Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences The University of Alabama

Archaeology of Eastern North America
ANT 526

Fall 2001 

 Dr. Ian W. Brown, Professor of Anthropology  

The archaeology of any culture area in the Americas has become an immense topic, capable of doing in even the most serious of scholars.  The eastern portion of North America amplifies the problem, because European settlers were debating various aspects of Indian origins the moment they stepped off their boats.  Consequently, there is a lot of literature on the subject and numerous avenues in which we could explore the area.  For this semester I have decided to focus on a series of edited volumes that contain articles written by some of the principal archaeologists currently working in Eastern North America.  The contributions in these books were meant to be read in their entirety and, often, in the sequence in which they are arranged.  Consequently, instead of dividing up the various articles and assigning different ones to individual students, I want you to read the books according to the editors' intent, from cover to cover.  The spatial emphasis for the chosen set of books is the Midwest and the Southeastern United States, while the temporal focus leans heavily toward the Mississippian stage.  Nevertheless, for those who wish more, I can assure you that you will receive some knowledge of all periods and most regions of Eastern North America as the course progresses.                           

Required Books/Articles:

• “Recent Trends in the Archaeology of the Southeastern United States,” by Ian W. Brown.  Journal of Archaeological Research 2(1):45–111 (1994). [To be Handed Out]

• Of Caves and Shell Mounds, edited by Kenneth C. Carstens and Patty Jo Watson.  1996.  ISBN: 0-8173-0805-9.  The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

• Ancient Earthen Enclosures of the Eastern Woodlands, edited by Robert C. Mainfort, Jr. and Lynne P. Sullivan.  1998. ISBN 0-8130-1857-9.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

•  A World Engraved: Archaeology of the Swift Creek Culture, edited by Mark Williams and Daniel T. Elliott.  1998.  ISBN 0-8173-0912-8. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa and London.

•  Cahokia and the Archaeology  of Power, by Thomas E. Emerson.  1997. ISBN: 0-8173-0888-1. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa and London.

•  Mississippian Communities and Households, edited by J. Daniel Rogers and Bruce D. Smith.  1995.  ISBN 0-8173-0768-0. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

•  Changing Perspectives on the Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley, edited by Michael J. O’Brien and Robert C. Dunnell.  1998.  ISBN 0-8173-0909-8. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

•  Mississippian Town and Sacred Spaces: Searching for an Architectural Grammar, edited by R. Barry Lewis and Charles Stout.  1998.  ISBN 0-8173-0947-0.  The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

Course Requirements:

 Class Participation

This course is a seminar.  It demands a lot of reading, writing, listening, and talking. The best way to learn is to teach, so everyone must play an active role if this class is to be a success. 

Weight of Grade:      30%

 Term Paper (required of graduates)

  Oral Presentation

  Written Product

            Length: Approximately 25 pages (excluding bibliography and illustrations)              Due Date:        December 4  
            Weight of Grade:      40% 

Take–Home Final Exam

Important Dates:      Exam handed out—December 4

                                      Exam due—December 11

Weight of Grade:      30%

Schedule:

August 28                  Introduction

September 4              “Recent Trends in the Archaeology of the Southeastern United States”; Of Caves and Shell Mounds (whole book)

September 11            Ancient Earthen Enclosures of the Eastern Woodlands (whole book)

September 18             A World Engraved: Archaeology of the Swift Creek Culture (Chaps. 1–9)

September 25            A World Engraved: Archaeology of the Swift Creek Culture (Chaps. 10–13)

October 2                   Cahokia and the Archaeology of Power (Chaps. 1–5)

October 9                   Cahokia and the Archaeology of Power (Chaps. 6–9)

October 16                 Mississippian Communities and Households (Chaps. 1–6)

October 23                 Mississippian Communities and Households (Chaps. 7–11)

October 30                 Changing Perspectives on the Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley (Chaps. 1–7)

November 6              Changing Perspectives on the Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley (Chaps. 8–13)

November 13            Mississippian Town and Sacred Spaces: Searching for an Architectural Grammar (Chaps. 1–5)

November 20            Mississippian Town and Sacred Spaces: Searching for an Architectural Grammar (Chaps. 6–10)

December 4               Term Paper Presentations

December 11             Take Home Final Exam Due

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