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Overview

This topic introduces students to aspects of the human settlement of North America from earliest occupation until European contact ca 1492. Issues covered include evidence for the first occupation of the continent, extinction of megafauna, hunter-gatherer lifeways, the origins of agriculture and settled lifeways, social complexity, social-cultural diversity, and disease … For more content click the Read More button below.

Aims

This topic aims to:

  • Address the major methods and approaches used in pre-contact North American archaeology
  • Give a chronological overview of the pre-contact history of North America
  • Address the impacts of European contact on the lifeways of Native North Americans
  • Develop critical responses to theory and evidence

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Evaluate the major methods used in Native American archaeology
2.
Assess the archaeological evidence for social complexity and behavioural adaptation in Native North America
3.
Assess how archaeological data are used to support various theories
4.
Appraise the ethical dimensions, problems and issues associated with the practice of archaeology in North America

Requisites information

Anti-requisites: