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THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ETHNICITY IN AMERICA

Lecture Course

Elizabeth M. Brumfiel
Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology
Albion College
611 E. Porter St. Albion, MI 49224
Office: 517-629-0432 Fax: 517-629-0509
ebrumfiel@northwestern.edu

This course explores the history of different ethnic groups in America through the study of their material remains: living quarters, burials, food remains, tools, jewelry, etc. We will also examine how ethnic groups have been portrayed or ignored in museum displays that claim to depict the American past.

Teaching Statement
Why I Designed This Course
Course Goals
Course Requirements/Experiential Learning
Reflections and Challenges

Course Artifacts
Syllabus
Bibliography

Modules Exercises
01: Introduction to the Course 18: Museums and Ethnic Politics: Discussion Team Projects Overview
02: Why do Historical Archaeology? 19: African Burial Ground Controversy I: Legal Basis of Historic Preservation 01: Team 1
03: The Archaeological Imagination I

20: African Burial Ground Controversy II

02: Team 2

04: The Archaeological Imagination II: Class Exercise

21: Archaeology as
Critique I
03: Team 3
05: Video: "Other People's Garbage" 22: Archaeology as
Critique II
01: Response Paper 1
06: What is Ethnicity? Affiliation 23: Collaborating to Construct the Past 02: Response Paper 2
07: What is Ethnicity? Affiliation and Attribution 24: Archaeology and Ethic Politics: Archaeology in the Nineteenth Century Tests and Assessments
08: Material Culture and Ethnicity: Ethnic Markers 25: The Kennewick Man and the Reburial Debate 01: Exam 1
09: Material Culture and Ethnicity: Alternative Views 26. The NAGPRA Debate 02: Exam 2
10: The Social Construction of Whiteness 27: Narrative in the Archaeology of Native North America 03: Final Exam
11: Video: "Skin Deep" 28: Narrative in the Archaeology of North America: Spiritual Inhabitation  
12: Race in American Society and Culture: Discussion of "Skin Deep" 29: Narrative in the Archaeology of Native North America: Contact and Resistance  

13: Ethnic History of
Albion: Native American Life

30: Narrative in the Archaeology of Native North America: Native Voices I  
14: Ethnic History of
Albion: 19th and 20th Centuries
31: Narrative in the Archaeology of Native North America: Native Voice II: Synthetic Narratives  
15: Recovering the African American Past 32: Field Trip, Gardner House Museum  
16: Recovering the African American Past: What Does Archaeology Contribute? 33: Museums and Ethnic Politics: The Role of the Local History Museum  
17: Video: "Williamsburg Restored" 34: The Archaeology of Chinese Americans  

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© 2003 MATRIX
Project Director: Anne Pyburn
Indiana University Bloomington