Anthropology (ANTH) 272
Introduction to Archaeology (Revision 3)
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Social Science
Prerequisite: None
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Anthropology Studies home page
ANTH 272 is not available for challenge.
Overview
This course is designed to provide you with an extensive overview of the theories, methods, and practice of archaeology. It examines the nature and aims of archaeology; the methods and material remains used to reconstruct the past; the economic, social, political, and ideological systems of human experience; the biology of people of the past; the causes of culture change; and the place of archaeology in our contemporary world.
Outline
The course consists of the following three units:
- Unit 1: The Framework of Archaeology
- Unit 2: Discovering the Variety of Human Experience
- Unit 3: The World of Archaeology
Evaluation
To receive credit in ANTH 272, you must achieve a minimum of D (50 percent) on both the midterm and final examinations and an overall grade of D (50 percent) for the entire course. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Quiz 1 | 5% |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Quiz 2 | 5% |
| Assignment 2 | 30% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm 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
Muckle, Robert J., ed. Reading Archaeology: An Introduction. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 2011.
Renfrew, Colin, and Paul Bahn. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. 7th ed. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 2016.
Other Materials
All other course materials are provided online via the course homepage.
Additional Course Components
To successfully complete this course, you must watch the following video:
The African Burial Ground: An American Discovery. Produced and directed by David Kutz. Brooklyn: Kutz Television, Inc., 1994.
This video is available in the course Digital Reading Room and from the Athabasca University Library.
Optional Course Components
Several video programs are listed as optional, but highly recommended, viewing for this course. All the videos are either available in the course DRR or from the Athabasca University Library. Although the videos are not required viewing, they will add significantly to your learning experience. If you are unable to view any of these programs, alternative readings are listed in the Study Guide.
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 3, April 27, 2017.
View previous syllabus