ANT 3141: World Prehistory

Class Time: M/W/F 12.20pm—1.10pm

Class Location: Bellamy Building (BEL) 0021

Instructor: Dr. Tom Leppard, Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Faculty Website: https://www.anthro.fsu.edu/faculty-staff/department-faculty/dr-thomas-p-leppard
Email: tleppard@fsu.edu
Office Hours: T/Th 4.00pm-5.00pm
Office Location: Room 221, Johnson Building, 2035 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Innovation Park

Teaching Assistant: Ms. Caitlin Delmas

Email: cd18t@my.fsu.edu
Office Hours: W 9.00am-10.00am, F 10.45am-11.45am
Office Location: Dirac, MyStudio 201a

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course surveys the major transitions of human physical and social evolution. Beginning with the
emergence of the various human species several million years ago, we move through the evolution of
our own species, the development of food-producing economies, to the appearance of the first cities,
states, and empires. Throughout, the diversity of the human experience is emphasized, as are general
trends in these evolutionary processes. The scope of the course is global, and its structure intrinsically
comparative.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

 Understand and articulate the major trends in human physical and social evolution;
 Critically examine, compare, and contextualize archaeological sites and objects;
 Understand how archaeologists acquire, analyze, and interpret material evidence for ancient
cultures;
 Interpret archaeological evidence within its historical and cultural contexts;
 Appreciate the diversity of the human experience as evidenced in the material record.

3. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance and participation are mandatory (see 9). Canvas and FSU e-mail access are required (see 8)
Readings for this course are in the required textbook (see 4); you are required to read materials prior to
the date assigned. All assessments, assignments, evaluations, examinations will occur or are due on/at
the date and time stated. This course is an introductory level prehistory/archaeology class and as such
will contain unfamiliar terminology, names and dates of archaeological sites, cultures, and other
phenomena, and archaeologists associated with particular sites and interpretations of prehistory.
Students should anticipate that the class will require memorization of fundamental terminology and

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concepts. Information will be presented in class for which you are responsible that is not in your
textbook.

4. REQUIRED TEXTS and READINGS

Scarre, C. (editor). 2018. The Human Past: World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies.
Fourth edition. New York: Thames and Hudson.

This textbook (=Scarre) is the only required textbook for this class. It is available from a number of
sources, including the FSU bookstore. Please ensure that you obtain the correct (i.e. fourth) edition.

You are responsible for the entire content of this textbook; any of the content can and will appear in
assessments, assignments, evaluations, examinations etc. You will be assigned readings in advance of a
given week of the semester. Complete these readings in advance.

5. EVALUATION and GRADING POLICY

1. Exams (2 midterms at 20%, 1 final at 35% = 75%). Two written in-class examinations. One final
examination on Thursday May 2nd, 10.00am-12noon.

2. Paper (1 at 15% = 15%). A critical assessment of an archaeological or cultural heritage site that the
student visits in person. This paper will demonstrate you using your analytical skills learned from
materials in class and your capacity to contextualize an archaeological site within broader, cross-cultural
trends in world prehistory (whilst recognizing the diversity of that prehistory).

3. Attendance and participation (= 10%). One absence equates to one percentage point lost (see 9).

Grading (scores are rounded to the nearest whole number, i.e., 93.5 = A, 93.4 = A-):

A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 77-79
C 74-76
C- 70-73
D+ 67-69
D 64-66
D- 60-63
F 0-59

Incompletes: No incompletes are given in this class except under extreme circumstances. If you are
having problems, seek help early from the Instructor.

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In-class assessment and examination: This format will include but may not be limited to: fill-in-the-
blank, multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answers, and essay. You will be prepared for each in-
class assessment and examination (including the final examination) by attending each class, completing
all assignments, reading the assigned chapters prior to the class, taking lectures notes, participating in
class discussions, and devoting adequate study time for the assessment and examinations.

Paper: Closer to the due-date for the paper, the Instructor will circulate instructions that pertain to it.

Retention of Graded Work: Students are responsible for retaining all graded class papers etc. until the
end of term, and, if requested, returning them to the instructor.

6. LIBERAL STUDIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Liberal Studies History requirements and is designed to
help you become a critical analyst of theories and evidence about historical events and forces.
By the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to:
 Discuss the role of historical factors in contemporary problems or personal experiences.
 Analyze claims about historical phenomena.

