New World archaeology covers three geographical areas in the western hemisphere and between 15,000–40,000 years of human history. The peoples of North, Central, and South America are descended from Siberian and Asian groups which travelled in waves into Alaska and either down the coast or inland as far as the tip of South America. This module will review both the basic chronology of Indigenous New World occupation and the broad cultural developments that took place. The contribution of modern scientific methods such as DNA analysis and LiDAR survey in discovering the past will be highlighted. Finally, the effects and consequences of European conquest and colonization on the local cultural trajectories will be explored.
New World Archaeology
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 22 Jan 2025
Week 1: Introduction to New World Archaeology
Week 2: First Human Settlers
Week 3: Clovis Cultures of North America
Week 4: Woodland groups of North America
Week 5: The North West Coast cultures of North America
Week 6: Field trip to Pitt-Rivers and ethnographic collections
Week 7: Lost Cities of the Amazon – modern surveying techniques
Week 8: The Rise of the City-State in Meso America
Week 9: The Moundville Phenomenon, complex ritual and social structures in North America
Week 10: New World/Old World interaction: European Conquest
Throughout the course the following themes will be addressed:
Pre-European and non-European cultural ways
Anthropology and Archaeology
Cultural change and diversity
DNA studies and controversies
Politics of Indigenous Studies
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
Preparatory reading
- The Human Past / Scarre, Chris
Certification
To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £285.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £30.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Helen Loney
Helen Loney is an American trained European Prehistorian specializing in field archaeology and ceramic technology. Though completing her PhD on Italian Bronze Age ceramics, Helen was trained in New World Archaeology, including the California coastal group the Chumash, and pre-Singua period archaeology in Utah and Nevada.
Course aims
You will learn about the basic chronology of New World Archaeology, from the first human occupation through to the Spanish conquest. Select sites will be used as examples of developments in indigenous cultures over time.
Course objectives:
- The student will be able to expand their knowledge of World Archaeology.
- The student will be able to compare and contrast North, Central, and South American cultures.
- The student will be able to recognize the differences in archaeological approaches to archaeology in a colonial context.
Teaching methods
This course will be taught using a combination of lectures and seminar discussions. Online searches will be demonstrated in class, for students to use in preparing their assessments. An in-person museum visit will be used to illustrate the material culture of periods and places discussed.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the chronology of New World occupation.
- Demonstrate insight into the key points of cultural development in the New World.
- Demonstrate facility with current online and published resources for New World Pre-European cultures.
Assessment methods
Option A
Please assemble three x 500 word pieces about three separate New World archaeological discoveries. You may choose any site you wish, but you should include where, when, who, and why, in each answer. You may submit one of these pieces as a formative assignment for feedback in week 6.
Final deadline: end of term.
Option B
Formative: 500 words on an archaeological monument in the New World. Where, when, who. Due week 6.
Summative: 1500 word essay, choice of:
- Discuss the contribution of scientific techniques to a recent discovery in New World Archaeology.
- Select one example of New World religion and the archaeological evidence that supports it.
- Select one of the following plants and discuss the archaeological evidence for it:
- Maize
- Tobacco
- Gourds
Final deadline: end of term.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form
Application
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.