Goals and Themes:

Two subdisciplines of Anthropology are conjoined in this course to provide a comprehensive introduction to the prehistory of humans. The first part of the course will establish the differences between archaeology and pseudo-archaeology. Once an archaeological groundwork has been laid, the subject of palaeoarchaeology will be introduced and examined in detail; palaeoarchaeology combines physical anthropology and archaeology in the study of human evolution. Finally, the course will resolve itself by concentrating on the development of human behavioral and societal complexity, as expressed in the archaeological record. Within this format, the student will be briefly exposed to the tenets of physical anthropology as well as to a wider understanding of the principles of archaeological interpretation as they relate to human prehistory through the rise of urbanization.

Required Texts:

Diamond, Jared
1999 Guns, Germs, and Steel, W.W. Norton & Company, New York.

Fagan, Brian M.
2005 World Prehistory: A Brief Introduction, 6th Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Price, T. Douglas and Gitte Gebauer
2002 Adventures in Fugawiland: A Computer Simulation in Archaeology, 3rd Edition, McGraw Hill, Boston.

Login and Password Information:

To access the "Student List" or "Class Login" portions of this course, students must follow UCF's log-in and password conventions. Standard web-based course protocols should be used for this course.

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in any form. Violations of student academic behavior standards are outlined in The Golden Rule, the University of Central Florida's Student Handbook. See http://www.ucf.edu/goldenrule/ for further details.

Important Fall 2006 Academic Dates & Deadlines:

Fall Classes Begin August 21

Late Registration and Add/Drop August 21-August 25

Grade Forgiveness Deadline August 25

Fees Due: Last Day for a Full Refund August 25

Withdrawal Deadline October 13

Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete December 2

Final Examination Period December 6-11

Grades Due in Register's Office December 13

Commencement December 11-12