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| Ecological Perspectives in Heritage Resources Management Anthropology
Anthropology 689
(605)
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| Course
Syllabus |
| Course Description:
Practical training in assessment/management of archaeological, historical, and cultural properties; emphasis on research in ecological archaeology; interrelationships between humans and food/non-food resources; other issues in human ecology related to specific properties to be assessed/managed; provides opportunities for hands-on experience in proposal preparation, contract administration, archival/field/lab work, and report writing.
Requirements:
Consistent attendance and participation in related research, and field/lab work; timely completion of research and other assignments; work as a strong team player; lead discussions on to-be-assigned topics and; prepare/submit a subsection(s) of a proposal(s) on this topic(s). In consultation with faculty members from the overall proposal/planning team, students will develop, revise, and incorporate their individual projects into a draft proposal(s). |
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Texts:
- Briuer, Frederick L., 1996 Cultural Resource Significance Evaluation: Proceedings of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Workshop, 3-4 October 1994, Vicksburg, Mississippi . Institute for Water Resources Report 96-EL-3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Water Resources Support Center, Institute of Water Resources, Alexandria, Virginia.
- Campbell, T. N., 1975 The Payaya Indians of Southern Texas . Special Publication No. 1, Southern Texas Archaeological Association.
- Campbell, T. N., 1988 Indians of Southern Texas and Northeastern Mexico: Selected Writings of Thomas Nolan Campbell . Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin.
- Campbell, T. N. and T. J. Campbell, 1985 Indian Groups Associated with Spanish Missions of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park . Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Special Report 16.
- Carlson, David L., (Compiler) 1997 Cultural Resources Management: Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines . Copy on file at the Center for Ecological Archaeology, Texas A&M University.
- Fox, D. E., 1983 Traces of Texas History: Archeological Evidence of the Past 450 Years . Corona Publishing Company, San Antonio.
- Friends of the Medina River 1997 Medina River Charrett: A Collaborative Planning Workshop. Ms. on file at the Center for Ecological Archaeology, Texas A&M University, College Station.
- Godwin, M. F., 1997 Antiquities Compliance: A Guide to Archaeological Clearance for Construction Projects on Texas Nonfederal Public Lands. Antiquities Planning & Consulting, Klye Texas.
- Green, M., R. Moir, and K. Hindes, 1992 Draft Report: Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area. Archaeology Research Program, Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
- Institute of Texan Cultures, 1980s/1990s Pamphlets and books on ethnic groups, including: The Indian Texans, The Anglo-American Texans, The Afro-American in Texas, The Spanish Texans, The Mexican Texas , and The German Texans . University of Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio.
- Kronkosky Foundation Web Page: http://www.kronkosky.org/index.htm
- Mandel, R. D. and S. C. Caran (editors), 1992 Late Cenozoic Alluvial Stratigraphy and Prehistory of the Inner Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central Texas. Ms. on file at the Center for Ecology Archaeology, TAMU, College Station.
- McGraw, A. J. and K. Hindes, 1987 Chipped Stone and Adobe: A Cultural Resources Assessment of the Proposed Applewhite Reservoir, Bexar County, Texas . Center for Archaeological Research, Archaeological Survey Report No. 163. The University of Texas at San Antonio.
- Mercado-Allinger, P., N. A. Kenmotsu, and T. K. Perttula 1996 Archaeology in the Central and Southern Planning Region, Texas: A Planning Document . Office of the State Archeologist, Special Report 35 and the Department of Antiquities Protection, Cultural Resources Management Report 7. Texas Historical Commission, Austin.
- Olson, Richard K, 1992 Integrating Sustainable Agriculture, Ecology, and Environmental Policy . The Hawthorn Press, Inc., New York.
- Smith, George S., F. P. McManamon, R. D. Anzalone, J. W. Hand, and J. C. Maxon (compilers), 1988 Archaeology and the Federal Government. CRM Bulletin 11:1-18
- Texas A&M University System, 1998 Statement of Interest for the Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas. Ms. on file at the Center for Ecological Archaeology, Texas A&M University, College Station.
- Thoms, A.V., D. D. Kuehn, B. W. Olive, J. E. Dockall, P. A. Clabaugh, and R. D. Mandel, 1996 Early and Middle Holocene Occupations at the Richard Beene Site: The 1995 Southern Texas Archaeological Field School Project. La Tierra 23(4):8-36.
