Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - ARCH 273 OL01

Archaeology of the New World (3)

Class Number: 4477

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Prerequisites:

    Any one of the following: ARCH 100, ARCH 101, EVSC 100, GEOG 100, or REM 100.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A survey of prehistoric cultures of North and South America. The peopling of the New World, the rise of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and Peru, and the cultural adaptations by prehistoric populations to other parts of the New World. Breadth-Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is a survey of the Indigenous cultures of North, Central and South America, prior to contact with Europeans. Coverage will focus on Culture Areas, their material culture, and adjustments to varying environmental conditions. Attention will include the peopling of the North and South America, hunter-gatherer cultural history, social complexity, agricultural origins, long-distance exchange and culture contact, and the emergence of cities, states and empires. 

Grading

  • Paper Proposal 10%
  • Annotated Bibliography 15%
  • Article Review 15%
  • Term Paper 40%
  • Online Discussion 20%

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) 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:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.