Subsections
[Cr:4, Lc:2, Tt:0, Lb:2]
This course is uniquely tailored for doctoral students who need guided exposure to fill specific theoretical and methodological knowledge gaps in paleoanthropology and archaeology. Select sub-disciplines and topics to be covered can be broadly classified under (but are not limited to) prehistory, protohistory, experimental archaeology, ethnoarchaeology, bioarchaeology, archaeo-astronomy, rock art studies, geology, taphonomy, vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology. The primary goal of this course is to teach focused topics in relation to the students growing research interests. The structure of this course will encourage critical and original thinking of controversial topics and contemporary debated issues, and students will be expected to strategically select and confront existing hypotheses and theories using theoretical, laboratory and/or field-based methods. At the end of the course, the student should present an informed and critical theoretical synthesis of the selected topic as well as turn in a small practical project including preliminary research results and their paleoanthropological implications. This will further help refine and develop their general topical interest into a viable doctoral research topic, and also provide valuable experience in paleoanthropological theory and method.
- Students will compile their own provisional reading list; additional advanced readings will be assigned and span methodological, empirical and theoretical types.
- Readings will also be supplemented by select websites, documentaries and basic fieldwork at local libraries, academic institutions, archives, heritage sites, museums and to other relevant locations of scientific, educational and cultural significance.
- Active participation expected in intensive critical discussions, oral presentations (including intellectual debates and conference presentations), pinpointed writing exercises and/or specific task-based laboratory exercises (if required) at IISER Mohali or other suitable institutions.
- Laboratory methods to be learned can include modeling, petrography (eg. XRF), geochronology (eg. OSL, paleomag, C14), osteology, geochemistry (e.g. stable isotopes), statistics of large databases, genetic studies, remote sensing and GIS, laser scanning, computer applications, brain imaging, palynology, microscopy (eg. optical, SEM) and so forth. Materials to be analyzed can include sediments, plants, vegetables, meat, stone, wood, bone, teeth, antler, shell, eggshell, terracotta, tin, copper, bronze, iron, pigment, paint, cloth, leather and so forth.
- Malainey, Mary E., A Consumer’s Guide to Archaeological Science, Springer Press, 2011.
- Select advanced papers from Nature, Science, PLoS ONE, J. of Archaeological Science, J. of Human Evolution, J. of Archaeological Method and Theory and Current Anthropology.
