Description: Archaeological science presents principals and methods used by modern archaeologists to uncover information about past human life ways. Attention is given to techniques of survey, excavation of archaeological materials; concepts of space and time in archaeology; and detailed analysis of artifacts and organic residues. Issues in world prehistory concerning the development of agriculture, and preservation of the past will be covered. An integral laboratory component each week will focus on data analysis, conservation methods, maritime resource utilization, environmental degradation and sustainability in the Gulf of Maine. Some attention will be given to specific topics such as the archaeology of New England, Caribbean, Japan and Peru and the Isles of Shoals in the Gulf of Maine.

Description: This course examines the complex and changing relationship between communities, cultures, and the environment over time and across multiple geographic scales. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the course considers the drivers behind societal and environmental change from early hunter-gatherer and farming communities to more complex contemporary landscapes across the world. The course concludes with a focus on identifying options to build sustainable, resilient, and adaptive social-ecological systems. Cr. 3.

Description: An introduction to the archaeology and ethnohistory of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and adjacent parts of Central America, from the beginning until the sixteenth century. Primary attention will be to the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations.

Description: Africa is a vast continent rich in cultural diversity. This course will explore a variety of African people and cultures south of the Sahara. Students will read ethnographic case studies about small-scale communities that focus on interrelated issues such as music, religion, politics, economics, geography, ethnicity, and gender. The course will consider the effects of colonial periods on indigenous populations but will emphasize post-independence Africans. Students will learn to challenge negative Western representations of Africa by focusing on the power and perseverance of African people and their cultures. Cr. 3.

Description: This course takes a combined anthropological, historical, and critical approach and focuses on two case studies: 1) the Palaeolithic (Ice Age) art of Eurasia (ca. 32,400-10,000 years ago); and 2) the pre-colonial rock art of southern Africa (prior to 1652 AD). It reviews the diversity of forms and activities constituting prehistoric image making, and their numerous interpretations, including: "art for art's sake," magico-religion, structuralism, neo-evolutionary functionalism, and shamanism. It also considers the sociopolitical climate within which these theories have been proposed and identifies problematic assumptions and biases. The term "prehistoric art" is a major topic of discussion as students evaluate the relevance, appropriateness, and limitations of a western (European) definition of "art" for understanding non-Western image making.

Description: This course considers the interface between medicine and anthropology in terms of both human biology and society. The course develops concepts of health as effective adaptation to environmental stresses, including infectious disease, nutritional stress, and psychosomatic illness, among others. It traces the history of health and disease in human society from hunter-gatherers to modern urban, industrial communities, and examines the way in which human populations have attempted to deal with various agents of disease. The course examines the diversity of human theories of disease causation and explores the role of modern medicine in effective health care delivery to persons of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Prerequisite: ANT 101, 102 or permission of instructor. Cr 3.

Description: Students will be introduced to the analytical techniques that are commonly used in the archaeological study of past environments and environmental change. Topics to be covered include archaeological soils, preservation conditions, the reconstruction of past climates and landforms, and the analysis of plant and animal communities from archaeological evidence. In semesters when this course carries more than three credits, requirements will include a substantial research project. Prerequisite: ANT 103 or GYA 300 or permission of instructor. Cr 3-6.

Description: The aim of this course is to understand the global and local aspects of the social, cultural, economic, and political development processes in nations and societies of the Global South. It will highlight how social scientists approach the complex issues involved in international development. The first part of the course will cover mainstream international development theory whereby we will analyze basic assumptions underlying competing economic and social theories of international development. The second part of the course will explore the environmental and social dimensions of development often overlooked by mainstream international development theory and practice. In relation to the environment, we will focus on issues of environmental degradation and sustainability. Course materials will cover global trends in climate change, but we will focus on case studies to elucidate sustainable development issues. Under social aspects of development, we will investigate contemporary trends that emphasize local ownership and participation. Among other topics, this section will look at the role of NGOs and gender development of the Global South.