THE SCIENCE OF THE HUMAN PAST

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Lower-Level

This course introduces students to scientific methods that archaeologists use to reconstruct past human lives. Students will explore not only how each method works, but the strengths and weaknesses of each approach when trying to interpret what happened in the past. Emphasis will be placed on gaps and biases in the archaeological record, and the need for multiple lines of evidence to make inferences about human behavior. The course includes analysis of the organic record (e.g., plant and animal remains), the inorganic record (e.g., stone, glass, clay, and metal artifacts), remote sensing techniques for site discovery, and how archaeologists apply artificial intelligence to large datasets. Throughout the course, students will engage with ethical questions surrounding scientific approaches to human cultural and biological heritage.