Academic Catalogs

ANTH G130: Introduction to Archaeology

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Top Code 220200 - Anthropology
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • GWC Soc, Pol, Econ (GD)
Diversity Requirement (GCD) Yes
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 4 Social & Behavioral Sciences (4)
  • Cal-GETC 4A Anthropology (4A)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 4 Social&Behavioral Sci (4)
  • IGETC 4A Anthropology (4A)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU D1 Anthropology (D1)

Course Description

An introduction to the theories, methods and applications of archaeological inquiry using a comparative approach to reconstruct the social and political systems of ancient world cultures. The course includes a discussion of fieldwork methods; dating techniques; human paleontology; faunal and botanical evidence; historical archaeology; cultural resource management; and professional ethics. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: ANTH 150. C-ID: ANTH 150.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Course Outcomes
  2. The student will identify the theories, methods, and applications of archaeological inquiry.
  3. The student will describe the various types of archaeological remains.
  4. The student will describe the methods for surveying and excavating archaeological sites.
  5. The student will distinguish between various dating techniques.
  6. The student will reconstruct social and political systems of past cultures using archaeological data.
  7. The student will discuss the goals and legal frameworks of cultural resource management.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Identify the theories, methods, and applications of archaeological inquiry.
  • 2. Describe the various types of archaeological remains.
  • 3. Describe the methods for surveying and excavating archaeological sites.
  • 4. Distinguish between various dating techniques.
  • 5. Reconstruct social and political systems of past cultures using archaeological data.
  • 6. Discuss the goals and legal frameworks of cultural resource management.

Lecture Content

IntroductionA. History of archaeological theoryB. The anthropological approach Structure of archaeological inquiryA. The scientific approachB. Types of archaeological sitesC. Reconstructing the past Archaeological fieldworkA. Surface surveyB. Remote sensing techniquesC. ExcavationD. Data recoveryE. Record keeping  Archaeological evidenceA.  ArtifactsB.  EcofactsC.  Features Dating methods and chronologyA. Relative datingB. Absolute dating Archaeological analysis and interpretationA. Subsistence strategiesB. TechnologiesC. Settlement patternsD. Kinship systemsE. Rank and statusF. Political organizationG. Exchange systems Historical archaeologyA. Interpreting historical dataB. Correcting historical inaccuracies Principles of cultural resource management and historic preservationA. The Development of CRMB. The National Historic Preservation ActC. The Archaeological Reources Protection ActD. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Professional ethics and responsibilitiesA. Ethical obligationsB. Professional organizations (AAA, SAA, RPA, etc.) Archaeological case studiesA. The archaeology of ancient world civilizationsB. Native American heritage sitesC. CRM in the U.S.

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Reading Assignments

A. Required Readings such as: Weekly reading assignment must be accomplished simultaneous in lectures in order to successfully complete the class.

Writing Assignments

Written comparitive analysis of unrelated but similar archaeological sites, annotated bibliography, essay examinations that require the identification of terms and the sythesis of key concepts pertaining to past cultures.

Out-of-class Assignments

Independent library research to source and read peer reviewed journal articles in association with written research assignments.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

1. Recognition of the variability of past cultural behavior. 2. Application of explanatory models of human behavior. 3. Analysis and Synthesis: Demonstrating materialistic and functional interrelationships between subsistence and other patterns of cultural behavior.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Essays, quizzes and exams are designed to test both the identification and application of concepts that are used to analyze and interpret past cultures.

Eligible Disciplines

Anthropology: Masters degree in anthropology or archaeology OR bachelors degree in either of the above AND masters degree in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Kelly, R., Thomas, D.H.. Archaeology, 6th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013