ANT 104: FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE


Part I: Origins of H. sapiens (multiple choice - 20% of exam grade)

• You should have a clear understanding of the competing Out-of-Afria and Multiregional hypotheses regarding WHEN H. sapiens first evolved, WHERE H. sapiens first evolved, and what these hypotheses suggest about the nature of interaction between H. sapiens and archaic humans species.


• You should also have a clear understanding of how PHYSICAL evidence (geography/timing of skeletal remains, skeletal morphology, stone tools, DNA, etc) support or refute these two competing hypotheses.


• Finally, you should have an understanding of how these hypotheses and evidence likely point to a third, compromise hypothesis that incorporates aspects of both the Out-of-Africa and Multiregional ideas.

Part II: Peopling of the New World (multiple choice - 20% of exam grade)

• You should have a clear understanding of the competing Clovis First, Coastal Migration, and Solutrean hypotheses regarding WHEN humans first reached the New World and what route they traveled to enter the Americas.


• You should also have a clear understanding of how PHYSICAL evidence (geography/timing of skeletal remains, paleoenvironmental conditions, stone tools, DNA, etc) support or refute aspects of these three competing hypotheses.

Part III: Cultural Complexity (short answer - 30% of exam grade)

• Be prepared to discuss three cultures from our WPP (including WHEN and WHERE they existed) that you believe clearly fit in the traditional anthropological categorization of "civilization" or "state-level" complexity.


• Justify your conclusions with PHYSICAL evidence that demonstrates complexity in the subtopics of: (1) economy; (2) politics; (3) religion; (4) writing; and (5) military.

Part IV: Collapse (short answer - 10% of exam grade)

• Be prepared to describe the downfall/abandonment/collapse of TWO different cultures from our WPP. Your description should include: (1) WHERE and WHEN the cultures existed and collapsed; and (2) leading scientific hypotheses and evidence regarding the factor(s) that triggered the downfall of the cultures.

Part V: Archaeology and Modern Politics (short answer - 10% of exam grade)

• Be prepared to discuss TWO specific examples that illustrate how archaeology has intertwined with modern or recent (20th or 21st century) politics. Make sure to include details regarding WHO, WHERE, and WHEN. While our WPP provides several good case studies, your examples DO NOT need to be drawn directly from the WPP. IMPORTANT: archaeological sites and their role(s) as conserved tourist attractions or protected landmarks are NOT sufficient!

Part VI: Past and Future (short answer - 10% of exam grade)

• Based on what you have learned in this course, what would you say was the singel most BENEFICIAL change in human lifestyle throughout prehistory. Describe WHEN, WHERE, and HOW this change first seemed to influence human life in our WPP.


• Based on what you have learned in this course, what would you say were the single most DETRIMENTAL change in human lifestyle throughout prehistory. Describe WHEN, WHERE, and HOW this change first seemed to influence human life in our WPP.