2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses

Archaeology & Biological Anthropology C

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 Mon (M-156(H1103)) / 5-6 Thu (M-156(H1103))
Class: -
Course Code: LAH.T319
Number of credits: 200
Course offered: 2025
Offered quarter: 3Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 19, 2025
Language: English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course is designed to immerse students in the practical aspects of archaeological fieldwork and public engagement. Through a combination of theoretical discussions, hands-on experiences, and critical reflections, students will gain insights into the methodologies, ethical considerations, and challenges inherent in conducting archaeological research in diverse cultural and environmental contexts.

Course description and aims

1.　To engage students in debate regarding archaeological ethics in modern fieldwork
2.　To learn about important archaeological sites and museums around the world
3.　To learn problem-solving techniques when in the field

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

The instructor has participated in numerous archaeological excavations and has extensive experience in digitizing important material cultural heritage to preserve the past for future generations.
This course integrates real-world case studies from the instructor’s fieldwork, providing students with tangible examples that directly connect course content to practical archaeological scenarios.

Keywords

Fieldwork Methods, Archaeology, Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Research Ethics

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	Human Evolution and Biological/ Cultural Adaptations	Understand the following: •　Evolutionary trends in hominins •　Earliest archaeological examples of anatomically modern humans
Class 3	A World of Homo Sapiens	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? •　What is human “adaptation”?
Class 4	Sites & Museums of the World (1)	Understand the following: •　Site Overview •　Importance of the site •　Online Tour / Museum Exhibition
Class 5	Sites & Museums of the World (2)	Understand the following: •　Site Overview •　Importance of the site •　Online Tour / Museum Exhibition
Class 6	Excavation & Ethnographic-based Fieldwork (1)	Understand the following: •　Fieldwork Planning •　Participant observation, interviews, and other ethnographic methods •　Cultural sensitivity and privacy
Class 7	Excavation & Ethnographic-based Fieldwork (2)	Understand the following: •　What are excavations? •　Techniques and tools used in archaeological excavations
Class 8	Ethics in Fieldwork	Discuss the following: •　Consent, confidentiality, and respect for local communities •　How to navigate conflicting interests?
Class 9	Designing a Fieldwork Plan	Understand the following: •　Creating a mock fieldwork plan
Class 10	Museums and Archaeology	Understand the following: •　How museums work •　How are museum exhibitions made? •　Why are museums important?
Class 11	Science Tokyo Museum	Understand the following: •　What is the history of Science Tokyo? •　What archaeological goods were under Science Tokyo? •　Field-trip to Science Tokyo Museum
Class 12	Final Project Preparation & Q&A Session	Conduct the following: •　Group discussion •　Choose final project themes
Class 13	Sites & Museums of the World (3)	Understand the following: •　Site Overview •　Importance of the site •　Online Tour / Museum Exhibition
Class 14	Final Project & Q&A	Conduct the following: •　Summary of all course contents •　Final Project Presentations •　Final Q&A and Group 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%, Final Project: 50%

Related courses

LAH.S447 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences56:Archaeology & Biological Anthropology
LAH.T116 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology A
LAH.T215 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology B

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

loftus.f.3f80[at]m.isct.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