Archaeology of African Thought ANT 324L, AFR 374 Spring 2006 Professor: Dr. James Denbow Office Hours: M, W 10-11 and by appointment. Office: 1.118 E.P. Schock (EPS) Phone: 471-8512 e-mail: jdenbow@mail.utexas.edu

Syllabus Requirements Class PowerPoint (PDF) Introduction & AIDS Climate, Languages & Ethnicity

OVERVIEW This course uses archaeological, anthropological and historical works to examine the development and transformation of African societies from the Neolithic through the slave trade and the beginning of the colonial period. The course will discuss the historic and prehistoric foundations of contemporary African societies south of the Sahara, focusing especially on equatorial and southern Africa. The intention is to develop an understanding of the cultural dynamics of Bantu societies and traditions, and their transformations through time. This provides an interpretive framework from which to examine emerging archaeological perspectives on the slave trade and its impact on the development of new traditions in the New World. Prerequisites None Required Textbooks 1. Ehret, Christopher. 2002. Civilizations of Africa: a history to 1800. University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville. 2. Leyland Ferguson. 1992. Uncommon Ground: Archaeology and Early African America 1650-1800. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 3. A class reader for this class is available at Abel's copies. Most of the readings come from this reader -- you cannot do without it. Digitized CD versions may be available. Discuss this with the people at Abel's if you think this will suit your needs better.