Exploring Lifeways of the Past Archaeology Exploring Lifeways of the Past

Classical Archaeology Prehistoric Archaeology Historical Archaeology Introduction to Archaeology provides a survey of the basic methods, theory and research of scientific archaeology. Human cultures and behaviors are identified and interpreted from material remains of over 2.5 million years of the human past. Students learn how anthropologists build cultural history from artifacts and material evidence of human activity, reconstruct past lifeways, and explain similarities and differences of human cultures. Classical Archaeology Prehistoric Archaeology Historical Archaeology Popular Myths: Indiana Jones, Laura Croft

Classical Archaeology Greek Parthenon Egyptian Pyramid and Sphinx

PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY: “DEEP TIME” PREHISTORY in the US PREHISTORY in the Rest of the World

LIVING OFF THE LAND: Lore and Legends Knowledge of Resources Nomadic? FORAGING LIVING OFF THE LAND: Lore and Legends Knowledge of Resources Nomadic?

IMPLEMENTS:STICKS and ROCKS Objects Found in Nature: FLINT and OBSIDIAN Bone WOOD: for Digging Sticks, Shafts & Spears BASALT & GRANITE: Axes, Hammers, Grinding Stone HIDE: Clothing, Bags, Bindings, Cover PLANT FIBER: Clothing, Bindings & Ties TARS/OCRES: Adhesives, Decorations

NUTRITION MEAT: Big Game, Small Game VEGETATION: Plant parts: Leaves, Stems, Fruits and Flowers PLANT & ANIMAL FLUIDS: Tanning, Medicines, Nutrients MINERALS: Salt, Clays, Tars (Petroleum)

PALEOARCHAEOLOGY Human Origins Material Culture Behaviors

TEXAS FORAGERS

HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY Material Remains, Historical Records and the Lifeways of People Critical Analysis of Power and Wealth Distribution

MESOAMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY Olmec Maya Aztec

Scientific Methods Observe Explain Predict Test Inductive Logic Deductive Logic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntikaU

Logico-Deductive Method if A…, then B Testable Hypotheses: specific predictions from observations (Inductive Logic) Deductions (If the explanation is true, then…) Objective tests, must be reproducible Evaluation, test again if necessary Conclusion Theories: Generalized Predictive Models

Strong vs. Weak Inductive Reasoning A is to B, as B is to C, therefore A=B,C Strong vs. Weak Inductive Reasoning Strong Induction: If all premises are true, the conclusion is likely to be true. Weak Induction: Even if all premises are true, other possibilities are equally likely. Increased similarity in propositional cases strengthens the argument

Scientistic vs. Scientific Sir Bedevere: There are ways of telling whether she is a witch. Peasant 1: Are there? Oh well, tell us. Sir Bedevere: Tell me. What do you do with witches? Peasant 1: Burn them. Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn, apart from witches? Peasant 1: More witches. Peasant 2: Wood. Sir Bedevere: Good. Now, why do witches burn? Peasant 3: ...because they're made of... wood? Sir Bedevere: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood? Peasant 1: Build a bridge out of her. Sir Bedevere: But can you not also build bridges out of stone? Peasant 1: Oh yeah. Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water? Peasant 1: No, no, it floats!... It floats! Throw her into the pond! Sir Bedevere: No, no. What else floats in water? Peasant 1: Bread. Peasant 2: Apples. Peasant 3: Very small rocks. Peasant 1: Cider. Peasant 2: Gravy. Peasant 3: Cherries. Peasant 1: Mud. Peasant 2: Churches. Peasant 3: Lead! Lead! King Arthur: A Duck. Sir Bedevere: ...Exactly. So, logically... Peasant 1: If she weighed the same as a duck... she's made of wood. Sir Bedevere: And therefore... Peasant 2: ...A witch! Sir Galahad: What a strange person. Excerpted from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, © 1975