Module One:

Background/Introduction

Archaeology (always spelled with the “a” before the “e” as I was once informed in no uncertain terms by a teacher – with a University of Chicago graduate degree), can be defined – broadly – as, “.. the study of past human behavior based on surviving material finds” (Fagan and Durrani, 2014:3). Similarly, as Conrad Kottak tells us, archaeology, “…reconstructs, describes, and interprets human behavior and cultural patterns through material remains (Kottak, 2011:10).

Of course, Archaeology is one of the four “classic” sub-disciplines of Anthropology. The other three are Cultural, Linguistics and Biological. As I think everyone in this class already knows, the four sub-disciplines often work in tandem, or, borrow ideas, methods, information, etc. from each other regularly. So, for instance, on any given archaeology project, there might be ethnographic work done (Cultural), etc.

What we hope to do is this class is apply Archaeological principals, methods, theories, etc. to the study of Arctic cultures. Of course, we will utilize the other sub-disciplines as well in this examination. More particularly, we will examine those cultures that have lived (and whose ancestors still continue to live) in the Canadian Arctic (see map below). With that said, it is important to remember that people lived in the area we now call the Canadian Arctic long before there was a “Canada”. Further, we want to remember that the Arctic (Alaska to Greenland) is one of the last two areas of the world to be inhabited by Homo sapiens (the other being the distant islands of the Pacific Ocean). The human societies engaged in these migrations exhibited extraordinary adaptive capabilities. Think often of sociocultural adaptation “at play” as one reads through our materials.

Similarly, think too, of the environment in the Arctic. And, ponder the changing nature of this particularly fascinating environment and its impact on the peoples living in the Canadian Arctic. Take time to think about the photos and other images I have posted in nearly all of the Modules, and remember that far from being the stereotypical “desolate,” sterile,” “fierce” landscape of the imagination, people lived (and live) their quotidian lives in this area. It was/is “Home”.

Finally, think of the Canadian Arctic as a place where – over the course of some 4,000-years – at least four culturally distinct human societies have lived – Paleoeskimo (Independence I) ca. 2,000 B.C., Dorset ca. 800 B.C. – 1,000 A.D., Thule 1,000 A.D. – ca. 1650 A.D., and Historic Inuit ca. 1650 A.D. – Present. In our course, we will examine each of the aforementioned groups. Hopefully, one will come away from the course with a general sense of the lifeways of these highly adaptive human societies.

Instructions for Module One:

read the instructor’s Introduction above, and BOTH the articles (Damas and Munro). Write a three and-a-half-page critical overview of the articles. Focus primarily on the article by Damas (Munro can be discussed in a few paragraphs).

The idea behind this assignment is to obtain a general sense of the social (including economic) organization of Inuit societies and hence their ancestral background. Of course, one would see evidence of this organization in an archaeological context.

While we can assume that there were some social changes over time in the peoples we are examining, we also know from archaeology that a basic social pattern was established early and was retained temporally and spatially. So, the article by Damas provides one with the sociocultural background to “carry” through in all modules.

The article by Munro, will provide a brief introduction into the genetic research being done re human migrations into and across the Canadian Arctic.

Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? We have qualified writers to help you. We assure you an A+ quality paper that is free from plagiarism. Order now for an Amazing Discount!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

NB: We do not resell papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.