Japan

This course is an introduction to archaeology of East Asia with emphases on the areas known today as China, Japan and Korea. The time periods covered in this course are from the migration of human ancestors (approximately 1 MYA) to proto-  traditions of East Asian countries and that of North America, examine the role of archaeology in contemporary East Asian societies, and discuss how archaeological interpretations have been influenced by contemporary social and political milieu. The topics highlighted in this course include: 1. changes in subsistence, 2. human-environment interactions, 3. origins of food production, 4. the development of social complexity, and 5. formation of states. These topics are discussed in relation to the various scientific analyses employed in contemporary archaeology. 

This course satisfies the area requirement and the Archaeology core requirement.  It may also be used as an elective.