Anthropology (ANTH) 476
Archaeological Theory (Revision 5)

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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Social Science
Prerequisite: ANTH 272 or ANTH 277 or permission of course coordinator
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Overview
Anthropology 476: Archaeological Theory is a senior-level anthropology course designed to provide the student with an understanding of the historical development of the theoretical aspects of the discipline of archaeology. Additionally, ANTH 476 provides an introduction to current theoretical trends taking place within anthropological archaeology.
Outline
Anthropology 476: Archaeological Theory is divided into ten (10) units, each of which examines a specific topic in archaeological theory.
- Introduction
- Unit 1 Introducing Archaeological Theory
- Unit 2 The Antiquarian Roots of Archaeology
- Unit 3 Early Approaches to Scientific Archaeology
- Unit 4 Culture-Historical Archaeology
- Unit 5 Functionalism
- Unit 6 Neoevolutionalism and the New Archaeology
- Unit 7 The Rise of Postprocessual Archaeology
- Unit 8 Current Theoretical Issues (I)
- Unit 9 Current Theoretical Issues (II)
- Unit 10 The Future of Archaeological Theory
Evaluation
To receive credit for ANTH 476, students must complete a research paper outline, a research paper, a midterm examination, and a final examination, and achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50 percent) on both the midterm and final examinations, and an overall grade of “D” (50 percent) for the entire course. All work must be submitted or completed by the end of your course contract date.
Activity | Weighting |
---|---|
Assignment 1: research paper outline | 15% |
Midterm examination | 30% |
Assignment 2: research paper | 25% |
Final examination | 30% |
Total | 100% |
The mid-term and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Praetzellis, Adrian. 2011 Death by Theory: A Tale of Mystery and Archaeological Theory. Revised ed. AltaMira Press, Lanham.
Trigger, Bruce. 2006 A History of Archaeological Thought. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Hodder, Ian (editor). 2012 Archaeological Theory Today. 2nd ed. Polity Press, Cambridge.
Other Resources
All other materials are available online.
Challenge for Credit Course Overview
The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, and knowledge of intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course. Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures
Challenge Evaluation
To receive credit for the ANTH 476 challenge registration, students must complete a research paper, a midterm examination, and a final examination, and achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50%) on both the midterm and final examinations, and an overall grade of “D” (50%) for the entire course.
Activity | Weighting |
---|---|
Assignment 1: research paper | 40% |
Midterm examination | 30% |
Final examination | 30% |
Total | 100% |
Midterm and final examinations are 3 hours long, and must be written with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre.
Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 5, June 28, 2016.
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Updated January 19 2018 by Student & Academic Services