introduction to Archaeology is designed to provide students with an understanding of the interaction of culture and biology as it bears on the evolution of hominid and cultural diversity. This course will allow students to apply general archaeological knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an Associate degree at Austin Community College, and to prepare them for success in upper division courses in Anthropology and Archaeology at other institutions.
 

Text: Renfrew & Bahn. Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice, 8th edition. Norton, 2018.

Instructional methodology: This is a classroom learning course in the old-fashioned style of lectures, classroom discussion and as much interrogation of the professor as the students desire. No, really. PowerPoint-format lecture notes, required homework, and other materials are available on Blackboard. Contact with the professor and with other students is mainly in the classroom, but we have discussion boards, email, office hours, and y’all can set up a GroupMe if you want. If COVID comes back, well, who knows what will happen.

Grading: Attendance (100 points, % of classes attended), short answer reading questions for each chapter (160 points), projects for most chapters (140 points), 4 multiple choice exams (400 points), and four short written assignments (200 points). 1000 points total.

Reading questions and short written projects will be graded on a completion rather than a quality basis. They are your guide to both what I consider important you just learn by rote and your introduction to the more interesting, big questions of archaeology. The reading questions are an example of the “you get out of it what you put into it” aspect of studying. I certainly encourage you to bring any comments or questions about the reading questions to class, office hours, discussion boards, or email, preferably in that order. The projects include an empirical component to do on your own and an essay portion we will do together in class. All reading questions and assignments are submitted on Blackboard. Due dates are found on Blackboard as well. Late assignments will be penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof. Exams are multiple choice and are administered online, on Blackboard, as per the tentative course schedule below. Once again, reading questions and projects are graded for completion, not quality, but short writing assignments are graded for quality.

Final grades will follow the standard ACC system of 10 points per letter grade, such that an A = 90% or more (of 1000 points), B = 80% or more (of 1000 points), and so on. Lately almost none of my classes have had curves, and none are guaranteed here.

Course Policies: This is a full semester, classroom-based course. You will have classes twice per week. We’ll have some videos and some artifacts to pass around. Perhaps some lab-type exercises. You can stay after class for a few minutes to ask me questions. You can interrupt class to ask stuff. Heck, please do. You can do the reading questions during class. I’ll try to cover them all during class, but I will probably forget a few here and there. Remind me, politely and forcefully, if I do. We will cover the projects in class. The more discussion the better. And, of course, you can come to office hours. You do need to submit all work to Blackboard, but I’ll go over that in the first meeting. Late work is penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof, as already covered above.

Incompletes are discouraged, and will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. Students must talk with me directly about incompletes before the end of the semester. Students are also responsible for knowing and following ACC administrative rules on incompletes.

Withdrawals are the responsibility of the student. I might choose to withdraw students who disappear halfway into the semester. You should familiarize yourself with the rules and deadlines concerning withdrawals. Withdrawals solely on account of grades are discouraged. Students are encouraged to talk with me at any time about their progress and grades.

Tentative Schedule

Module 1                                       Framework of Archaeology                                     Chapters 0-4

     By the end of Sunday, 9/24          Exam #1 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 2                                       Fundamental Questions                                            Chapters 5-8

     By the end of Sunday, 10/22        Exam #2 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 3                                       Advanced Questions                                              Chapters 9-12

     By the end of Sunday, 11/19        Exam #3 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 4                                       The Meta of Archaeology                                    Chapters 13-15

     By the end of Sunday, 12/10        Exam #4 due (other assignments earlier)

End of Sunday, 12/10/2023 = absolute deadline for ANY late work to be submitted

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student:
- Will be able to describe what anthropology and anthropological archaeology are.
- Will understand the methods and theories of anthropological archaeology.
- Will understand the processes that affect the archaeological record.
- Will understand cultural diversity and how and why cultures change through time.
 

Anthropology/Archaeology Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes:

- Apply cultural relativism and understand the issues of multiculturalism, globalization, or cultural difference (Cultural Relativisim).

- Describe and analyze the ways that humans have adapted biologically and/or culturally to their surroundings over time (e.g.,reflect on different subsistence strategies, types of social organization, or other variables, etc.) (Cultural and Biological Adaptation).

- Explain, plan, and conduct original research based on observations and/or scholarly review of scientific writings using appropriate anthropological theories and methods (Research Methods and Theories).

General Education Competencies in this course:

Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices

Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information

Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods

Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium           

Introduction to Archaeology

ATNH 2302 Lec 001 – 72222                                                                                       Paul Lehman

Fall 2023                                                                                                        plehman@austincc.edu

MW 12-1:20pm                                                                Office Hours MW 9-10am, TTh 10-11am

RGC 10                                                                                  Office Hours virtually via Blackboard

Course Description: This course covers archaeological techniques for reconstructing ancient societies. Emphasis is placed on archaeological questions, scientific methods, and culture change.

