ANTH 4120/5120 Advanced
Physical Anthropology (Hominid Paleoecology)
Fall 2009
Meeting Place: Hale 455
Meeting Time: M 12-2:30 pm
Professor: Dr. Matt Sponheimer
Office: Hale 347
Office Hours: M 2:30-5:30 pm
Phone: 303-735-2065
Email: matt.sponheimer@colorado.edu
Website: http://www.colorado.edu/anthropology/sponheimer
Mirror: http://melampus.colorado.edu/class
Class Overview
The goal of this class is to introduce you to current thinking about hominid paleoecology. The course will have four sections. Section I (~5 weeks) will be a brief review of current thinking about human evolution and an introduction to human and non-human primate ecology. In Sections II and III (~6 weeks), we will explore methods for paleoenvironmental and paleodietary reconstruction respectively, with an emphasis on australopith paleoecology. In Section IV (~5 weeks) we will concentrate on the ecology of early Homo and you will give your presentations in class.
Reading
We will read Ian Tattersall's The Fossil Trail (second edition) as a background text, with the balance of the readings in the form of book chapters and journal articles. These readings will be available on a secure webpage (https://melampus.colorado.edu/class/readings/4120).
Class Format
This is an upper division seminar. You are expected to actively and vocally engage with the concepts introduced every class.
Grading
You will be evaluated on your class participation (40%), a mid-term paper (20% each), a final paper (20%) and class presentation (20%).
Disabilities
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please bring me a letter from Disability Services so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services (303-492-8671, Willard 322, www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices) determines accommodations based on documented disabilities.
Dates to Remember
Presentations November 30th and December 7th.