This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Liberal Studies Cross-Cultural Studies (X) requirements
and is designed to help you become a culturally conscious participant in a global community. By the end
of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to:
 Analyze some aspect of human experience within a culture, focusing on at least one source of
diversity (e.g., age, disability, ethnicity, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation,
social class, or other).
 Explore one’s own cultural norms or values in relation those of a different cultural group.

In order to fulfill FSU’s Cross-Cultural Studies requirement, the student must earn a “C-” or better in the
course.

7. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY and CLASS CONDUCT POLICY

University (tertiary) education differs from high school (secondary) education in that the student is
responsible for their own learning. Success at the university level is built upon independent, motivated
learning, supplemented by judiciously seeking input and support from faculty.

In class (and more generally), it is expected that students will be considerate towards each other and the
Instructor, and will not disrupt the class in any way. Such disruption includes, but is not limited to:
lateness, departures from class to take phone calls, unauthorized use of electronic devices,
conversation.

All electronic devices, including mobile phones, cameras, tablets, and computers should be switched off
before you enter the classroom. They may be used in the classroom only with the express permission
of the Instructor. Breaches of this policy constitute disruption and will be treated as non-participation
(see 9) in the class in which they occur, thereby adversely affecting your attendance and participation
grade.

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Disruption of other students’ learning cannot and will not be tolerated. I will obligate you to leave the
classroom if you disrupt the learning process in this manner.

8. E-MAIL and COMMUNICATION POLICY

Students must maintain a correct e-mail address in their FSU records to enable communication. E-mails
sent to you at your FSU e-mail address are assumed to have been read by you within 24 hours.

A university campus is a professional environment. Accordingly, please use appropriate correspondence

formatting in your e-mail communications (for example: address me as Dr. Leppard or Professor
Leppard). Include a salutation and a valediction. If you do not know what these terms mean, find out.

Please be clear and concise in your e-mails to the Instructor and to the TA. Importantly, before sending
an e-mail, ascertain that your question cannot be answered via any other source (i.e., this syllabus or the
textbook). Include a subject line.

The following is an informal yet helpful guide to e-mail communication within tertiary education:
https://www.math.uh.edu/~tomforde/Email-Etiquette.html

9. ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION POLICY

University Attendance Policy: Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and
other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official
University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize
students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent
children experience serious illness.

Class Attendance Policy: Attendance and participation are required in order to succeed in this course,
and are therefore mandatory: students are required to attend and participate in all classes (unless they
have a ‘valid excuse’; see below). Tardiness and leaving early will not be tolerated, in that both
demonstrate your disrespect for fellow students and the Instructor and a failure to recognize
appropriate behavior within an educational environment; both constitute disruption (see 7). Students
are responsible for all course material (i.e., materials covered in class or in the textbook), whether
present or absent.

A ‘valid excuse’ includes the aforementioned situations. Absences without a ‘valid excuse’ (and
accordingly unrelated to documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to
active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities) constitute
unexcused absences. Unexcused absences comprise non-attendance and non-participation, and they
will accordingly negatively impact your participation grade (section 5). Unexcused absences include, but
are not limited to, travel during the semester and undocumented illness. ‘Documented illness’ is here
defined as illness in regard to which there exists, and can be presented to the Instructor, original
documentation confirming the illness, on letterhead belonging to and signed by a qualified medical
practitioner.

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To avoid utilizing too much class time, attendance will be taken at random ten times during the class.
See 5 for the penalties for each recorded absence. When attendance is taken, it is your responsibility to
make sure the Instructor and TA are notified of your attendance before the classroom is vacated.

Extended Absences: You must contact the Dean of Students Office regarding missing classes for
extended time (multiple days) due to a death in the family, court proceedings, illness and/or
hospitalization, and similar reasons. Their office will then contact all of your professors providing
verification of your absence. Only then will I be able to excuse you from missing class. (The
Dean of Students Department, University Center A, Suite 4100, 850.644.2428)

Missed assessments (etc): Attendance at all assessments, assignments, evaluations, and examinations
etc. is mandatory. Valid excuses are the same as for excused absences. Invalid excuses will, at the
Instructor’s discretion, result in zero credit for the relevant assignment or assessment. Crucially, if you
think you will be absent for an upcoming assessment, assignment, or examination and you have a
valid excuse, notify the Instructor in writing at least five business days in advance of the excused
absence.

