1:00-2:15P  MW ARR

In this seminar we will explore the ways-both good and bad-in which
archaeology is having an impact on the lives of people around the
world, whether or not they ever expressed any interest in the subject.
We'll also look at what archaeologists today are doing, and perhaps
should do, in response. Among the subjects for discussion are
relations between archaeologists and Native Americans, Black
Americans, antiquities dealers and collectors, people who happen to
live in communities where archaeologists work (whether in the Midwest
or overseas), people-including corporate groups, such as Walmart-who
discover they have archaeological remains on land they own and planned
to use for their own purposes, and similar areas of potential conflict
between heritage preservation and modern development. Along the way,
we'll make sure archaeology, and a sense of how the discipline grew
from early beginnings carries today, and how practitioners are
addressing the responsibilities that accompany professionalism.
Whether or not you've had any interest in archaeology before this
class, I think you will be surprised to find how pervasive these
issues and conflicts are in contemporary life, and how difficult the
resolution can be.

The class will be run as a true seminar, i.e., students will pursue
"original research" under the guidance of the professor. We will
discuss information and ideas gleaned from assigned readings in our
text. We'll look at the ways some of these issues are being addressed
in popular fiction and other mass media. We'll research the web for
related activities and information, and, on occasion, invite people
with particularly relevant experiences to join our discussions. We
will incorporate relevant current events as they unfold and integrate
them into our larger discussions. Lab exercises and videos will help
develop your understanding of archaeological concepts that are
fundamental to the larger discussions.

Requirements: regular attendance and participation in discussions is
critical. I will make every effort to create an informal atmosphere
and to help you become comfortable with the process of group
discussion. There will be 3 written assignments (ca. 3-5 pps each), of
different types, including a final report on a project. In all but the
final paper, you will have the opportunity to revise and resubmit
papers after receiving my initial comments and grade. A final project,
probably conducted in one or more teams, will address a real-life
situation, perhaps developing a program for use in a small Greek
village where an IU team excavated for many years and where the
current villagers are asking for information and participation from
the archaeologists.