COURSE OUTLINE
Course
Number: AN325 College: CAS/Humanistic Studies
Course
Title: Prehistory of the Pacific Basin
Credit
Hours: 3 Semester Offered: Fall/Even Years
Date
of Final Approval:
Course
Count as ______ general education
requirement
______ part of the Anthropology major program
______ elective
1.
CATALOGUE
DESCRIPTION:
Prehistory
of the Pacific Basin will serve to describe the colonization of the Pacific
Islands by human populations extending from Australia and New Zealand to the
south of Japan on the north, from the Philippines and Indonesia on the west of
Hawaii and Easter Island on the east.
Close attention, however, will be paid to the culture history of
Micronesia, and in particular, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas,
the Republic of Belau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of
the Marshall Islands. The occupation of
these islands will be followed through time up to their “discovery” and exploration
by Europeans in the 16th and 17th century.
2.
COURSE CONTENT:
The
topics discussed include such issues as the geographic definitions of the
Pacific, types of islands, island ecosystems, human migration theories and
models of colonization, history of colonization, linguistic diversity, culture
contact and exchange, radiocarbon and cultural chronology, settlement patterns,
site formation processes, megalithic builders of Polynesia and Micronesia, historic preservation and other related
issues.
3. RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE:
The
course enables students to acquire knowledge, understanding, and appreciation
regarding the prehistory of the Pacific Basin from an archaeological
perspective.
4. SKILLS AND BACKGROUND REQUIRED OR
EXPECTED:
Students
should have taken Anthropology 101 (Introduction to Anthropology) which is
listed in the catalogue as a prerequisite for the course.
5. TEACHING METHODOLOGY AND ANTICIPATED
CLASS SIZE:
The
anticipated class size is 10 – 15. The
class incorporates a combination of lectures, audio-visual presentations, class
discussions, and field excursions if time permits. Guest speakers are invited to discuss special topics of interest
and relevance whenever appropriate and desirable.
6. ADDITIONAL COURSE DESCRIPTORS:
None.
7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THE STUDENT:
Students
enrolled in the course will be able to demonstrate the following:
a) a command of knowledge and current understanding pertaining to the prehistory of the Pacific Basin
b) an understanding of various migration theories and human colonization models that have been advanced since the 1900s and evidence to support such theories and models as revealed by archaeological investigations
c) knowledge of the history and development of archaeology at various island groups in Oceania
d) enhanced critical and creative thinking skills
e) enhanced skills in both written and verbal presentations
8. METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Methods
of evaluation for the course include the following:
a) a mid-term examination which focuses on both lecture materials and homework assignments
b) a final examination which may include a take-home essay in addition to the testing of knowledge covered in lectures and homework reading assignments
c) class attendance and participation, especially in discussions which allow students to develop their in-depth understanding of the subjects covered in class as well as critical and creative thinking
9. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR STUDY GUIDES:
Required: Irwin, Geoffrey, 1992, The Prehistoric Exploration and Colonization of the Pacific. Cambridge University Press.
Required:
Terrell, John, 1990, Prehistory in the
Pacific Islands: A Study of Variation in Language, Customs, and Human Biology.
Cambridge University Press.
Required:
Morgan, William N., 1988, Prehistoric
Architecture in Micronesia. Austin:
University of Texas Press.
Recommended: Additional readings are recommended from
time to time utilizing books and academic journals available in learning
resources facilities.
10.
SUBSEQUENT
COURSES:
Additional
lower and upper-division courses in Anthropology such as AN262, AN462, and
AN203 are available in the sub-discipline of
archaeology and listed in the UOG catalogue.