2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences56:Archaeology & Biological Anthropology
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- James Frances Loftus
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S447
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course introduces the interdisciplinary study of Archaeology and Biological Anthropology. With a specific focus on practical applications and case studies for graduate students, this course seeks to connect basic knowledge of the human past and modern implications. Through in-class activities and individual/group projects, students will study how human culture and biology has evolved over thousands of years, culminating with projections of the future of humanity. How have humans adapted to their environment? What can we learn from our past? What is the future of these disciplines and humanity? What’s the necessity of understanding our past?
Course description and aims
1. To familiarize students with the key pillars of Archaeological and Biological Anthropological practice
2. To encourage students to think broadly about the usefulness of the fields in modern society
3. To develop a holistic understanding of human history and its future from an Archaeological & Biological perspective
Keywords
Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Material Culture, Biological, Cultural Adaptation and Evolution
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
1) Students are required to submit a comment paper with short questions or interests regarding the contents of the lecture. Discussion related to those questions will be conducted in the following class.
2) Due to the nature of the class contents, photos or discussions which some students may find upsetting will be utilized (human skeletons, human evolution, death, photos of diseases, etc.).
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is Archaeology & Biological Anthropology? | Understand the following: • Definition and scope of the disciplines • Archaeological & Biological Anthropological methods • Necessity of the fields |
| Class 2 | What is a “human”? | Understand the following: • Evolutionary trends in hominins • Earliest archaeological examples of anatomically modern humans • What is human “adaptation”? |
| Class 3 | Ancient Migrations & Cultural Evolution | Understand the following: • How and why do humans migrate? • What potential paths did we take in the past? • How did our bodies and culture change? |
| Class 4 | War, Disease, Death and Rebirth | Consider the following: • How has humanity adapted to difficult times? • How did we bury our dead? • What did death and rebirth look like in the past? |
| Class 5 | Methods and Practice in the Field | Understand the following: • What do Archaeologists and Biological Anthropologists actually do? • Fieldwork methods • What does a typical day of excavation look like? |
| Class 6 | Archaeology and Biological Anthropology in the Modern World | Discuss the following: • The future of the fields • Ethical considerations in research |
| Class 7 | Final Project and Review | • Final project presentations • Course review and discussion |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course materials.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference materials for the next class to be distributed in print form during the class
Evaluation methods and criteria
Class engagement (in-class comment paper): 25%, Short report: 25% (12.5% x 2), Final Presentation: 50%
Related courses
- LAH.T116 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology A
- LAH.T215 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology B
- LAH.T319 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology C
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
loftus[at]ila.titech.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment
Other
There is a possibility that the class schedule may change