This course serves as an introduction to the discipline of American archaeology. It is divided into three sections. Section one focuses on the fundamentals of archaeology. This will include defining the discipline and locating it within academic and non-‐academic communities. We will also discuss the history of the discipline, and go over the process of archaeological research in this section. Section two addresses interpretation in archaeology. We will discuss theoretical paradigms that have shaped archaeological practice and discourse, and explore different interpretive aids employed by archaeologists. We will also discuss ethics in archaeology. Section three focuses on major events in human history. These topics will range from the development of modern cognition, the agricultural and industrial revolutions, social complexity, and the movement of people and material culture across the landscape.
