ANTH 576A - Prob Arch Area Stdy: Near East

Credits: Variable

A century and a half of archaeological work in the Near East has resulted in a wealth of evidence appropriate for tracing the long prehistoric and historic traditions in this area of the world. This course offers an overview of the archaeology of the prehistoric and early historic Near East. We will trace a culture historical narrative of the Near East from the peopling of the region in the Paleolithic through the emergence of city-states and imperial formations in the 3rd millennium B.C. At the same time, no such narrative is independent of the research interests and agendas of the scholars who have worked to compose it, and we will emphasize a critical approach to the questions and perspectives that have structured research in the region. The course will be conducted in a seminar format. Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of presentations and discussions of readings. Occasional.