NAU Social and Behavioral Sciences, Dept.
of Anthropology
ANT 104.4 (3808): LOST TRIBES AND BURIED CITIES, Fall 2020
(3 credit hours)
Revised September 21
Instructor: Dr. Christian E. Downum
Office: Bilby Research Center, Room 100
Phone: (928) 523-6275; cell phone 928 814 9554
Email: For all course-related matters, please use the BBLearn system.
Emergency email:
[email protected]Office Hours: Tuesday 1 to 2 PM; Thursday 1 to 2; other times by appointment; we will meet outdoors at Bilby Research
Center
Time and Location of Course: Remote delivery
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Anthropology 104 is about the career, so far, of humanity. In this course we chart the
emergence of modern humans and we review their greatest accomplishments: coping with the Ice Age, inventing
agriculture, and developing civilization. We will cover the rise and fall of some of the world’s most spectacular
civilizations and consider in some detail some of the places and people you may have heard of, but perhaps don’t yet
know a lot about: Neanderthals, Paleolithic cave art, Çatalhöyük, Jericho, Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids, Mohenjo-
daro, Great Zimbabwe, the Mesopotamia, Ur, the Indus Valley, Mohenjo Daro, Shang Dynasty, the Olmec, the Maya, the
Aztecs, Cahokia, and Chaco Canyon. Along the way we’ll explore theories about why agriculture was invented, what
constitutes a complex society, how and why complex societies rise, and why they fall. We will also learn that the legacies
of the past – inventions, technologies, philosophies, great ideas, and mistakes – contribute to the world’s cultural diversity
and continue to affect us today.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
describe the methods and goals of archaeology;
present a broad summary of human evolution;
describe the physical, intellectual, and language capabilities of modern human beings;
summarize the major trends and theories for the peopling of the world;
give a review of theories for the origins of agriculture;
offer a review of where and when agriculture emerged around the world;
create a synthesis of the major types of human societies, with a focus on the definition of complex societies;
summarize theories that explain how and why civilizations emerged;
provide a timeline for where and when complex societies have emerged;
give a review of several examples of ancient complex societies, and how they are distinct from one another;
provide selected case studies in the emergence of early and later civilizations;
offer a review of why civilizations collapse;
for various regions of the world, describe their cultural roots and specify the continuing legacies of ancient
civilizations; and
give an analysis of future problems and trends in continuing human cultural change and evolution.
COURSE STRUCTURE/APPROACH: The course meets for a 50 minute lecture three times a week on Zoom.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION: The major requirements of this course are attending all lectures,
taking careful notes (especially during slides, videos, and other visual presentations), and reading all required
materials. Evaluation of student learning will be based on quizzes, exercises, assignments, exams, and a comprehensive
final exam.
GRADING SYSTEM: Grading will be on a 90-80-70-60 percent scale, with these percentages representing the minimum
values for a grade of A, B, C, and D, respectively. Point breakdowns are as follows:
Quizzes 300
Exercises 300
Exams 200
Attendance 100
Final Exam 100
Total Points 1000
TEXTBOOK: There is one required textbook, Archaeology and Humanity’s Story: A Brief Introduction to World
Prehistory, 2nd edition, by Deborah I. Olszewski. Oxford University Press, New York, 2020.
COURSE SCHEDULE* AND READINGS
MODULE / DUE DATES LECTUR TOPICS SOURCE MATERIAL/READINGS
E
1: The Basics of 1 The Basics of Archaeology Olszewski, Chapter 1
Archaeology
Aug 12 through Aug 24
Syllabus Quiz: Aug 17
Quiz 1: Aug 24
2: A World of 2 A World of Modern Humans Olszewski, Chapter 4
Modern Humans Film: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Aug 25 through Sep 16 Website: https://www.ancient.eu/article/787/the-
meaning-of-european-upper-paleolithic-rock-art/
Quiz 2: Sep 4
Quiz 3: Sep 11
Exercise 1: Film Review, 3 Hunting, Gathering, Foraging, and Olszewski, Chapter 5
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Farming
Website:
Sep 18 https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/origins-of-
Exercise 2: Food Diary, Sep agriculture/
23
Exercise 3: Thing 1, Oct 7
3: On the Threshold 4 Stonehenge and Europe Olszewski, Chapter 6
of Political Film: Stonehenge Decoded
Complexity
Website: https://www.ancient.eu/search/?
