Welcome to Anthropology 376: Alberta Archaeology: Prehistoric Lifeways. This course introduces you to the prehistory of Alberta and provides you with an extensive overview of the archaeological record of prehistoric native cultures in Alberta, from the time of the province’s first settlement to the period of European settlement. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of the cultures and ways of life of prehistoric social groups in Alberta as they are reconstructed from their material remains. Because Anthropology 376 focuses on how archaeologists interpret the material remains of early cultures, an introductory course in archaeology is a recommended, but not required, prerequisite.

Anthropology 376 consists of nine units. The first two units review
general archaeological goals and methods and describe the history of archaeological research in Alberta. Units 3 and 4 describe the natural environments and First Nations of Alberta and discuss the method and theory specifically related to the study of prehistoric hunter-gatherers. Units 5 to 9 apply these general concepts to a specific geographical region—the province of Alberta.