10. PLAGIARISM POLICY

Students are bound by the FSU Academic Honor Policy (see 12). Students should note all Academic
Honor Violations, but especially the violation as regards plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined in the
Academic Honor Policy as:

Presenting the work of another as one's own (i.e., without proper acknowledgement of the source).
Typical Examples Include: Using another's work from print, web, or other sources without acknowledging
the source; quoting from a source without citation; using facts, figures, graphs, charts or information
without acknowledgement of the source; utilizing ghostwriting or pay-for-paper services. (Florida State
University Academic Honor Policy).

Direct quotation from others must be placed in quotation marks and the source(s) indicated. Paraphrase
of others’ material must also be acknowledged. All work submitted by students will be checked via
Turnitin. Cases of plagiarism will, at the Instructor’s discretion, result in zero credit for the relevant
assignment or assessment.

11. EXTRA CREDIT POLICY

The concept of ‘extra credit’ is egregiously unfair to those in the class who do not seek or require it. I do
not allow ‘extra credit’ assignments.

12. ACADEMIC HONOR POLICY

The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University's expectations for the
integrity of students' academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those
expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the
process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge

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to "...be honest and truthful and...[to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State
University." (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy).

The Academic Honor Policy can be found at:

http://fda.fsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Honor-Policy)

13. SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY

Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this
syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.

14. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:

(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type.

Please note that instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodation to a student until
appropriate verification from the Student Disability Resource Center has been provided.

This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.

For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:

Student Disability Resource Center

874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/

15. FREE TUTORING FROM FSU

On-campus tutoring and writing assistance is available for many courses at Florida State University. For
more information, visit the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Tutoring Services' comprehensive list
of on-campus tutoring options at http://ace.fsu.edu/tutoring or contact tutor@fsu.edu. High-quality
tutoring is available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. These services are offered by tutors trained
to encourage the highest level of individual academic success while upholding personal academic
integrity.

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SCHEDULE

Week 1 . Jan 7th, 9th, 11th

Archaeology and the study of world prehistory
Reading: Scarre ch 1.

Week 2. Jan 16th, 18th (Jan 14th Professor at Conference – NO CLASS)

The evolution of humanity in Africa
Reading: Scarre ch 2.

Week 3. Jan 23rd, 25th (Jan 21st MLK Jr. Day – NO CLASS)
The Eurasian dispersal of pre-modern humans
Reading: Scarre ch 3.

Week 4. Jan 28th, 30th, Feb 1st

The evolution and global dispersal of modern humans
Reading: Scarre chs. 4 and 5.

Week 5. Feb 4th, 6th, 8th

From farming to cities, states, and empire: Key concepts, and: first agriculture in Southwest Asia
Scarre chs. 6 and 7

EXAM 1 on Feb 8th

Week 6. Feb 11th, 13th, 15th

The development of farming in East Asia and the Americas
Scarre ch. 8 and 10

Week 7. Feb 18th, 20th, 22nd

The emergence of cities and kingdoms in Southwest Asia and the Nile Valley
Scarre ch. 13 and pp. 365-373

Week 8. Feb 25th, 28th, Mar 1st

The rise of complex societies in East Asia
Scarre ch.16

Week 9. Mar 4th, 6th, 8th

The Mediterranean world
Scarre ch. 14

Week 10. Mar 11th, 13th, 15th

Holocene Europe north of the Mediterranean
Scarre ch. 12

EXAM 2 on Mar 15th

SPRING BREAK

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Week 11. Mar 25th, 27th, 29th
Mesoamerican civilization
Scarre ch. 17

Week 12. Apr 1st, 3rd, 5th

South America and the Caribbean
Scarre ch. 18

Week 13. Apr 8th (Apr 10th and 12th Professor at Conference – NO CLASS)
The Indus civilization
Scarre ch. 15

Week 14. Apr 15th, 17th, 19th

Divergent complexity in North America
Scarre ch. 19

PAPER DUE on Apr 19th

Week 15. Apr 22nd, 24th, 26th

Retrospect and prospect
Scarre ch. 20

FINAL EXAM on Thursday May 2nd, 10.00am-12.00noon.