Course Outcome: Introduction to Archaeology is designed to provide students with an understanding of the interaction of culture and biology as it bears on the evolution of hominid and cultural diversity. This course will allow students to apply general archaeological knowledge and skills to everyday life and their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an Associate degree at Austin Community College, and to prepare them for success in upper division courses in Anthropology and Archaeology at other institutions.
 

Text: Renfrew & Bahn. Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice, 8th edition. Norton, 2018.

Instructional methodology: This is a classroom learning course in the old-fashioned style of lectures, classroom discussion and as much interrogation of the professor as the students desire. No, really. PowerPoint-format lecture notes, required homework, and other materials are available on Blackboard. Contact with the professor and with other students is mainly in the classroom, but we have discussion boards, email, office hours, and y’all can set up a GroupMe if you want. If COVID comes back, well, who knows what will happen.

Grading: Attendance (100 points, % of classes attended), short answer reading questions for each chapter (160 points), projects for most chapters (140 points), 4 multiple choice exams (400 points), and four short written assignments (200 points). 1000 points total.

Reading questions and short written projects will be graded on a completion rather than a quality basis. They are your guide to both what I consider important you just learn by rote and your introduction to the more interesting, big questions of archaeology. The reading questions are an example of the “you get out of it what you put into it” aspect of studying. I certainly encourage you to bring any comments or questions about the reading questions to class, office hours, discussion boards, or email, preferably in that order. The projects include an empirical component to do on your own and an essay portion we will do together in class. All reading questions and assignments are submitted on Blackboard. Due dates are found on Blackboard as well. Late assignments will be penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof. Exams are multiple choice and are administered online, on Blackboard, as per the tentative course schedule below. Once again, reading questions and projects are graded for completion, not quality, but short writing assignments are graded for quality.

Final grades will follow the standard ACC system of 10 points per letter grade, such that an A = 90% or more (of 1000 points), B = 80% or more (of 1000 points), and so on. Lately almost none of my classes have had curves, and none are guaranteed here.

Course Policies: This is a full semester, classroom-based course. You will have classes twice per week. We’ll have some videos and some artifacts to pass around. Perhaps some lab-type exercises. You can stay after class for a few minutes to ask me questions. You can interrupt class to ask stuff. Heck, please do. You can do the reading questions during class. I’ll try to cover them all during class, but I will probably forget a few here and there. Remind me, politely and forcefully, if I do. We will cover the projects in class. The more discussion the better. And, of course, you can come to office hours. You do need to submit all work to Blackboard, but I’ll go over that in the first meeting. Late work is penalized 2 points/week or fraction thereof, as already covered above.

Incompletes are discouraged, and will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. Students must talk with me directly about incompletes before the end of the semester. Students are also responsible for knowing and following ACC administrative rules on incompletes.

Withdrawals are the responsibility of the student. I might choose to withdraw students who disappear halfway into the semester. You should familiarize yourself with the rules and deadlines concerning withdrawals. Withdrawals solely on account of grades are discouraged. Students are encouraged to talk with me at any time about their progress and grades.

Tentative Schedule

Module 1                                       Framework of Archaeology                                     Chapters 0-4

     By the end of Sunday, 9/24          Exam #1 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 2                                       Fundamental Questions                                            Chapters 5-8

     By the end of Sunday, 10/22        Exam #2 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 3                                       Advanced Questions                                              Chapters 9-12

     By the end of Sunday, 11/19        Exam #3 due (other assignments earlier)

Module 4                                       The Meta of Archaeology                                    Chapters 13-15

     By the end of Sunday, 12/10        Exam #4 due (other assignments earlier)

End of Sunday, 12/10/2023 = absolute deadline for ANY late work to be submitted

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student:
- Will be able to describe what anthropology and anthropological archaeology are.
- Will understand the methods and theories of anthropological archaeology.
- Will understand the processes that affect the archaeological record.
- Will understand cultural diversity and how and why cultures change through time.
 

Anthropology/Archaeology Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes:

- Apply cultural relativism and understand the issues of multiculturalism, globalization, or cultural difference (Cultural Relativisim).

- Describe and analyze the ways that humans have adapted biologically and/or culturally to their surroundings over time (e.g.,reflect on different subsistence strategies, types of social organization, or other variables, etc.) (Cultural and Biological Adaptation).

- Explain, plan, and conduct original research based on observations and/or scholarly review of scientific writings using appropriate anthropological theories and methods (Research Methods and Theories).

General Education Competencies in this course:

Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices

Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information

Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods

Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium