Anthro 4791 - Archaeological Study of Social Complexity

Institution:

Washington University in St Louis

Subject:

Description:

A hallmark of anthropological theory is the idea that human societies evolve toward greater complexity or higher levels of organization through time. Yet accurately defining complexity or organization is such a difficult and frustrating undertaking that many people give up and fall back on an intuitive understanding, similar to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's famous definition of pornography: "I know it when I see it." But what exactly does it mean to be socially complex? How does complexity in human societies emerge and how is it perpetuated? How can we infer social complexity from the archaeological record? In this seminar we examine theoretical and methodological aspects of social complexity as investigated by archaeologists. By means of case studies drawn from around the globe and ranging from the earliest humans to the recent past, we seek to define, describe, and understand the concept of social complexity and its manifestations in diverse societies at different times.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.wustl.edu

Phone Number:

(314) 935-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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