COURSE GOALS
Archaeology is the study of past cultures and societies through their material remains. This course introduces the prehistoric and early historic cultural chronology of the South American continent. Emphases will be placed upon current archaeological research trends and newest findings; different extremes in natural environments and prehistoric cultural ecology; culture change and culture process; and current new and traditional controversies, from the earliest natives to transpacific contact to practical applications of knowledge from the ancient past. We will watch the news media for current discoveries and debates, and you are encouraged to bring in articles and information. You are also REQUIRED to look at internet sites on the various topics and sites, and to make or obtain a map of the continent and put in geographic features, archaeological sites, modern political boundaries, and other important data. We wish to view the archaeological data and interpretations of the past in the context of modern societies and cultures of South America and explore how the evidence can be preserved as well. We will emphasize archaeology as anthropology and the relevance of archaeology to modern human society and politics . We will also examine exciting discoveries that make the news during the semester.