ANTH385:DivineLordsandEarthMonsters:ArchaeologyoftheMayaSemester:Meetingtime:Classroom:Instructor:Office:Officehours:Officenumber:Email:CourseDescriptionProvidesanoverviewofMayasocietyaspartoftheMesoamericanculturearea.Usesarchaeological,ethnographicandethnohistoricsources,worksofart,andactualMayahieroglyphictextstoexploreallfacetsofMayasocietythroughtime.TopicsincludeindigenousandscientificoverviewofMayacultureorigins,socialandpoliticalorganization,interactionswithotherMesoamericancivilizations,architecture,art,agriculture,hieroglyphicwriting,mythology,cosmologyandreligion,thecollapse,theSpanishcolonialperiod,andcontemporaryMaya.
Prerequisite/Corequisites:Therearenoprerequisitesorcorequisitesforthisclass.
StudentLearningOutcomeso StudentwillbeabletosummarizethehistoricaltrajectoryofAncientMayacivilization(Topics2-
11).o Studentwillbeabletoidentifymajortime-periodsofMayacivilizationandrelatedhistorical
trendsoccurringduringthem(Alltopics).o StudentwillbeabletoexplainhowtheMayacalendarworks(Topic5).o StudentwillbeabletoreadandtranslateMayahieroglyphictextsonabasiclevel(Topics5,6,7,
8).o Studentwillbeabletodiscusstheritualandsymbolicimportanceofgeographiclandmarksto
theMaya(Topics4,8).
GeneralEducationLearningOutcomeso Compareandcontrastrelationshipswithinandbetweenhumancultures(Topics3,4,6,9,10,
11)o Communicateeffectivelyinwriting,usingconventionsappropriatetovariouscontextsand
diverseaudiences(ResearchprojectandTopic5).o Find,evaluate,anduseauthoritativeand/orscholarlyinformationtocomprehendalineof
inquiry(Topic5andresearchproject).o Applynumerical/mathematicalconceptsinordertoillustratefundamentalconceptswithin
fieldsofstudy(Topic5).o Describeand/orapplyprinciplesandmethodsthatarenecessarytounderstandthephysicaland
naturalworld(Topics1,2,4,5,8).
Expectationsofstudents:o Studentsareheretolearnandwillbeactiveandengagedparticipantsintheireducation.
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Wall panel from Cancuen, Guatemala showing the appointment of a local lord by the Cancuen king
o Studentswillberespectfulofandopentolisteningtodiverseviewpointsandculturaldifferencesencounteredintheclassroomandthereadings.
o Studentswillattendandcontributetoclassregularly.o Studentswillcometoclasshavingcompletedtheassignmentsforthatday(readings,homework,
etc.).o Studentsshouldbepreparedtoengage inrespectful,academic,evidence-basedconversations
withoneanotherandtheprofessoreveryclassmeeting.o Studentswillconsidertheirownlearningandthatoftheirpeersbeforeusingelectronicdevices
intheclassroom:Askyourself,“Willusingthedevicehaveapositiveimpactonmylearning,whataboutmyclassmates,orwillitdistractmeorthosepeoplearoundme?”
CourseMaterials:Credithourpolicy:PerUniversitypolicy,studentsareexpectedtospendaminimumoftwohoursoutsideoftheclassroomeachweekforeachunitofcreditengagedinlearning.Asathree-unitcourse,studentsinthisclassshouldexpecttospendaminimumofsixhoursperweekoutsideoftheclassroomengagedinlearning.Thattimewillbespentoncoursereadings,translatingMayahieroglyphictexts,andafinalpaper.Coe,MichaelD.,andStephenD.Houston2015TheMaya.ninthed.Thames&Hudson,NewYork.ISBN
9780500291887Coe,MichaelD.,andMarkVanStone2005ReadingtheMayaglyphs.Seconded.Thames&Hudson,NewYork.