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SPECIAL TOPIC :
Course taught in conjunction with efforts by Texas A&M University System to develop proposals for the establishment the Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas at an abandoned dam area south of San Antonio, also the site of CEA's on-going Medina River Archaeological Project (i.e., Applewhite Reservoir) for the San Antonio Water System. The overall proposal and planning project involves faculty members from the Departments of Anthropology, Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Rangeland and Ecology, and Wildlife and Fisheries, as well as the Architecture Visualization Laboratory, College of Liberal Arts, Historical Resources Imaging Laboratory, Institute of Food Science and Engineering, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and Texas Agricultural Extension Service. They will participate in the seminar as advisors and discussants in their fields of interests.
The course includes lectures, discussions, research, illustrating/writing, and overnight field trips to the project area . Its primary objectives are to compile and apply baseline ecological, historical, anthropological, and archaeological data useful in planning for the proposed Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas, including: (1) living-history interpretative centers that illustrate the past 600 years of land-use along the lower Medina River, including Native hunter-gatherer, Spanish Colonial (open-range ranching), Antebellum (cash crops), tenant farm (cash/food crops), and sustainable systems of the future; (2) open-air archaeological and paleoecological exhibits that depict aspects of human land use, climate, hydrology, vegetation patterns and wildlife over the last 12-15,000 years; (3) on-site research opportunities in archaeological and paleoecological studies, historical land use, and cultural diversity, low-impact/sustained production, ecosystems management, and range/farmland water conservation; (4) on-site educational opportunities, including visitation and tours by the public, schools and special-interest groups, classroom instruction and research; (5) on-site collections management, including ecological samples, artifacts, and records; (6) on-site professional training in cultural resources management, historical land-use issues, paleoecological studies, natural ecosystems, sustained agricultural production, water conservation, etc.; and (7) related off-site commercial concepts, including a conference/retreat center. Research topics and proposal preparation tasks will be assigned based on each student's interests and on class needs. |
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Class Grade :
Based on participation in seminar/research and quality of proposal contribution To accomplish class objectives and earn an "A" will require 12-15 hrs/wk of hands-on work/research.
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Schedule:
| Week |
LECTURE TOPICS |
| Week 1 |
Introduction to the course and class project; students' initial statements of interest.
Assignment: (1) familiarize yourself with all articles/books on the preliminary reading list and read (2) Medina River Charrett (Friends of the Medina 1997) and (3) Statement of Interest for the Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas (TAMUS 1998). Guest Comments: Dr. Ben Crouch (Executive Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts) on Texas A&Ms, proposed Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas (LHIA). SHOW-AND-TELL DAY TRIP TO MEDINA RIVER SITE, SAT., SEPT. 5, accompanied by faculty members involved in developing the Land-Heritage Institute of the Americas |
| Week 2 |
Overview of legally-mandated cultural resources management and its role in the Applewhite Reservoir construction project; initial assignment of student/team research topics/tasks. Assignment: (1) review Cultural Resources Management... (Carlson 1997); and (2) read: (a) Archaeology and the Federal Government (Smith et. al 1988); (b) Cultural Resource Significance Evaluation... (Briuer 1996); and (c) Antiquities Compliance... (Godwin 1997); Guest Speaker: Dr. Scott Shafer (assistant professor, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Sciences) on concept and design for LHIA as a low-impact, use-friendly greenway. |
| Week 3 |
Paleoecology: earth sciences (paleoclimates and landscape evolution), on-site research and educational opportunities , interpretative centers/exhibits. Assignment: (1) read chapters in Late Cenozoic Alluvial Stratigraphy and Prehistory of the Inner Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central Texas (Mandel and Caran 1992): (a) Bomar on modern climate; (b) Caran on Quaternary stratigraphy; (c) Dering and Bryant on climatic change as evidenced by the plant macrofossil record; and (d) Neck on climatic change as evidenced by nonmarine molluscs; (2) the geology, soils, and hydrology sections in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Applewhite Reservoir. Guest speakers: Dr. Marty Matlock (Assistant Professor, Agriculture Engineering) on water resources in the San Antonio River basin and Dr. Dale Whittaker (Director, Center for Food Processing Technology, TAMUS) on packaging LHIA, broad-based interest in land-use and the value of experiential education. |
