Faculty Syllabus

Required Resources for Class:

Book: Archaeology Essentials: Theories/Methods/Practice 4th edition – Renfrew and Bahn

Instructional Methodology: This course is an online lecture course. Students must view all lecutres, complete all assignments, and are responsible for their own work. Students are encouraged to ask questions.

Blackboard: Course information (i.e., course syllabus and schedule, Zoom links, announcements, handouts, grades, and other material) is available on blackboard. You should access Blackboard before each class to look for updates and announcements.  If you need help with Blackboard, email and other technical support, contact the Student Technology Services http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Reliable Internet: If you do not have reliable internet or access to a computer, use the computer labs on campus. 

Assigned Readings are from the required textbook: Archaeology Essentials 4th Edition – Renfrew and Bahn

Program Level Outcomes: 

1. Apply cultural relativism and understand the issues of multiculturalism, globalization, or cultural difference (Cultural Relativism).
2. 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).
3. 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).

Course goals:

By the end of this course students will be able to

• Discuss the evolution of archaeological thought, and the role of key individuals in development of archaeology as a science.
• Discuss the history of archaeology.
• Recognize current issues relating to Archaeology and Native Americans.
• Apply basic principles and techniques in field archaeology including identifying sites, surveying, site formation processes, sampling of sites, uses of new technology.
• Apply principles of archaeological excavation emphasizing on the importance of context and provenience and excavation methods and recording cultural remains.
• Address ethical issues relating to knowing local laws, protection from vandalism, consultation with local tribes or Native American descendants, storing cultural remains, and publishing the work.
• Illustrate uses of cultural remains to reconstruct past environment, health, social and political systems.
• Apply techniques of conducting archaeological research and the dissemination of results
• Be aware of challenges and issues related to the preservation and protection of cultural resources. and appreciation of the nature of science, the processes of evolution, the place of humans in nature, how humans are similar and different from other primates, the range of biological and cultural variation in humans, and how humans evolved both morphologically and culturally.