FACULTY & STUDENT RESOURCES
Environmental Courses
Anthropology
Anthropology 1060. Archaeological Science 2013
N. Tuross Spring M 7:00-10:00 (p.m.)
Prerequisite: One year of college-level chemistry or physics.
Focus on physical science and engineering methods and techniques used by
archaeologists in the reconstruction of time, space, and human paleoecology,
and analysis of archaeological materials. Topics include 14C dating, ice
core and palynological analysis, stable isotope chemistry of paleodietary
foodwebs, soil micromorphology and site formation, Pb isotope sourcing of
metal artifacts, and microstructural and mechanical analyses of cementitious
materials used in ancient monumental buildings. Note: Meets at MIT.
*Anthropology 1140. Human Modification of the Landscape 5898
N. Tuross, T. Gardner Garrison Fall TBA
Northern New England provides the archaeologist and environmental
scientist with a natural experiment in land clearing that was caused by the
agricultural practices of humans and the subsequent reforestation of the
ecosystem. This course will concentrate on laboratory methods usable onsite
to uncover evidence of past land use and change. The following approaches
will be explored in the context of a historic farm site and a historic tannery:
inorganic and organic element and compound distributions in soil, pollen
and phytolith analysis, isotopic distribution in flora, and an introduction
to mobile molecular biology. Note: This course has a 10-day residential
component prior to the start of the term (September 2 to September 13th).
Anthropology 1625. Global Food Systems: Research Seminar 7806
J. Watson Spring T 1:00-3:00
Undergraduate research seminar focusing on global food systems and
commodity chains. Each student will work on one category of food
(examples include maize, pork, beef, fish, rice, GMO soybeans, chocolate,
coffee, sugar, etc.). Requirements: class presentation, regular seminar
participation, and a research paper.
Note: Limited to undergraduate students. Preference will be given to
students who have taken Social Analysis 70, or equivalent courses.
Anthropology 1760. Nationalism and Bureaucracy 0291
M. Herzfeld Spring M, W 10:00
Explores the ideological and practical foundations and effects of nationalism.
Particular attention focused on how nationalism is reproduced by bureaucrats
in daily practice, and how rituals of national identity are organized
and invested with meaning. Cases include systems of taxation, historic
conservation, health care, and immigration. This comparative course covers
several different countries and systems, and is designed to highlight the
contribution of ethnography to the analysis of national bureaucracies.
24 Oxford Street