Topics in Anthropology (490-0-2)

Topic

Archaeology of Buildings

Instructors

Matthew Johnson
847/467-3021
1812 Hinman Ave., Room #201

Meeting Info

2001 Sheridan Anthro Lab 1325: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

How do scholars record, classify, understand and interpret buildings? This class will guide students through this process, from the record of buildings as revealed by both below-ground and above-ground archaeology, through the reconstruction and visualization of structures, to the cultural understanding of houses, religious buildings and other structures in their landscape context. Students will gain a holistic understanding of buildings spanning theory and practice -- how 'practical' aspects such as the properties of building materials and the logic of technical systems mesh with wider issues of social and cultural interpretation. The course will emphasize an understanding of buildings in terms of an anthropological archaeology, though we will consider and compare approaches derived from architectural history, folklife, landscape studies etc. Examples will be drawn from around the world, though my own specialism of medieval and historic Europe will be well represented.

Learning Objectives

"By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the different sorts of evidence for interpretation of buildings (excavation, standing building survey, stylistic analysis, documents, ethnography, structural reconstruction)
• Grasp the different properties and potentials of building materials and the social organization of technology
• Draw and represent the form, structure and style of a building, and eflect critically on such representations
• Compare and contrast different disciplinary approaches to understanding buildings
• Draw down and apply as appropriate all of these elements and bring them together to interpret the archaeology of buildings in an area of their choice"

Class Materials (Required)

None

Class Materials (Suggested)

None

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.