Anth 336 New World Prehistory
Dr. Darlene Applegate
Fall 2006
Suggested Topics for Research Paper
Peopling of the New World North America Mesoamerica South America
* look in the textbook for additional ideas *
* look in the textbook for additional ideas *
GENERAL TOPIC IDEAS
when humans entered the New World
how humans entered the New World
where the first migrants came from / original homeland of humans who entered the New World
number of prehistoric migrations of humans into the New World
specific site that provides evidence of early human occupations in
the New World (e.g., Meadowcroft, Topper, Old Crow Flats, Orogrande)
the lifeways of the first migrants into the New World
the contributions of a particular archaeologist to the study of New
World peopling (e.g., James Adovasio, Tom Dillehay, Dennis Stanford)
SPECIFIC TOPIC IDEAS
the Clovis site: defining the earliest period of human occupation in North America
the Monte Verde site: redefining the earliest period of human occupation in the New World
evidence of Ice Age occupations at the Meadowcroft Shelter in Pennsylvania
early mastodon kill sites in the upper Midwest: evidence from Michigan
evidence for pre-Clovis occupations in the New World
linguistic evidence of prehistoric New World migrations
new evidence of Solutrean (Upper Paleolithic European) migrations into the New World
the fluted projectile point tool tradition
subsistence adaptations of the early migrants
bioarchaeological evidence of the first Americans: a survey of the oldest human skeletal remains in the New World
the Kennewick Man controversy as it relates to the peopling of the New World
Vance Haynes: in pursuit of the earliest Americans
how AMS radiocarbon dating and radiocarbon calibration are changing our understanding of when humans entered the New World
indigenous peoples' reactions to archaeological evidence and explanations about the peopling of the New World
how archaeological evidence and explanations about the peopling of
the
New World is presented in elementary and secondary school curricula
GENERAL TOPIC IDEAS
archaeological investigations at a particular site
the technological developments of a particular group
the subsistence adaptation of a particular group or in a particular area
prehistoric trade and exchange of a particular group or in a particular area
socio-political organization of a particular group or in a particular area
cosmology, belief systems or iconography of a particular group
the contributions of a particular archaeologist to the study of
North
American prehistory
SPECIFIC TOPIC IDEAS
Cahokia: a late prehistoric city in the Mississippi valley
Jamestown: archaeological investigations at an early British
settlement
Lower Shawneetown: an early historic archaeological site in northern
Kentucky
archaeological investigations at the Spiro Mounds, Oklahoma
archaeological interpretations of the Medicine Wheel site
the archaeology of Pueblo Bonito
the painted pottery tradition of the American Southwest
beadwork in the Far West
ivory technology in the Arctic/Subarctic
Adena moundbuilding in the Eastern Woodlands
copper exchange networks in the Eastern Woodlands
the Hopewell Interaction Sphere
the adoption of maize agriculture in the Eastern Woodlands
the shift to food production in the American Southwest
bison hunting adaptations on the Plains
new evidence of cannibalism among prehistoric puebloans in the American Southwest
lifeways of the Thule in the Arctic/Subarctic
lifeways of the Desert Culture of the Far West
archaeoastronomy in the American Southwest
the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex: pre-contact belief systems and iconography
the "myth of the moundbuilders"
the riverine expeditions of C. B. Moore
Frederick Putnam and the professionalization of American archaeology
Alfred Kidder's contributions to Southwest archaeology
the nature and consequences of European contact with Native
Americans
GENERAL TOPIC IDEAS
archaeological investigations at a particular site
the technological developments of a particular group
the subsistence adaptation of a particular group or in a particular area
prehistoric trade and exchange of a particular group or in a particular area
socio-political organization of a particular group or in a particular area
cosmology, belief systems or iconography of a particular group
the contributions of a particular archaeologist to the study of
Mesoamerican
prehistory
SPECIFIC TOPIC IDEAS
La Venta: early Olmec site on Mexico's Gulf coast
city planning and architecture at Teotihuacan
archaeological investigations at Tula, the Toltec capital
patterns of pyramid use in Mesoamerica
jade use in Mesoamerica
Mixtec gold metallurgy
the Tehuacan Valley: early evidence of plant domestication and food production
the use of chinampas in Mesoamerican agriculture
Mayan silvaculture
obsidian trade routes in Mesoamerica
the origins of the Classic Maya civilization
archaeological explanations for the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization
Formative Period cultures in Mesoamerica
social stratification in Aztec society
the were-jaguar motif in Mesoamerican iconography and art
the Mayan pantheon
the Danzantes of Monte Alban
the Mesoamerican practice of human sacrifice
Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire
Richard MacNeish's contributions to archaeological investigation of the origins of agriculture in Mesoamerica
Tatiana Proskouriakoff's contributions to the decipherment of Mayan
writing
GENERAL TOPIC IDEAS
archaeological investigations at a particular site
the technological developments of a particular group
the subsistence adaptation of a particular group or in a particular area
prehistoric trade and exchange of a particular group or in a particular area
socio-political organization of a particular group or in a particular area
cosmology, belief systems or iconography of a particular group
the contributions of a particular archaeologist to the study of
South
American prehistory
SPECIFIC TOPIC IDEAS
the Nasca Lines of Peru: new interpretations about their age and function
monumental public architecture at Macchu Picchu
sacred architecture at Cuzco, the Inca capital
trephination, an ancient form of skull surgery
archaeological evidence of "the myth of El Dorado"
Inca road systems
general patterns of pyramid construction and use in Andean South America
the quipu, the Peruvian method of record keeping
the textile industry in ancient Andean South America
archaeological evidence of the practice of mummification
Moche portrait vessels / head pots
the maritime foundations theory for the origins of complex society in Andean South America
animal domestication in Andean South America
social organization in Wari society
Tiwanaku empire building
the institution of the Inca [sacred kingship]
Chavin iconography
Spanish conquest of the Inca empire