ISBN9780500285534Kettunen,Hari,andChristopheG.Helmke 2010 IntroductiontoMayaHieroglyphsWorkbook.Wayeb.Availableforfreedownloadhereor
http://www.mesoweb.com/resources/handbook/WH2005.pdfStatementonUniversityWritingRequirementAllCSUundergraduatestudentsmustdemonstratecompetencyinwritingskillsasarequirementforgraduation.The All-UniversityWriting Requirementmandates every undergraduate course at theUniversitymust have awritingcomponentachievedinavarietyofways.Formoreinformationhttps://www.csusm.edu/policies/active/documents/all%20university%20writing%20requirement.htmlThis course requirementwill bemet throughMayahieroglyphic learningexercises, quizzes andexams, andaresearchprojectGrading(1000pointstotal)
v Onlinequizzes(100points)v 3Exams(600pointstotal) v Mayahieroglyphexercises(100points)v Researchproject(200points)
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Onlinequizzes(100points)OnlinequizzeswillbepostedeachFridayeveningon i-Learnandareduebeforethestartofclass thefollowingMonday.Thequizzeswillbebasedonthatweek’sreadingsandlectureandconsistofmultiplechoice,true-false,andmatchingquestions(~10questionseach).Theonlinequizzesaretobetakenindividually,withouttheaidofothers,althoughreadingsandpersonalclassnotesmaybeusedwhentakingthem.Unauthorizedcollaborationorsharingofquestions inanymedium(verbal,electronic,etc.)willbeconsideredaviolationofCSUSM’sAcademicHonestypolicy.Exams(600points)Thisclasshasthreetotalexams,amidterm(150points)ahieroglyphictexttranslation(250points),anda final exam (200 points). The midterm exam will consist of multiple-choice, true-false, matching,definitions and identifications, and short essay questions drawn from the readings, lecture, and filmswatchedinclass.Theformatofthefinalexamwillbesimilartothemidtermexamsbutwillbecumulative.ThehieroglyphictranslationwillbeatakehomeprojectwherebystudentswillbeMayahieroglyphicexercises(100points)Theseat-homeexercisesarefoundintheCoeandVanStonerequiredtext,supplementedwithfurthermaterialsfromothersources.Completionoftheseexercisesarevitalforpreparingforthefollowingclass’sworkshop.Researchproject(200points)Studentswillwrite an8-page researchpaperon a topic related toMaya archaeology. Possible topicsinclude Maya sites, biography of a Maya archaeologist and their work, an aspect of Maya life,interpretation,description,and/orhistoryofaparticularcarvedmonumentorartifactseeninamuseum,rebuttal of the ancient aliens theory. Papers must contain original research papers, use 6 academicsources,andcontainin-textcitationsandabibliography,bothinSocietyforAmericanArchaeologyformat(seelinkbelowand“Generalguidelines”documentoni-Learn).http://www.saa.org/Portals/0/SAA/Publications/StyleGuide/StyleGuide_Final_813.pdf.
COURSEPOLICIESAcademicintegritypolicyStudents are expected to adhere to the standards of academic honesty and integrity outlined in theStudent Academic Honesty Policy. All assignments must be original work, clear, and error-free. Allideas/materialthatareborrowedorparaphrasedfromothersourcesmusthaveappropriatereferencesto the original sources. Any quoted material should give credit to the source and be punctuatedaccordingly.Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy: Students are responsible for honest completion andrepresentation of their work. Your course catalog details the ethical standards and penalties forinfractions.Therewillbezero tolerance for infractions. If youbelieve therehasbeenan infractionbysomeone in theclass,pleasebring it to the instructor’sattention.The instructor reserves the right todisciplineanystudentforacademicdishonesty,inaccordancewiththegeneralrulesandregulationsoftheuniversity.Disciplinaryactionmayincludetheassignmentofafailinggradeforanexam,assignment,or theclassasawhole.Youareexpected tobe familiarwithCSUSM’sAcademicHonestyPolicy in itsentirety,foundhere:http://www.csusm.edu/policies/active/documents/Academic_Honesty_Policy.html
