Syllabuses outlines for both courses are available here:

Fox USD Outline

Zimmerman U of Iowa Outline

Syllabus for Richard Fox, University of South Dakota

Great Plains Archaeology

Anth 491/691, Spring 1999

Rich Fox - rfox@usd.edu, 677-5401

East Hall 103, 3-5 M,F (or appt)

Most people when they picture Native Americans in their minds think of the mounted warrior of the North American Great Plains. Although hardly representative of the diversity of Native

American populations, the Great Plains has been home for native populations for at least the last 13,000 years or so. Over this time, Plains inhabitants adapted to often harsh environmental conditions in various and novel ways. Although for most of Plains prehistory, inhabitants practiced a nomadic, hunter/gatherer lifestyle, some settled down and farmed.

1. Course goals are to outline Great Plains culture history,
2. familiarize students with Great Plains topics,
3. introduce methodological and theoretical issues in Great Plains archaeology, and
4. through individualized research provide each student with an in-depth understanding of a particular Plains archaeology issue.

REQUIRED TEXT: Wood, W. Raymond, ed. (1998) Archaeology on the Great Plains. The University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.

TENTATIVE LECTURE, READING AND EXAM SCHEDULE

(*bi-weekly research assignments are due on weeks marked with an asterisk*)

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM - 8-10pm, Wednesday, May 5

ADDITIONAL READINGS

To supplement the text, and to support lectures on topical issues, additional readings may from time to time be handed out or placed on library reserve. These will be required readings.

CLASS WEB SITE

This class is being taught in collaboration with a similar course at the University of Iowa, Seminar in Archaeology: Plains Archaeology, taught by Dr. Larry Zimmerman. This syllabus, and the one for the Iowa class, can also be found on the World Wide Web at http://twist.lib.uiowa.edu/plains. You will also find at this site announcements, video information, a chat room, links to various Plains archaeology Web sites, and other useful class information. Information will be added during the semester. To use the chat and discussion rooms, you will need to logon using plains, and the password wedel.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Requirements include a

1. midterm exam,
2. a final exam,
3. bi-weekly research reports, and
4. a written report of research. Each of these four categories will constitute 25% of the final grade.

Exams will be any combination of essay, short essay, fill blanks, matching, multiple choice, true-false, etc.

Six bi-weekly research reports are required. These represent research for your written report, which is due no later than Friday of the last (16th) week of class (April 28). The written research report (typed, double spaced) is to be no less than 10 pages (excluding cover, references, all other non-text pages).

Each bi-weekly must make use of at least two research sources (excluding text), and more are encouraged; use what you need. Bi-weekly reports (typed, double spaced, about 3-4 pages) are due no later than Friday on odd numbered weeks, beginning with the third week (weeks 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, specifically Feb. 3, 17; Mar. 3, 17, 31; April 14)

Each student will schedule a bi-weekly appointment with the instructor to discuss bi-weekly reports of research. These appointments are required, and are part of your bi-weekly grading.

Dr. Zimmerman and I encourage collaboration between USD and Iowa students. Thus we will award extra consideration points to students who use the web site chat and discussion rooms (Dr. Zimmerman and I will monitor the chat and discussion room archives to assess participation). To earn extra consideration, USD students may through the chat and discussion rooms 1) collaborate with Iowa students on their research projects, and 2) engage in scholarly discussions on Plains archaeological issues and topics with Iowa students.

Attendance is encouraged. Remember, if you miss one class, you have missed all week in terms of a MWF or TTh class. Students may miss one class without an official excuse. Other unexcused absences may result in reduction of the final grade, and they will certainly exclude you from the benefit of doubt when assigning a final grade.

ADMINISTRIVIA

Makeup exams are given only in the case of an excused absence. Makeup exams will probably consist of essay questions on the content of the current unit. Bring a written excuse and necessary documentation to the first class you are able to attend.

The syllabus format is subject to modification as class needs might dictate. Assigned text readings do not necessarily coincide with lecture topics. Text readings are included in exams as are movie/video/slide information. Students wishing to reschedule or postpone exams must adhere to University exam policies outlined in the Handbook and in the Spring 1999 Schedule of Classes. If you wish to reschedule or postpone, you must, except for rare exceptions, inform the instructor at least five days ahead of time.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Graduate students will be expected to perform at a level commensurate with any graduate program. They may expect exams, readings, research requirements and grading to be more rigorous and inclusive than for undergraduates. See me immediately for details. A graduate student may select a research topic that either is of special interest, or is allied with his/her graduate study field. All topics must receive the instructor's approval.

Syllabus for Larry Zimmerman, University of  Iowa

Seminar in Archaeology: Plains Archaeology

113: 197, Spring 1999, 219 JH, 11:3-12:20 MWF

No region has captured the American imagination more than the Great Plains. It is heart of the American West, and it was difficult for Euroamerican settlers to adjust to its landforms, flora and fauna, and rigorous climate. Images and stories about these pioneers and their difficulties and triumphs abound. From the first explorations, adventurers such as Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long considered the Plains to be "the Great American Desert," virtually uninhabitable. Even some important anthropologists early into the 20th Century, such as Clark Wissler, thought that the Plains were largely unoccupied until the white man brought the horse and the gun. Only then could the Native inhabitants venture very far onto the Plains. As it turned out, both men were very wrong.

