ANT 4168: Maya Civilization

This course provides an overview of the archaeology of Maya civilization, the ancestors of contemporary Maya people who have historically inhabited the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico and Central America. The Maya are famous for their ancient cities, pyramids, sculpted and painted art, and their ecological setting in the dense tropical rainforests of southern Mesoamerica. This course will contextualize this popular perception of the Maya with archaeological understandings of the origins of Maya civilization by the 2nd millennium BCE through the Classic period (250–900 CE), the Spanish Conquest, and the present day. Of note, the Maya developed a detailed writing system recording their own histories, which can be interpreted alongside the archaeological record. In addition to tracing the history of Maya civilization, this course will cover topics including political organization, economy, religion, agriculture, ecology, daily life, gender, as well as the use of new technologies, including laser scanning, to document and map Maya landscapes.

Syllabus

ANG 6930: Archaeological Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is the collection and analysis of spatial data through the observation and scanning of large areas from a distance. The applications of remote sensing in archaeology are extensive, including site and feature prospection, mapping, topographic analysis, hydrological analysis, 3D modeling, subsurface imaging, vegetation, soil classification, among others. This course discusses the history and theory of the use of remote sensing in archaeology. The class will explore the use and analysis of remote sensing datasets from aerial photography, satellite imagery, laser scanning, radar, and thermal sensors to interpret archaeological sites, landscapes, land cover change, land use, and other archaeological and environmental applications. In addition to assessing case studies of remote sensing applications in archaeology, students will learn how to collect, preprocess, process, visualize, and analyze data. The course will also address ethical considerations in conducting remote sensing research.

ANT 2149: Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents: Pseudoarchaeology and Why It Matters

This course examines claims, popularized in the media, that mysterious archaeological sites, statues, etc. were influenced by outer space visitors. Case studies to be discussed include Stonehenge, various pyramids, Easter Island, Atlantis and Mu, the Nazca Lines, and other archaeological “mysteries.” Emphasis will be placed on understanding how and why pseudoscientific beliefs proliferate, and on understanding the real archaeological histories of ancient peoples.