Assignment #1 – short answer Anth3: Introduction to Archaeology Reconstruct Your Neighbor Goal: To start thinking about ways to interpret material remains found at archaeological sites to formulate hypotheses/ideas about the people/culture that used them

Assignment #1 – short answer

Anth3: Introduction to Archaeology

Reconstruct Your Neighbor

Goal: To start thinking about ways to interpret material remains found at archaeological sites to formulate hypotheses/ideas about the people/culture that used them.

The assignment:

• Imagine that a natural catastrophe happens and we all get wiped out - flash to the future 100 years - pretend you are an archaeologist in the future uncovering the 9 items on your list (or what is left of them).

• Pick ONE INDIVIDUAL from the list on the following pages. Each list includes 9 objects that were listed by past students (and maybe one I made up): 
  • • • 5 objects from their living space
      • 3 objects of personal gear (things they carry with them) § 1 object related to transportation

• Your job is to attempt to reconstruct the lifeways/culture/behavior of ONE INDIVIDUAL based on the items on the list.

• What might these material items tell us about the people/culture that left them behind? Can we learn something about human behavior from these materials? Consider the following questions in your answer.

1. 1. Discuss issues of preservation (what items might not last 100 years?) How might that affect our interpretation?
   2. What can we guess about the individual?
      1. gender?
      2. age?
      3. were they a member of a particular group (ethnic/tribal/political/other?)
      4. where did they work/did they have a job?
   3. When was this person alive? What year is your best guess?
   4. Are some items more useful than others for telling you something about the person? How & why?
   5. Include the list of items in your answer

Your response to the questions should about 500 words total (about one page). 

Items Associated with Individual #1:

From Living space:

Ceramic lamp in shape of a duck

Silk bedsheet (orange)

Cast iron frying pan (8” diameter)

Chemistry textbook

Dog food bowl

From Personal gear:

Backpack (Jansport 2-pocket, blue)

Flip phone (2002 vintage)

Insulated coffee mug

Transportation related:

Metal and plastic car key for Honda

Items Associated with Individual #2:

From Living space:

End table made of plastic milk crate

“Minions” yellow pillow

Wooden rocking chair

Baby crib

Nintendo Switch

From Personal gear:

Leather shoulder bag

Iphone 11

Hydroflask water bottle

Transportation related:

Bicycle with child transport trailer

Items Associated with Individual #3:

From Living space:

Twin-size bed

“Kanye West” poster

PS4

“Slides” shoes

HD television

From Personal gear: velcro wallet (black) Samsung phone (“Raiders” case) keys on lanyard

Transportation related: small plastic skateboard (green)

Items Associated with Individual #4:

From Living space:

“Hello Kitty” Binder with school notes

Oscillating fan (white)

Bible – New Testament “travel paperback” Chomebook

Jewelry box (wood and brass)

From Personal gear: Backpack (North Face, black) iphone 6 with bright orange case dark sunglasses

Transportation related:

Razor scooter

Items Associated with Individual #5:

From Living space: oil lamp with retractable wick wool bedroll

Cast iron Dutch oven (10” diameter) metal bucket harmonica

From Personal gear: 8-inch Bowie knife leather boots leather tobacco pouch

Transportation related:

metal stirrups

Items Associated with Individual #6:

From Living space: bluetooth speaker  acoustic guitar guinea pig cage toaster oven prayer rug

From Personal gear: leather wallet prescription eyeglasses pepper spray keychain

Transportation related:

CSUS OneCard with Transit Sleeve for SacRT