Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Spring Semester 2026
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
ANTH 251 001 (CRN: 24321)
SCIENCE OF THE HUMAN PAST
Long Title: THE SCIENCE OF THE HUMAN PAST
Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Prendergast, Mary
Meeting: 2:30PM - 3:45PM TR (12-JAN-2026 - 24-APR-2026)
Part of Term: Full Term
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Distribution Group: Distribution Group II
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 3
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 50
Section Enrolled: 23
Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 25-NOV-2025 7:28AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: This course introduces students to scientific methods that archaeologists use to reconstruct past human lives. Students will explore not only how each method works, but the strengths and weaknesses of each approach when trying to interpret what happened in the past. Emphasis will be placed on gaps and biases in the archaeological record, and the need for multiple lines of evidence to make inferences about human behavior. The course includes analysis of the organic record (e.g., plant and animal remains), the inorganic record (e.g., stone, glass, clay, and metal artifacts), remote sensing techniques for site discovery, and how archaeologists apply artificial intelligence to large datasets. Throughout the course, students will engage with ethical questions surrounding scientific approaches to human cultural and biological heritage.