ANTH 146   Archaeology of Ancient North America (3 Hours)

This course is an introduction to the indigenous peoples and cultures of ancient North America. Drawing upon archaeological and anthropological perspectives, we will survey the culturally diverse and environmentally complex continent from the first Ice Age peoples through the earliest interactions with Europeans. Key theoretical issues considered in this course include human-environmental interaction, the emergence of complexity, warfare, ritual and religion, trade, and identity. Finally, we will explore how new archaeological evidence and contemporary approaches have changed our perspectives on the peoples and lifeways of ancient North America and impacted our ethical responsibilities to their descendants. 3hrs. lecture/wk.