This course is an introductory course,  intended for non-anthropology majors, although anthropology majors may take the course for credit.  The course is also appropriate for non-matriculated students who simply wish to learn something about popular issues in archaeology.   Anthro 125 counts as a Global Interdependencies course (G) in the Undergraduate General Education program at Binghamton University or as a Social Science course (N).  It counts towards the requirements for social science division course work in Harpur College. This course counts as a W course to help fulfill the Harpur College writing requirement.

Attendance: The course will be taught with a combination of lectures and discussion sections.  The lectures will make frequent use of slides and we will see several movies during the semester.  All students are required to attend two, one and a half hour lectures a week in the lecture hall and once a week you will attend a discussion section led by a Teaching Assistant (TA). You must have an excused absence to miss a discussion section. If you miss class more than twice you must present your TA with proof of your excuse or we will deduct 5 points from your grade for the third and each subsequent absence you cannot prove.

If you are not clear on which discussion session you should attend, please talk to the instructor or one of the TAs immediately.  In discussion sessions, you will talk about what has been covered in class and new material will be introduced.   Discussion sessions are a mandatory and integral part of the course and it will not be possible to pass the course without attending them.  You are expected to attend all lecture and discussion session meetings. 

Assessment: The requirements for the course include work both in the lecture and the discussion sessions. There will be three exams given in the lecture, one at the end of each section of the course.  The last of these sectional exams will be given in the university scheduled final exam period.  This last exam will not be comprehensive and will only cover the third section of the course.  These exams will consist of two parts.  The first part will be a short take home essay that you will be given in the discussion section meeting before the exam.  On the day of the exam you will turn in the take home essay and you will sit for a substantive exam.  This in class exam will include multiple choice questions, and short answer questions.  In your discussion sections, you will do a series of five exercises that combined should equal the effort involved in a 10 to 15  page research paper.  These exercises have been concentrated in the first half of the semester because we have found that students generally have less time for such assignments in the later half of the semester.  The exercises (85 points) and your participation in the discussion sections (15 points) will count 100 points towards your final grade and each of the exams will also count 100 points for a total of 400 points. 

A   =  93% +                                        
A- =  90% - 92%                                
B+ = 87% - 89%                                 
B  = 83% - 86%                                  
B- = 80% - 82%                                  
C+ = 77% - 79%                                 
C   = 73% - 76%                                 
C- = 70% - 72%
D = 60% - 69%

F = 60%

Four Credit Statement: This course is a 4-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled lectures/discussions, students are expected to do at least 9.5 hours of course-related work each week during the semester. This includes things like: completing assigned readings, participating in discussion sessions, studying for tests and examinations, preparing written assignments, and other tasks that must be completed to earn credit in the course.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The learning objectives for Buried Cities and Lost Tribes address both the goals of the General Education Global Interdependencies requirement (G) and the Learning Outcomes of the Department of Anthropology undergraduate curriculum.

G courses must focus on how one or more of the regions of the world have influenced and interacted with the West and with one another, and how the West has affected and been affected by the distinctive cultures and civilizations of the world, either in the course of world history as a whole or the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc., of one or more non-Western civilizations.  After completing this course students will be able to:

• Define heritage and discuss how Western Civilization has used heritage to define itself in opposition to other world civilizations.
• Discuss the origin and history of foundational aspects of Western Civilization including gender relations, literacy, society, art, agriculture, and religion. 
• Identify the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy, and society of several non-Western Civilizations. 
• Compare and contrast the development of Western Civilization and the use of heritage in Western Civilization with the development and use of heritage in other civilizations.

In order to help meet the goals of the Department of Anthropology Undergraduate curriculum, after completing this course students will:

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills by critically evaluating concepts of heritage and Western Civilization.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of archaeological method and theory.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of world prehistory.
• Demonstrate improved clarity in the writing of short essays and descriptions.

All students are expected to read and comply with the Binghamton University Academic Honesty Policy. Any students caught in violation of this policy will be assigned an "F" in the course and subject to futher penalties as perscribed in the policy .  Please do not engage in these activities.  The correct answer on a multiple choice question or a free ride on an assignment is not worth being suspended or expelled from the university.  If you have any doubts on what plagiarism is, talk to your TA or the instructor and review the definition of plagiarism in the Honesty Policy. You will submit all written work to Turnitin.   We expect all students to comport themselves in a professional manner in this class and exhibit respect for both the instructors and their fellow students at all times.  During class students are only allowed to use cell phones, other personal electronic devices or portable computers to take notes. No other use of devices is allowed. A frequent problem in large lecture courses is talking during the lecture.  If I have to interrupt my lecture to tell someone to quiet down, you will be asked to leave the class.

(Cartoon by Gary Larson)

A FINAL COMMENT