Archaeology Courses
Department of Archaeology | Faculty of Environment
間眅埶AV Calendar 2012 Spring
The following are all the courses offered in this area. To view the current course catalog and/or course schedule on the Student Information System, visit (select "Class Search/Course Schedule" on the left menu).
ARCH 100-3 Ancient Peoples and Places
A broad survey of human cultural development from the late Palaeolithic/PalaeoIndian periods (ca 40,000 BP) to the rise of civilization and empires, in both the Old and New Worlds. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 131-3 Human Origins
A non-technical survey of the primate background of humans, fossil primates, and fossil humans, and the associated evidence of cultural development. An introduction to physical anthropology. Breadth-Social Sciences/Science.
ARCH 200-3 Special Topics in World Prehistory
Non-specialized introductory summaries of selected regional topics in world prehistory. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 201-3 Introduction to Archaeology
A survey of methods used by archaeologists to discover and interpret the past. Examples will be drawn from selected sites and cultures around the world. Students who have taken ARCH 101 may not enrol in ARCH 201. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 223-3 The Prehistory of Canada
A summary review of the pre-contact native cultures of Canada, from their beginnings to the arrival of Europeans, as revealed by archaeology. Lectures focus on how and when the first humans appeared in the land now known as Canada, and how their cultures changed over time, organized in terms of eight 'archaeological regions,' beginning with the Atlantic coast and then moving west and north. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 226-3 The Prehistory of Religion: Shamans, Sorcerers and Saints
Charts the emergence and changes in the expression of human religious behavior. It covers the earliest rituals of the Palaeolithic, the importance of fertility cults, ancestor cults, alliance rituals, shamans, witchcraft, and monotheism. Prerequisite: any lower division archaeology or anthropology course. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.
ARCH 252-3 Ancient Egypt and Africa
Exploration of the major cultural developments in Africa from the origin of humankind to the rise of several ancient civilizations, with special emphasis on ancient Egypt. Students are exposed to various approaches taken by palaeoanthropologists, prehistoric archaeologists, historians and Egyptologists. Prerequisite: Students who have taken ARCH 200 under this title may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities/Social Science.
ARCH 272-3 Archaeology of the Old World
A survey of the major centres of Old World cultural development from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. Basic concepts used in reconstructing prehistoric cultures, and the artifactual and contextual evidence for the development of culture. Prerequisite: ARCH 100 or 201. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 273-3 Archaeology of the New World
A survey of prehistoric cultures of North and South America. The peopling of the New World, the rise of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico and Peru, and the cultural adaptations by prehistoric populations to other parts of the New World. Prerequisite: ARCH 100 or 201. Breadth-Social Sciences.
ARCH 301-3 Ancient Visual Art
A selection of major art traditions from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Mesoamerica and South America is explored. Issues of intellectual property rights, copyright and the use of ancient art in contemporary contexts are also addressed. Breadth-Humanities. Breadth-Humanities
ARCH 321-3 Select Regions in World Archaeology I
An overview of culture history and methodological/theoretical issues for a specific region of the world. Prerequisite: ARCH 272 or 273.
ARCH 322-3 Special Topics in Biological Anthropology
Select topics relating to biological anthropology. Prerequisite: ARCH 131.
ARCH 329-3 Special Topics in Environmental Archaeology
Select topics relating to environmental archaeology. Prerequisite: ARCH 201.
ARCH 331-3 Select Regions in World Archaeology II
An overview of culture history and methodological/theoretical issues for a specific region of the world. Prerequisite: ARCH 272 or 273.
ARCH 332-3 Special Topics in Archaeology I
This course will be offered from time to time to meet special needs of students and to make use of specializations of visiting faculty members. Prerequisite: to be announced.
ARCH 333-3 Special Topics in Archaeology II
This course will be offered from time to time to meet special needs of students and to make use of specializations of visiting faculty members. Prerequisite: to be announced.
ARCH 340-5 Zooarchaeology
An introduction to the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. Coverage of the major concepts and methods used in the study of animal remains and detailed practical coverage of the vertebrate skeleton. Prerequisite: ARCH 201.
