ANTH 2100 Digging The Past: An Introduction To Archaeology

This course introduces students to the anthropological sub-discipline of archaeology, which is the study of past human societies as revealed through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data left behind. Archaeology is essential for learning about prehistoric, non-literate societies (which make up over 99% of human history), and it also expands our knowledge about literate societies. Archaeological research supplements, confirms and even challenges historical understandings based on written records. Archaeology is interdisciplinary in nature, encompassing aspects of the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts. Students will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills through an archaeological perspective by engaging in natural and cultural processes creating the archaeological record and employing techniques and strategies used to collect and interpret data, leading to well-reasoned conclusions about past societies. Through the past, students will develop a better understanding about humans and the world they live in.

UCC Area F (Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Arts & Humanities) Course Objectives: Explore and engage in processes, techniques, and strategies that foster curiosity, promote inquiry, and yield well-reasoned conclusions and solutions concerning humans and the world they live in.

Credits: 3.0