,   Dept. of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Home Page Courses Taught Human Origins Fantastic Archaeology The Celtic World The Celtic World (Honors) European Archaeology World Archaeology Archaeology of Gender (Honors) Archaeology of Gender Who Owns The Past? Arch. Professionalism Perspectives on Prehistory Heuneburg Project Research Design Reports 1999 Excavation Report 2000 Excavation Report 2002 Excavation Report Curriculum Vitae 1998 Gender Conference Public Lectures Anthropology Events AIA-Milwaukee Chapter

Human Origins This course is an introduction to the evolutionary development of humans, both physically and culturally. Major topics include the concept of evolution, biological relationships between humans and other primates, primate behavior and taxonomy, the fossil record of human evolution, and the basic methods employed by archaeologists in the study of prehistoric human biological and cultural development. The course focus is on paleoanthropology, the science which combines fossil and cultural evidence of human evolution. Fantastic Archaeology: The Curse of the Mummy Ever wonder why anyone would go into archaeology given the kind of job hazards that archaeologists seem to face? Dodging Uzi-toting bad guys, reanimated mummies, enraged Amazonian tribesmen with poison-tipped arrows and similar obstacles makes a position on Wall Street seem tame by comparison. If this job description sounds bogus, it's because the Hollywood version of archaeology and the real McCoy have only one thing in common: they make the past look like a cool place to be interested in. Real archaeologists do occasionally dodge bullets, but the bad guys are usually looters, and there's nary an extraterrestrial to be seen. Spend a semester finding out what real archaeologists do and compare the Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider versions (which have been with us a lot longer than television) to some of the awesome discoveries that are being made these days. You'll find that not only is truth stranger than fiction, but by the end of the semester you'll be able to evaluate the kinds of shows served up by the Discovery and History Channels for yourselves. The Celtic World The Celtic-speaking peoples of continental Europe and the British Isles have left us a rich archaeological, historical and mythological record. During the pre-Roman Iron Age the remains of their settlements and burial grounds can be found from Spain to the Black Sea. This course will trace the archaeological beginnings of the Celtic tradition from its late Neolithic/early Bronze Age roots to the western-most outposts of the Celtic world in the British Isles. We will explore this legacy through the archaeological, historical and literary records, with reference to sites, monuments and written texts from the Mediterranean world and the British Isles. The course will also explore the historical and political construction of the concept of "the Celts", which has become the metaphor for the emerging and contested European community. European Archaeology This course presents a survey of European prehistory through the study of archaeological remains from the Paleolithic period until the Roman conquest. Several significant themes will be emphasized and important sites from the various selected regions will be discussed, centering primarily on west-central Europe. The distribution of sites in the landscape, evidence for subsistence and production, changes in mortuary ritual through time and the way in which ideology is mapped onto material culture and the built environment are components of the way prehistoric European social evolution is interpreted. The course is intended to introduce students to the archaeological evidence for the early development of what eventually become the various nation-states of modern Europe. World Prehistory: Foundations of Civilization This course will review the origins of agriculture, urban life and state level societies. Origin theories and the archaeological evidence for changes in human economic and social organization will be discussed. The essential relationship between economy, environment and society provides the subtext for the more detailed presentation of the case studies. Readings will emphasize the Old World, but New World developments will be included for comparison. The two geographic areas in which primary states developed and have been intensively studied archaeologically are the Near East (Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley) and Mesoamerica. These regions will be the focus of the course, with some discussion of the emergence of state level societies in other areas (such as East Asia and Africa). Archaeology of Gender This course is a review of approaches to gender in anthropological and archaeological research over the past two decades. We will examine the archaeology of gender from methodological, theoretical, and historical perspectives. How can we recognize gender archaeologically? What can archaeology contribute to theoretical discussions related to gender in the social sciences and humanities? What are the political implications of gender studies? Is an "ungendered" archaeology possible? The course will focus on the interdisciplinary implications of such questions in archaeology against a backdrop of a more general examination of anthropological theories gender roles, gender ideology and gender politics. Who Owns The Past? This course examines a number of issues relating to the study, interpretation, presentation and conservation of the past which are becoming more and more important in an increasingly politicized global environment. Why preserve the past, and in what form? Should prehistoric relics be narrowly conceived or treated in the broader context of all cultural relics? How has the past been used and abused for political purposes in different historical and cultural contexts? To what extent have administrative policies and ethnocentric attitudes towards indigenous peoples alienated indigenes from anthropologists? How do museums, collections, the restitution of cultural property and the illicit traffic in relics contribute to this situation? What is being done to encourage communication between opposing interested parties in the ongoing struggle for control of the past? We will be looking at case studies from around the globe during the 19th and 20th centuries. Archaeological Professionalism This course is for students who are currently in a graduate program in archaeology or are considering entering such a program, either here at UWM or elsewhere. It is intended to provide a roadmap and survival guide for the world of professional archaeology, in its various manifestations. Whether you choose as your eventual venue to work in CRM archaeology, the museum, or the university setting, the skills you will need will include grant-writing, the presentation of research results in oral and written form, and the publication of research in the form of reports, articles, or books. This course will attempt to prepare you, through practical applications and discussion, for success in any of the three possible professional archaeological "cultures". Perspectives on Prehistory This course is designed to explore the complex interaction between method and theory in archaeological interpretation. Readings, lectures and discussions will focus on fundamental methodological concepts and theoretical issues. The four short papers will be based on selected case studies chosen to encourage problem solving and to provide an opportunity for the practical application of the principles covered in class. The goal is to motivate students to think creatively about formulating research designs, interpreting material culture patterns, thinking about sites in the context of the landscape, understanding the relationship between humans and their environment, and being aware of the ethical responsibilities of archaeological fieldwork and interpretation.

© 2003 Bettina Arnold, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Design: Homer Hruby, Last Updated: September 21, 2004