01 Oct Evaluating Conflicting Claims in Archaeology
Evaluating Conflicting Claims in Archaeology
(#GEA 1)
50 points
Like most scientists, archaeologists often disagree with one another. This is partly because it takes time
to gather a body of evidence sufficiently complete to evaluate conflicting interpretations. It is also
because archaeologists approach material remains from different theoretical perspectives and
assumptions that affect the way they think about human societies.
For this assignment you are asked to choose a controversy in Archaeology and critically explore that
controversy by comparing and contrasting two primary positions in the debate.
Learning Outcome: Students will critically compare and contrast opposing, yet credible claims
archaeologists have made regarding the same fact or hypothesis.
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Please get started on this assignment immediately because you will be required to do some outside
research and will need time to organize your thoughts before writing the essay. Useful resources for this
project can be found in the Project Part 1 (#GEA 1) files in the Project module on Canvas.
Steps
First: Choose one of the controversies in archaeology listed below. Both of these controversies are
contested by credible authorities in archaeology, based on discipline-specific indicators. This means that
from different perspectives within the field of archaeology, both positions of the controversy are
credible. Please be sure to watch the associated video clips to help you decide on a topic and/or get
started with researching that topic. Do not choose a topic until you have watched these videos.
? Whether the initial adoption of agriculture in the ancient world was adaptive or maladaptive for
human societies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I
? Whether warfare was a requirement for the formation of archaic (ancient) states or a
consequence of their formation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdVLAG_ptQM&vl=en
Second: Describe the opposing claims to the controversy by critically comparing and contrasting them.
You must use and cite peer-reviewed sources for your information. Do not rely on your opinions,
common knowledge, web pages, blogs, or videos. You are required to use the sources listed below for
your topic of choice. They are all on Canvas, either in the Project module or the module noted.
? Background reading for the agriculture topic: Price and Feinman 2013, Diamond 1987 with
Antrosio 2011, Kelly Ch.4-6, Harris 1989, and Stories from the Stone Age video on Canvas.
? Background readings for the states topic: Cohen 1984, Spencer 2010, Kelly Ch.6, Sabloff 2008, and
the Caral video on Canvas.
ANT 3101 Dr. Taylor
USF
You must also find at least 2 additional peer-reviewed sources. Search on WorldCat or Google Scholar for
appropriate references. You can also use the bibliographies in the back of the required readings to find
sources. Finally, you can make an appointment with a reference librarian for assistance.
Third: Identify 2-3 lines of evidence or specific examples of past societies that have been cited in the
archaeological literature that you read in step 2, in support of each of the opposing sides of the debate.
Please note that evidence and examples in support of an argument must be specific data/information
that “prove” a position is likely to be true. Quotes are NOT a form of evidence. If you do not know what
is meant by “evidence”, please see me right away.
Fourth: Fill out the essay organizer in the module on Canvas for this assignment. You can email it to your
instructor or TA for comments and you may submit it with your essay for extra credit. Once you are
organized, write your essay. Style, grammar, spelling, etc. will all count toward our grade so be sure to
work on the assignment early enough that you can have friends/family proof-read for you and/or visit
the writing center for additional support.
For helpful tips on writing and citing references, see the USF writing Center webpage
https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/academic-success-center/writing-studio/writing-help-handouts.aspx.
This assignment is a 2-3 page essay. It is expected that in-text citations (author-date) and a works-cited
(bibliography or references cited) page will be provided. Please use the format used by the Society for
American Archaeology which is available in the first module on Canvas.
Your essay must be uploaded to the GEA 1 assignment in Canvas in Word or pdf formats for a
plagiarism/duplication check. You must also submit the assignment in the assignment into the #GEA 1
portal. This submission is for the general education assessment. Your assignment will not be considered
submitted, or be graded, until both of these are done.
