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
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 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