CHEM 262
Applying the Scientific Method to Archaeology and Paleoanthropology
Last Offered Spring 2007
Division III Writing Skills
Cross-listed ANTH 262
This course is not offered in the current catalog

How do we ‘know’ early hominids migrated from Africa to Europe? What’s the origin of Grecian pottery glazes? Archaeological studies of human environmental impact include materials as recent as nineteenth century glass, or as ancient as hundred-thousand year old stone tools. Paleoanthropology, the study of early humans, covers materials that are millions of years old. Natural science can answer many questions, not just how old an object is, but also where, how and sometimes why an object was made. These answers in turn tell us about patterns of human development and settlement, and also help us distinguish forgeries from genuine artifacts. Understanding when we do not know an answer is also important. This tutorial will introduce science students to interesting applications, and introduce students from anthropology, art history, or just possessing general curiosity to the methods and limits of ‘scientific analysis’. Given the wide scope of this field, students will decide some of the topics. Papers will be thoroughly edited for style, grammar and syntax, as well as the quality of argument. Students will improve their writing by integrating into successive papers the editorial comments they receive and also by editing the writing of their tutorial partners.