Despite more than two centuries of speculation and study, the initial
peopling of the Americas remains shrouded in mystery.  Where did the
first American come from, and when did they arrive?  Were the first
colonizers unsuccessful, or are they the ancestors of today’s Native
Americans?  Were there subsequent migrations into the Americas? How
did these first Americans enter this continent, and how did they
spread across the more than 15,000 miles from Alaska to the Southern
tip of Argentina?  Why did they make the trek?   Once they were here,
how did they interact with each other and adapt to the different
environments here?  Were there subsequent contacts with Old World
peoples, like Pacific Islanders, Chinese sailors, or Vikings? This
course explores the history of and current research on the prehistoric
peopling of the Americas. We will use evidence from many fields,
including genetics, skeletal studies, archaeology, linguistics, and
geology to address these questions.  There will be some short
background lectures, but most of the course will focus on discussion
and exploration of the assigned readings, which will consist of short
review papers and book chapters, popular media accounts, historical
documents, and primary research articles. We will also view one or two
videos on these topics. Grades for the course will be determined by
discussion participation, a few short critical commentaries on
assigned reading during the semester, and a final research paper.