ARCHAEOLOGY OF AFRICA

ANT 4930

Spring 2004

Place: Davis Hall 224 -  Tuesday - 6:00 - 8:50

Email: arthurj@stpt.usf.edu

Office: Davis Hall 270

Phone: (727)553-4960

Office Hours: Monday 10-11 am, Wedneday 9-11 am, or by appointment

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/arthurj

Material not on the outline but presented in class may appear on the exam and you will be responsible for it. You also should take notes during class discussions and on the posted question sheet for films. All material from lectures, discussions, films, and readings is potential material to be included on the exam.

In addition, proper classroom etiquette requires that you abstain from talking, reading, or leaving the class early (without first notifying me before class). It is very distracting to other students and to the professor.

Readings should be completed before class on the day assigned on the syllabus below.

African Archaeology, 2002, David W. Phillipson, 2nd Edition, Cambridge Press.

African Civilizations, 2001, Graham Connah, 2nd Edition, Cambridge Press.

Articles:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

African Archaeology is a general introductory survey course to diverse world of African prehistory. The course will focus on two main goals: (1) to understand the development of human evolution in Africa; (2) to explore the development of African indigenous food production; and (3) to demonstrate that Africa developed indigenous complex societies. The course will start with the earliest hominids found in Africa and eventually end up discussing the vast array of complex societies before the age of colonialism. The goal of the course is to demonstrate the complex and long trajectory of African prehistory and show that the African past contained a diverse set of people and cultures. 

During the semester, there will be three non-cumulative EXAMS (100 points each) covering material from lectures, assigned readings, discussions, and films presented in class. 

Format: Each exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice questions (approximately 15-25 questions) and short essay questions.

Make-up Policy - Except for medical reasons or official university business, there will be no late exams. All make-up exams will be essay exams.

MAP QUIZ

There will be one map quiz focusing on the current geo-political countries of Africa. You must have 5 or less incorrect responses or you will be required to take the quiz again before the 1st exam. If you do not take the exam or fail to achieve 5 or less incorrect responses before the 1st exam, you will forfeit 15 points from your total number of 300 points for the course. 

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html

GRADING

1. Your grade will be based on the average of your three non-cumulative exams (95 points each) and the map quiz (15 points). Hence, to determine your grade I will divide your four scores (up to 300 points) by 3 for your average. If at the end of the semester the class average is below 75, I will curve the final grade. I will not curve each exam individually.

2. Class participation and discussion is mandatory. I will deduct 10 points from your final grade if you do not attend class and do not participate in class discussions.

Extra Credit

One question (worth 3 points) will be given on each of the two tests for a total of 6 points counting toward extra credit. In addition, throughout the semester the Anthropology Club will have guest lecturers come to campus and give talks. If you attend a talk and write a one page summary of the lecture, I will give you 3 points for each lecture attended. Extra credit points will count toward each individual exam grade and averaged as such. They will NOT be added on to your final course grade.

Grades without a curve will be assigned according to the following scale and grades: A 100-90, B+ 89-85, B 84-80, C+ 79-75, C 74-70, D+ 69-65, D 64-60, and E below 60.

                               COURSE OUTLINE