ARCH 344-3 Primate Behaviour
The evolution of the primate order and the ecology and behavior characterizing the different grades of primates: prosimians, monkeys, and apes. Current trends in interpreting primate behavior are emphasized. Prerequisite: ARCH 131 or any lower division biology course.
ARCH 348-5 Archaeological Conservation
An introduction to archaeological conservation, the processes affecting the condition of archaeological materials prior to excavation, during excavation, during analysis, exhibition and during reposition. Successful completion of this course will give archaeologists a good understanding of the various materials they encounter during excavation and how to preserve these artifacts and other materials. It will not qualify students to be professional archaeological conservators. Prerequisite: six units in Archaeology, including ARCH 201. Students who have taken ARCH 335-5 Special Topics in Archaeology: Archaeological Conservation may not take ARCH 348-5 for further credit.
ARCH 349-5 Management of Archaeological Collections
The philosophy, policies and practices of the care of archaeological collections. This lecture and laboratory course treats the practical problems of designing museum programs within a framework of legal responsibilities for collections. Contemporary issues such as repatriation will be discussed. Prerequisite: three 200 division archaeology courses.
ARCH 350-3 Practicum I
First term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an 間眅埶AV degree. Prerequisite: normally 45 units with a CGPA of 3.0 and the following courses are recommended: both ARCH 131 and 201; either ARCH 272 or 273; and three of ARCH 372, 373, 376, 377, 386, 442.
ARCH 351-3 Practicum II
Second term of work experience in the Archaeology Co-operative Education Program. Units for this course do not count towards the units required for an 間眅埶AV degree. Prerequisite: normally 45 units with a CGPA of 3.0 and ARCH 350.
ARCH 365-3 Ecological Archaeology
Deals with the techniques for reconstruction of past environments, as well as the effect of environment on past settlements and people. Environment as considered in the course will encompass the presence of other settlements, and deal with relationships among settlements. Prerequisite: ARCH 201.
ARCH 372-5 Material Culture Analysis
Analysis and interpretation of archaeological material culture. This lecture and laboratory course combines the practical problems of recognition and interpretation of archaeological specimens, typology, seriation, and statistical procedures with the basic principles of archaeological theory. Prerequisite: ARCH 201.
ARCH 373-5 Human Osteology
A detailed study of the human skeleton with emphasis on lab and field techniques. Prerequisite: ARCH 131.
ARCH 376-5 Quantitative Methods in Archaeology
Theory, method, and operation of the application of statistical techniques to the description, classification, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological data. Prerequisite: ARCH 201, and either STAT 203 (formerly 103) or PSYC 210. Quantitative.
ARCH 377-5 Historical Archaeology
An introduction to theory and method in North American historical archaeology. Laboratory instruction is provided in historic artifact analysis and interpretation. Prerequisite: ARCH 201 and one lower division ARCH course.
ARCH 378-3 Pacific Northwest North America
The prehistory and cultural traditions of the region. The content, antecedents, relationships, and changes in these cultures through time. Technological, socio-economic, and environmental factors in culture growth. Prerequisite: ARCH 273.
ARCH 383-3 Molecular Bioarchaeology
9Introduces molecular biology techniques used to analyze DNA to address archaeological questions and applications to degraded DNA samples for forensic identification of human remains and conservation of endangered species. Prerequisite: ARCH 131 or 201. Students who have taken ARCH 334 or 335 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
ARCH 385-5 Paleoanthropology
The relationship between culture and biology in prehistoric human evolution. The recognition and critical evaluation of the significance of the similarities and differences among fossil human types. Prerequisite: ARCH 131 and 272.
ARCH 386-3 Archaeological Resource Management
Surveys the origins, implementations, and need for archaeological heritage legislation on an international and national scale. Topical issues associated with contract archaeology, public archaeology, native heritage, and avocational societies are incorporated. Prerequisite: ARCH 201.
ARCH 390-5 Archaeobotany
An introduction to the recovery and analysis of macroscopic archaeological plant remains. The major methodological and interpretive issues in archaeobotany will be covered, with an emphasis on plant domestication in selected regions of the world. Prerequisite: ARCH 201 and either 272 or 273.
ARCH 432-5 Advanced Physical Anthropology
An intensive investigation of the theory and problem areas in physical anthropology. Prerequisite: ARCH 373 and either 344 or 385.