Sep 17 through Oct 8 q=stonehenge
Quiz 4: Sep 21
Quiz 5: Oct 2 5 The North American Southwest: Olszewski, Chapter 7
Chaco Canyon
Quiz 6: Oct 7 Film: The Mystery of Chaco Canyon
Exam 1: Oct 13 Websites: https://www.solsticeproject.org/
Exercise 4: Film Review, http://www.chacoarchive.org/cra/
Stonehenge Decoded, Oct
16 6 Eastern North America: Cahokia Olszewski, Chapter 8
Exercise 5: Thing 2, Oct 23 Film: Cahokia Mounds, Ancient Metropolis
Exercise 6: Film Review Websites: https://cahokiamounds.org/
(Chaco Canyon or Cahokia),
Oct 30
4: Politically Complex 7 Early Dynastic Mesopotamia Olszewski, Chapter 9
Societies Film: Legacy: Iraq, Cradle of Civiliation
Oct 9 through Nov 18 Website: https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/about-
us/mesopotamia/online-resources-for-
Quiz 7: Oct 27
mesopotamia
Quiz 8: Nov 3
Quiz 9: Nov 13
8 Pharaonic State and Old Kingdom Olszewski, Chapter 10
Exam 2: Nov 16 Egypt
Films: Egypt, the Habit of Civilization; Egypt, Secrets
Quiz 10: Nov 18 (optional, of the Pharaohs
extra credit)
Website: https://www.ancient.eu/egypt/
Exercise 7: Film Review,
First Civilization: Episode 2
(Religion in Ancient Egypt),
9 Shang China Olszewski, Chapter 11
Nov 13
Film: China, The Mandate of Heaven
Exercise 8: Thing 3, Nov 18
(optional, extra credit) Website: https://www.ancient.eu/Shang_Dynasty/
FINAL EXAM: 10 The Indus Valley Olszewski, Chapter 12
DUE BY NOV 22 Film: India, Empire of the South
Website: https://www.harappa.com/
11 Mesoamerica and the Classic Maya Olszewski, Chapter 13
Films: Pyramids of Death, Ulama
Website:
http://www.marc.ucsb.edu/research/maya/ancient
-maya-civilization
12 Mapungabwe and Great Zimbabwe Olszewski, Chapter 15
in Africa
Website:
https://www.ancient.eu/Great_Zimbabwe/
5: Epilogue (online, 13 Epilogue Olszewski, Chapter 16
Nov 16-18)
*The lectures correspond approximately with the weeks of the semester.
COURSE POLICIES: These are some important course policies:
NO NON-CLASS RELATED USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING CLASS
DURING CLASS ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAKS AT A TIME
IF YOU LEAVE CLASS EARLY, YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL NOT COUNT UNLESS THE EXIT IS APPROVED
ATTENDANCE of all lectures is required and counts toward your grade
CAREFUL NOTES ON LECTURES AND FILMS are necessary
NO make-up exams or quizzes for anything less than a genuine and well-documented (in writing) emergency
NO assignments will be accepted late without a valid excuse (see above)
NO early final exams
NO incompletes granted for anything less than a genuine and well-documented emergency
NO TOLERANCE for academic dishonesty (for definition, see NAU Student Handbook)
Northern Arizona University Policy Statements
Safe Environment Policy NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all
individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this
university.
You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office or from the NAU’s Affirmative Action website http://home.nau.edu/diversity/. If
you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-
5181), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (928-523-3312).
Students with Disabilities If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources (DR) at 523-
8773 (voice)or 523-6906 (TTY), [email protected] (e-mail)or 928-523-8747 (fax).Students needing academic accommodations are required to register
with DR and provide required disability related documentation. Although you may request an accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best
meet your individual needs, you are urged to register and submit necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks prior to the time you wish
to receive accommodations. DR is strongly committed to the needs of student with disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or
questions related to the accessibility of programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action and
Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
Institutional Review Board Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU—including a course
project, report, or research paper—must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in
research and research-related activities.
The IRB meets monthly. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult
with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or
appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval
by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review,
or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review
as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures.
A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department’s administrative office and each college dean’s office or on their
website: http://www.research.nau.edu/vpr/IRB/index.htm. If you have questions, contact the IRB Coordinator in the Office of the Vice President
for Research at 928-523-8288 or 523-4340.
Academic Integrity The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community,
NAU’s administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the
academic integrity essential to the education process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the
basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest
manner.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend
penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in
Appendix G of NAU’s Student Handbook http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookdishonesty.htm.
Academic Contact Hour Policy The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-206, Academic Credit) states: “an
hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time…at least 15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation,
seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework is required for each unit of credit.”
The reasonable interpretation of this policy is that for every credit hour, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of two additional
hours of work per week; e.g., preparation, homework, studying.
SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS If an instructor believes it is appropriate, the syllabus should communicate to students that some course content
may be considered sensitive by some students.
“University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily involves engagement with a wide range of
information, ideas, and creative representations. In the course of college studies, students can expect to encounter—and critically appraise—
materials that may differ from and perhaps challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters
with faculty.”