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Review the above policy, and after you have done so, e-mail me acknowledging you have read,understood,andwillabidebythepoliciesthere,aswellasthoselaidoutinthissyllabus.Studentsareexpectedtoabidebyalluniversityandcoursepolicieswhetherornottheyhavesentthisemailtotheprofessor.ADApolicyStudentswith disabilitieswho require reasonable accommodationsmust be approved for services byprovidingappropriateandrecentdocumentationfromtheOfficeofDisabledStudentServices(DSS).ThisofficeislocatedinCravenHall4300,andcanbecontactedbyphoneat(760)750-4905,orTTY(760)750-4909, and by email sent to [email protected]. Students authorized by DSS to receive reasonableaccommodationsshoulddiscusstheirneedwithmeduringmyofficehourstoensureconfidentiality.AttendanceandparticipationpolicyAttendanceandactiveparticipationinclassisrequiredaspartofuniversityanddepartmentpolicy,andwillhaveindirectanddirectimpactsonyourfinalgrade.Sinceyouwillbeexpectedtoknowthematerialcoveredinclassmeetings,discussions,andmoviesfortheexams,youshouldexpecttoattendeveryclass.If you are going tomiss class, please do not e-mailme and ask if we are going to go over anythingimportant,orifIcangooverwhatyoumissedinclass.Everythingwegooverisimportant,andIcannotgiveprivatelectures.Instead,ifyouneedtomissaclass,makearrangementsbeforehandwithoneofyourclassmatestotakenotesforyou,ifpossible,andthencomeseemeduringofficehoursforitemsyouneedfurtherclarificationon.Classparticipationcanaddorsubtractfromyourfinalgradeoutsideofthepointsystem,andmadeattheinstructor’sdiscretion.Forstudentswhoconsistentlymakepositivecontributionstoclassdiscussions,andwhocometoclasswellprepared,Imayraisetheirgradebyahalf-grade(e.g.,fromaBtoaB+).Likewise,studentswhoaredisruptiveinclass,arepoorlypreparedfordiscussions,orhaveanexcessivenumberofabsenceswillhavetheirgradereducedbyahalf-grade(e.g.,fromaCtoaC-).Studentsmissingmorethanhalfofthesemester’sclasseswillreceiveanFinthecourse,regardlessofstanding.ElectronicspolicyCountlessstudieshaveshowntakingnotesbyhandratherthanbycomputergreatlyimprovesretention(e.g.http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/).Thesesamesuiteofstudieshaveshowntheuseofelectronicdevicesfornon-classpurposesdistractsthosearoundyoufromlearningaswell.Foryourbenefitandthesakeofyourclassmates,keepelectronicsusetoaminimumduringclasstime,includinglaptops,aswellasusingdevicesfortweeting,instagramming,etc.Please,foralloursakes,turnofforsilenceyourphonesbeforeenteringtheclassroom.Ifelectronicusebecomesadistractiontoyourclassmates,orme,thosedeviceswillbebannedforeveryonefromtheclassroom.Absolutelynoaudioorvideorecording,orphotographingoflecturesispermittedunlessduetoneeddocumentedbyOfficeofDisabledStudentServicesandpreviouslyclearedwithmeduringofficehours.Ifyoumissedsomethingthatwasonaslideorsomethingremainsunclear,pleasedonothesitatetoaskmetogobackandclarify,askafellowstudentfornotesafterclass,orcomeseemeduringofficehours.EmailpolicyCollege is a professional setting and your e-mails here are formal communications with otherprofessionals.AlwaysuseyourCSUSMe-mailaccountwhene-mailingme.Iwillnotopenmessagessentfrom private accounts, especially those containing attachments. Each new message should have an
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informativesubject(e.g.,questionaboutclasstopic),apropergreeting(e.g.,DearDr.Spenard),andasalutationthatincludesyournameandmyclassyouareattending(e.g.,sincerely,YourName,ANTH370).Icheckmye-mailregularlyandwilltrytorespondwithin24hoursontheweekdays(M-R),and48hoursovertheweekend(F-Su).Ifyouhavenotheardfrommebythattime,resendyoure-mail,or,betteryet,cometalktomeduringofficehours.Typically,Iwillrespondtoe-mailsuntil9:00pmthenightbeforeamajor deadline (term paper, exam, etc.); however, I will not answer questions requiring complexresponses (e.g.,Canyouexplain the relationshipbetween temple state-level society inMesopotamia,again?).Suchquestionsarebestaskedduringclassorinofficehourswherewecanhaveaface-to-faceconversation.Ifyouhaveaquestionregardingadefinitionofaterm,orthelike,trylookingintheindexorglossaryofyourbook,ordoingaquickgooglesearchbeforesendingmeane-mail.You’llgetyouranswerquicker,andyou’llbeginlearningtobeanactiveparticipantwithyoureducationLateworkpolicyAllassignmentsandpapersareduewhenlistedinthesyllabus.Lateassignmentswillbepenalizedafulllettergradeforeachdaylate.Unlessotherwisenoted,allassignmentsmustbeturnedinduringclass.
CourseScheduleTopic1:Introductiontofour-fieldsofAnthropologyTopic2:IntroductiontotheMayaandtheMayaWorldTopic3:PeoplingofMesoamericaTopic4:TheOlmec,precursoroftheMayaTopic5:MayaOrigins:Thearchaeologicalevidence,andthePopolVuh(Mayastoryofcreationrecordedin16thcentury)Topic6:ReadingMayahieroglyphs,readingMayahistoryTopic7:TeotihuacanandtheMaya:TheEarlyClassicperiodTopic8:LateClassicperiodTopic9:ReligionandRitualTopic10:TheCollapseandthePostClassicperiodTopic11:TheMayaintheSpanishColonialworldTopic12:TheMayatoday