ARCH 433-3 Background to Field Work
A general background to field work including discussions of ethnographic and archaeological contexts for field research, project research design, field safety, field camp living, and related topics. Prerequisite: Normally taken concurrently with ARCH 434 and 435. ARCH 131 and 201, at least one Group I course, permission of the Department.
ARCH 434-3 Archaeological Field Methods
A series of exercises in which the student must demonstrate the ability to apply the various recording and mapping skills covered in the course. The graded exercises are done individually and in teams, both on-campus and in the field. Prerequisite: Normally taken concurrently with ARCH 433 and 435. ARCH 131 and 201, at least one Group I course, permission of the department.
ARCH 435-6 Field Work Practicum
A practical application of the background knowledge and specific techniques of ARCH 433 and 434. It takes place in a research oriented field excavation. Evaluation of student performance is based upon assessments of efficiency and accuracy of excavation techniques/recording procedures, and upon the student's overall contribution to the smooth functioning of the team. Prerequisite: normally taken concurrently with ARCH 433 and 434; ARCH 131 and 201; one group I course; permission of the department.
ARCH 438-5 Geoarchaeology
This course introduces the concept of archaeological sites as active constituents in natural Quaternary land-forming and land-altering systems. Lectures will focus on all processes which may have contributed to the present geomorphological contexts of archaeological sites and their sedimentary and pedological contents. Prerequisite: ARCH 201 and either 272 or 273.
ARCH 442-5 Forensic Anthropology
Current techniques in identification of recent human skeletal remains. Prerequisite: ARCH 373.
ARCH 452-5 Introduction to Paleopathology
Introduces the study of ancient and historic diseases in humans and animals as expressed in bones, teeth, mummified remains, art, and historical documents. Provides an essential foundation for differential diagnosis in skeletal biology and forensic osteology. Prerequisite: ARCH 373. Students who have taken ARCH 332 or 335 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
ARCH 471W-5 Archaeological Theory
The cultural, evolutionary, physical, and distributional principles which underlie the prediction and reconstruction of the past. Prerequisite: ARCH 131, 201, 272 and 273. Writing.
ARCH 479-3 Directed Readings
Directed readings for upper level students who desire to study selected topics in depth. Prerequisite: permission of the department.
ARCH 480-5 Directed Laboratory/Library/Field Research
A course in which students can undertake specific laboratory, library or field based research supervised by a faculty member. It is open to students from other departments. Prerequisite: permission of the department.
ARCH 485-5 Lithic Technology
An in-depth study of how to manufacture and analyze stone tools. Includes rock and mineral identification, stone working by students, fracture mechanics, and relevance to theoretical problems. Prerequisite: ARCH 372.
ARCH 498-5 Honors Reading
Directed readings in a selected field of study under the direction of a faculty member. Papers will be required. Prerequisite: permission of the department.
ARCH 499-5 Honors Thesis
An honors thesis of some ten to fifteen thousand words will be written under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: permission of the department.
ARCH 871-5 Archaeological Theory
Critical evaluation of new approaches to the study of the human past.
ARCH 872-0 Graduate Seminar in Archaeology and Prehistory
A seminar on selected problems in archaeological science and prehistory. Grading will be restricted to satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U).
ARCH 873-2 Graduate Seminar in Archaeology and Prehistory
A seminar on selected problems in archaeological science and prehistory. Students may take ARCH 873 for credit once in the graduate program.
ARCH 876-5 Research Design
Seminar focusing on the development of thesis research design and data analysis.
ARCH 892-5 Directed Readings in Prehistory
Directed readings under the supervision of a faculty member in the prehistory of any selected region of the world.
ARCH 893-3 Directed Readings
Intensive readings under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of interest related to the student's program.
ARCH 894-3 Special Topics
This course will be offered from time to time to meet special needs of students and make use of specialization of visiting faculty members.
ARCH 895-5 Special Topics
This course will be offered from time to time to meet special needs of students and to make use of specialization of visiting faculty members.
ARCH 896-5 Directed Laboratory/Library/Field Research
Directed laboratory, library or field research under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of interest related to the student's program.