Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2019 - ARCH 471W D100

Archaeological Theory (5)

Class Number: 5072

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    George Nicholas
    nicholas@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-5709
    Office: EDB 9627
    Office Hours: TBA

  • Prerequisites:

    ARCH 131, 201, 272W and 273.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The cultural, evolutionary, physical, and distributional principles which underlie the prediction and reconstruction of the past. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

 This course reviews the history of archaeological thought, from its earliest manifestations through to topics discussed in recent issues of American Antiquity and other journals. Each of the major “schools” of archaeological theory—culture history, processualism, and post-processualism—will be explored in depth. The historical context and sociopolitics relating to the development of these different approaches and how archaeology influences, and is influenced by, contemporary society will also be explored and discussed. Topics include indigenous archaeology, feminist archaeology, ecological approaches, and archaeological ethics.

 A firm grounding in archaeological theory will provide a greater understanding of the dynamic nature of archaeological thought, and the means to evaluate different ways of looking at the past. This is a lecture course with a seminar component.

Grading

  • Mid-term Examination 25%
  • Final-Take-home Examination 25%
  • Term Project 25%
  • Exercises (5) 20%
  • Article Summary and Presentation 5%

NOTES:

Writing-Intensive (W)

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Johnson, Matthew. 2010. Archaeological Theory: An Introduction (2nd edition). Blackwell.

ISBN: 978-1-4051-0015-1

Trigger, Bruce. 2006. A History of Archaeological Thought (2nd edition). Cambridge.

ISBN: 978-0-5216-0049-1

RECOMMENDED READING:

O’Brien, M., L. Lyman, and M. Schiffer. 2005. Archaeology as a Process. University of Utah Press.

ISBN: 978-0-8748-0907-7

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Students with Disabilities (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Deferred grades will be given only on the basis of authenticated medical disability.


Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS