Dr. Phillip Neusius OFFICE: G12F McElhaney

EMAIL: PHUN@grove.iup.edu

OFFICE HOURS: M and W: 1:15-3:15

T and R: 11:30-12:00

Or by appointment

GOAL: This course is intended to introduce you to the ways in which archaeologists structure their research. We will survey the history of archaeological research. We will also learn some of the specific methods which are unique to archaeology. Each student will be required to design and implement an individual research project during the semester.

As the title implies, this course will cover both how archaeologists design their research and the methods we use for conducting that research. Archaeology is so multifaceted that research can be designed at a wide range of levels depending upon the specific questions of the researcher. Research emphasis varies from the systematic excavation of a large number of sites in a region to the specialized analysis of ceramic artifacts from a single site excavated 80 years ago. Some archaeological research has focused upon the natural distribution of raw materials utilized by past societies. This type of research may resemble other disciplines such as geology or biology more than archaeology, but is an important aspect of doing archaeology none the less. We obviously can't cover all of the possible research designs that have been or might be employed in archaeological research. We will survey the range of the more typical types of research and we will examine how these have changed through time.

Likewise, the specific methods of analysis in archaeology vary considerably. In this class we will lean towards a practical hands on approach to studying methods. As a result we will emphasize laboratory methods rather than field strategies. The archaeological field school is a more appropriate setting for the latter. The focus of this course will be on how we analyze the data after we get it out of the field. This analyses will focus on the artifacts more than the spatial distribution of materials per se. This type of analysis involves the quantification of attributes. Since we can't publish the raw data of archaeology (i.e. the artifacts and their location) directly we must quantify this information in a meaningful way. Therefore quantification will be a significant focus of our study of methods.

Each class period will be divided into two segments. We will spend a part of each class period studying the ways in which we as archaeologists can design our research. A portion of each class period will be involved with learning specific methods of analysis in a more lab type approach. This is somewhat analogous to a biology or geology course which has a lab as well as lecture component.

There will be no exams in this course. Your grade will be based upon completion of the assignments as follows:

The majority of your grade will be based upon your research project. This project will be broken down into 4 stages to lead you through the process of designing and conducting research. See the project guidelines for more specific details.

Stage 1: 50 points or 10% of your grade

Stage 2: 75 points or 15% of your grade

Stage 3: 150 points or 30% of your grade

Stage 4: 75 points or 15% of your grade

You will also be expected to keep a journal of your research and other activities associated with the class. See journal guidelines for more specific details.

Journal: 120 points or 24% of your grade

The remaining 30 points (or 6%) of your grade will be based upon class participation.

Jan.20-22: Introduction to research design and the goals of contemporary archaeology.

Jan. 27-29: Early Developments in Research Design and Classification

Lab: Data Description and Lithic studies

Feb. 3-5: Culture History Approach of the 1950's.

Lab: Measures of Central Tendency and More Lithics

Feb. 10-12: "New Archaeology" of the 1960's.

* STAGE 1 OF RESEARCH PROJECT DUE *

Lab: Measures of Dispersion and Ceramic studies

Feb. 17-19: "New Archaeology" Settles In

Lab: Probably Probability

Feb. 24-26: Presentation for * STAGE 2 OF RESEARCH PROJECT *

Lab: Random Variables

March 3-5: Specific Study of Individual Projects

Lab: Distributions

Spring Break

March 17-April 2: Specific Study of Individual Projects

April 7-16: Presentation/discussion for Stage 3 of Projects

*STAGE 3 REPORT DUE*

April 21-23: Post Processual Debates in Archaeology

April 28-30: Final presentations of research projects

JOURNAL GUIDELINES

You will be required to keep a journal this semester. A journal is a necessary tool for any archaeologist, particularly while excavating in the field. This journal should be your personal record of what is happening in class, in your readings and while doing your research. You should make an entry in your journal every time you attend class, do your reading assignments or work on your research. The journal should consist of both structured and unstructured responses ('entries') to issues you raise for yourself as stimulated by course readings, lectures, discussions, etc. The structured responses will be your own responses to specific questions raised by the instructor (that's me) which are to be answered before our next class. Your responses should represent a thinking through of the issue or question posed by the instructor, your reading or your individual research. Such structured entries may form the basis of class discussion. Unstructured entries are entries written in response to questions or issues you pose for yourself. They should be personal responses to any points, issues, topics, problems, ideas, etc. raised in conjunction with the class, whether raised or stated directly or as you follow your own chain of thoughts as stimulated by the course.

In relation to your research the journal will become somewhat more specialized. Use it to record the process you are going through as you do your research. Each time you work on your problem record what you expect to do and what you actually do. Note any areas you feel uncertain about. Suggest to yourself ways to improve. Your journal will become a valuable document as you prepare your stage reports. Indeed much of the content for these reports will probably develop through your journal entries.

Most importantly don't try to use your journal to write to me. You should think of it and use it more as a place to have a dialogue with yourself. Your journal won't be evaluated upon content per se, but rather on conscientiousness in keeping it up. The journal can be a significant help to you in developing ideas and learning abstract concepts, but only if you use it regularly. This requires a certain amount of discipline on your part. Each time you turn in your journal you will receive from 1-12 points based upon your effort and the relevance of your comments to the assignment.

Journals will be collected each Tuesday class period and will be available for you to pick up by the Thursday class. If you need to make an entry during this period record it on a separate sheet of paper and add it later. For your journal use some type of loose leaf binder so that you can remove and replace individual pages.

RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES

Each student will design their own research project utilizing actual archaeological data. You will create a research design, determine what specific methods are appropriate for conducting your research and use these methods to conduct your research. You must of course keep the scope of the project reasonable given the constraints of a semester timetable. The focus for your grade will be on how well you design your research and select appropriate methods, rather than the ultimate results per se. Your research will be presented to the class for peer review at each stage. The research steps will be based upon the following stages.

STAGE 1: For the first stage your will begin to establish the basic framework for your research topic. What basic question (or questions) are you trying to answer? What data base will you use to try to address this question? What is your hypothesis or hypotheses? Do you have a null hypothesis? How do you propose to answer your question?

STAGE 2: At this stage you should identify the specific methods you will employ. What are your variables/attributes? What do you specifically predict to be your outcome from these methods? At this stage you should be able to tell us something about what your data set looks like. What is the sample size and range of variation?

STAGE 3: For this stage your will actually conduct your basic research utilizing the methods you proposed at stage 2. Where there any problems in implementation? Did you have to make any modifications? Did you get the types of data you need? Why or why not? What are your preliminary findings? Do you need further research?

STAGE 4: Final results and completed paper. For your final paper analyze the success or failure of your project. Did you answer your original question? Did your research lead to new questions? Do you need more extensive research to answer your original question? How do you feel about the adequacy of your research design and the methods you selected?

Each stage report must be typed, double spaced. Two copies must be submitted for each stage. These reports must be well written and edited. If I find more than two of the same type of error on one page, the report will be returned to you ungraded for revision and resubmittal. You must use a word processor for writing these reports. There are computers for your use in the Anthropology Computer Lab, as well as the College Computer Lab upstairs. At Eicher Hall, The Writing Center staff can also help you with writing and editing problems. You just need to ask for an appointment.

BOOKS ON RESERVE AT LIBRARY

Binford, An Archaeological Perspective.

Binford and Binford, New Perspectives in Archaeology.

Deetz, Man’s Imprint from the Past.

Fagan, Introductory Readings in Archaeology

Leone, Contemporary Archaeology

Redman, Research and Theory in Current Archaeology.

Willey and Phillips, Method and Theory in American Archaeology.