LA 2620 - Laboratory in Landscape Archaeology

(crosslisted)
(also ARKEO 2620) (CA) (HA)

Spring. 3 credits.

S. Baugher.

Various American Indian civilizations and European cultures have altered the landscape to meet the needs of their cultures. Students learn how to interpret the American Indian and Euro-American landscapes of specific archaeological sites by identifying and dating artifacts, studying soil samples, and creating site maps.

Outcome 1: Integration of Writing, Visual Representation and/or Speaking Presentation Skills. The artifact research reports will be a measure the students writing and visual presentation skills. The presentation to the park staff and to the Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park will measure the students public speaking, visual representation, and presentation skills. The take-home exam will also measure the students’ skills in writing.

Outcome 2: Develop a disciplinary literacy through history, theory, and contemporary issues/ practice.
The take-home exam will test/measure the student’s understanding of the archaeological literature and contemporary practice in American historical archaeology.

Outcome 3: Develop knowledge of and ability to identify, date, and catalogue historical artifacts. The two laboratory exams will test the students’ abilities and knowledge of this material.

Outcome 4: Develop research skills. The research paper will measure the student’s ability to describe examine, evaluate, and analyze historical artifacts.

Outcome 5: Develop multicultural perspectives. The readings and the work with our community partners will enable the students to be exposed to multicultural perspectives. The final exam on the readings will test the students’ ability to compare and contrast archaeological evidence of cultural diversity.