The Great Plains had been occupied for thousands of years by both hunters and farmers, a home to many American Indian nations. As Euroamerican settlement began, the potential of the Plains for EuroAmerican-style agriculture, ranching and economic development became obvious. The conflict between the two ways of life and over control of the land would become the stuff of national myth.

In this class, we will start by following a traditional archaeological approach of  starting with the most recent history, then move back through time, following an approach outlined years ago by William Duncan Strong called the Direct Historical Approach. Then we'll move into a more traditional approach of most ancient to more recent, coming full circle to the time of Contact.

Class Web Site

You can also find this syllabus on the World Wide Web at http://twist.lib.uiowa.edu/plains, and there is also a link off the U of Iowa Anthropology Department web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~anth where you should click on Web Course Materials.  Here you will find announcements, discussion section assignments, a chat room, and links to all kinds of Plains archaeology information. To use the chat and discussion rooms you will need to login using: plains and  use the password: wedel.

Objectives

The goals for seminar are several:

1. to provide you with an outline of Plains culture history from Contact to first habitation during the Pleistocene.
2. to familiarize you with a range of Plains archaeology topics.
3. to introduce you to a range of methodological, theoretical,  and political issues surrounding Plains archaeology.
4. to provide each student with an in-depth understanding of a particular Plains archaeology issue through individualized or collaborative research.

Required Texts

• Wood, W. Raymond, ed. (1998) Archaeology on the Great Plains.  The University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.
• Philip Duke and  Michael Wilson, eds. (1995) Beyond Subsistence: Plains Archaeology and the Postprocessual Critique. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

 Both books are available in the University Bookstore, Iowa Memorial Union.

Tentative Lecture, Reading and Exam Schedule

Following is a loosely arranged lecture and reading assignment schedule. I reserve the right to change the schedule based on class needs, illness, or other possible factors. On the reading assignments, the numbers are chapter or reading numbers, not page numbers. W=Archaeology of the Great Plains and D=Beyond Subsistence. You'll also find estimated dates for the exams. They are only approximations; I'll give actual dates as the time gets closer. You'll get at least two weeks' notice.

Grading

Requirements include a 1) midterm exam, 2) a final exam, 3) a  web project/briefing and 4) paper. Each of these four categories will constitute 25% of the final grade.  Exams will be short and long essay. The final may be take-home. Makeup exams are given only in the case of an excused absence. Makeup exams will probably consist of essay questions on the content of the current unit.  Bring a written excuse and necessary documentation to the first class you are able to attend.

The Web Project

If you choose to do a web project, you will select a topic from the list of  topics, do research on the topic, and prepare a small world wide web site about it. The web site should include a list of source materials, both printed and internet. You may do this project in collaboration with another UI student or with a USD student. All students doing collaborative will receive the same grade. The web project will be linked to the class web site. If you are not comfortable with doing a web site, the instructor will help. It's not all that difficult! Really! You will choose the web project  topic by February 19. Final Project Due: April 30.

Briefing

You will choose a topic from the list of topics and prepare a small, summary paper on it, listing sources. You will then give a 5 minute presentation about it to the class. This may be done collaboratively with another student, but if so, you will both get the same grade for it. The project may be turned into a web project linked to the class. web site. You will choose to do  web project or briefing and select your topic by February 19; it can be selected earlier! These briefings will start on March 8 and continue through May 7th, scheduled. 

Paper

You will prepare a paper, around 15 pages for undergraduates and 25 for graduate students. This paper may also be done collaboratively, but all students will receive the same grade. Several topics are suggest on a list of paper topics, but you are not limited to these topics. You must turn in our paper topic by February 12, a list of 15 sources by March 22, an outline by April 23, with final submission by the start of class on May 7. Missing these deadlines will result in a reduction of the final grade on your paper!

A comment

I do not object to either your briefing or web project being directly related to your paper topic. In fact, I encourage it!

Extra consideration points!

Dr. Fox and I wish to encourage collaboration between students in both institutions. We will therefore gave extra consideration points to those students who participate in the use of the web site chat and discussion rooms, so long as the topics are relevant (the chat and discussion rooms are archived for us to see later, by the way!).  Even greater consideration will be granted to students who actively collaborate with a student at another institution on web projects, or who are willing to take on a bit of extra work by doing an extra web project, but done collaboratively. You can make contact with USD students by using the class web discussion room.

Attendance

Attendance is encouraged.  Unexcused absences may result in reduction of the final grade, and they will certainly exclude you from the benefit of doubt when assigning a final grade.

Films/Videos

This course contains numerous excellent videos or films which directly support the reading material and lectures, shown mostly in discussion sections. The material in the films is considered testable. You may wish to include summary sheets on the films in your notebook. You will find a  study guide for each video we see, linked from the class web site.

Graduate Students