World Prehistory. Introduction: Archaeology, Paleontology, and Geology

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1 World Prehistory Introduction: Archaeology, Paleontology, and Geology

2 Geology Geological eras keyed to earth s geological, climatological, and astronomical history Relevant eras for this course: Pleistocene: 1.75 mya to 12,000 years ago Holocene: 12,000 years ago until now

3 Hominin evolution occurs beginning in the Pliocene era, preceding the Pleistocene. Trick question: when does hominin evolution end? Serendipity, sequence of discovery, and scientific knowledge From an archaeological perspective, which hominid species do we begin with? How do we know? Paleontology and Paleoanthropology

Archaeology What counts as archaeology? What does it tell you? What are the constraints? Dating Association Behavior Relative v. Absolute Whose behavior?

4 Archaeology What counts as archaeology? What does it tell you? What are the constraints? Dating Association Behavior Relative v. Absolute Whose behavior? How do you know? The study of the material remains of human behavior What do you want to know? What goes with what? Why? How do you know? What does it mean?

5 Archaeology as Inferential Science What can you observe? What can you infer? Why do you want to know what you want to know? How does that change depending on who/when/where you re talking about?

6 Archaeology and Evolution Biological evolution: Darwinian theory merges with modern genetics, cladistics, and paleoanthropology Renewed interest in recent years as paleoenvironmental reconstruction data become more complete Will get more emphasis in the first half of course Social/Cultural Evolution: 19 th c. savagery-barbarismcivilization rejected, ca. 1920s Bands-Tribes-Chiefdoms- States developed by ethnographers, 1940s CAUTION: works (sort of) to classify societies. Does NOT work to describe societies changing over time More in second half of course

7 Critical Question: Is Evolution Progressive? (and if so, which kind?)

8 Humans and the Environment Short-term vs. long term patterns Localized vs. more universal patterns Radically enhanced by new developments in paleoenvironmental reconstruction Recent interest in human responses to environmental change Cultural Ecology

9 Humans as agents of change People do things on purpose This may not always be optimally adaptive Symbols and Cognition textbook section symbols aren t just personal; they have meaning in some social, political, or economic context Agency Theory

10 Change Over Time Innovation Diffusion Emulation Migration Cyclical vs. linear patterns Demographic Growth

11 Processual Archaeology 1960s Strong emphasis on causal determinism Strong emphasis on environment as determining factor Noise-out scientific models Incredible elaboration of methods, technologies, and scientific modeling Ethnoarchaeology Experimental Archaeology

12 Post-processual Archaeology 1980s Noise-in scientific models Strong emphasis on human agency Strong emphasis on diversity and complexity within and between societies Highlighting ethical concerns in archaeology, archaeology in society, who owns the past? Linkages to heritage and cultural resource management practices, worldwide

13 Today s Archaeology: A Family Album The impact of the global heritage industry Today s issues: climate change, social complexity, the nature of humanity Vast new sources of data A renewed sense of commitment to the future: not who owns the past?, but what do we all owe to the future?

Correlation of Neighborhood Map Machine to Grade 1 Ontario Social Studies Curriculum

Correlation of Neighborhood Map Machine to Grade 1 Ontario Social Studies Curriculum Correlation of to Grade 1 Ontario Curriculum Related Concepts of Strand A. Heritage and Identity: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities A1. describe some of the ways in which Continuity and people s