| Week 4 |
No seminar meeting : Research time to develop working bibliography and outlines for individual/team projects as components of overall proposal effort. |
| Week 5 |
Paleoecology: life sciences (plants, animals, human interaction), on-site research and educational opportunities, interpretative centers/exhibits. Assignment: (1) read chapters in Late Cenozoic Alluvial Stratigraphy and Prehistory of the Inner Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central Texas (Mandel and Caran 1992): (a) Baker and Steele on the faunal assemblage from the Richard Beene site, (b) Dering and Bryant on plant macrofossils at the Richard Beene site; and (2) chapter 2 on local modern environment in Draft Report: Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area (Green, Moir, and Hindes 1992). Guest speakers: Professor David Woodcock (Director, Historic Resources Imaging Laboratory, TAMU) on documentation and research and educational potential of standing structures in the study area and Dr. Fran Gelwick (Assistant Professor, Wildlife and Fisheries) on wetland and wildlife education and conservation and GIS-based research. |
| Week 6 |
General Nature and Distribution of Historical and Historical Archaeology Resources: On-site research and educational opportunities. Assignment: (1) Historical Overview, Historic Sites Summary, and Historic Sties Interpretations sections in Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987); and (2) Chapter 3, Historical Background, in Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area (Green, Moir, and Hindes 1992); Guest speaker: Dr. Fred Smeins (Professor, Rangeland Ecology and Management) on vegetation patterns and historical changes in land management practices. WEEKEND TRIP, OCT 10-11, MEDIAN SITE: DATA GATHERING/DOCUMENTATION , with a special presentation by representatives of SAWS (tentatively Mr. Mike Mecke , coordinator-technology review, Data Services Department), as well as American Indians in Texas at Spanish Colonial missions and the Coahuiltecan Nation (tentatively, Mr. Ray Hernandez , director) |
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| Week |
LECTURE TOPICS |
| Week 7 |
Students' presentations of TAMU statement of interest. General Nature and Distribution of Native American Archaeological Resources and Archaeological Land-Use: Research, interpretative trails and exhibits. Assignment: (1) Archaeological Background Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987); and (2) chapter by Thoms on regional archaeology and excavations at the Richard Beene site in Late Cenozoic Alluvial Stratigraphy and Prehistory of the Inner Gulf Coastal Plain, South-Central Texas (Mandel and Caran 1992). |
| Week 8 |
Native American Land-Use (hunter-gatherer): Research, interpretative trails and living exhibits of their place in local land-use systems. Assignment: (1) Archaeological Background: Historic Period section in Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987); (2) Indians of Southern Texas ..... (Campbell 1988); (3) The Payaya Indians.... (Campbell 1975); and (4) Indian Groups Associated with Spanish Colonial Missions... (Campbell and Campbell 1996). Guest Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen (Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, TAMU) on Native American renewal efforts by descendants of mission Indians in San Antonio. |
| Week 9 |
Spanish Colonial Land-Use (open range ranching and subsistence-level farming): Research, interpretative trails and exhibits. Assignment: Re-read sections on Spanish Colonial and Mexican Period Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987) and Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area (Green, Moir, and Hindes 1992). Guest Speaker: Dr. Frederick Parke (Director, Visualization Laboratory, TAMU) on the potential of computer imagery to illustrate historic land-use systems and concepts and TBA on Spanish Colonial and other Historic-Period land-use practices and interpretative potential of Medina River sites. |
| Week 10 |
Antebellum Land-Use (large-scale cash crops and local food production): Research, interpretative trails and exhibits. Re-read sections on Texas Republic, Early Statehood and Antebellum, and Civil War in Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987) and similar sections in Chapter 3 of Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area (Green, Moir, and Hindes 1992) Guest Speaker: TBA , on the role and interpretative potential of African-American sites. |
| Week 11 |
Tenant Land-Use (small-scale cash crops and food crops): Research, interpretative trails and exhibits. Re-read Post Civil War - Industrialization sections from the Historical Overview in Chipped Stone and Adobe.... (McGraw and Hindes 1987) and sections on Reconstruction, Growth...[of] Railroad, Farming Mechanization and Urban Industrialization in Chapter 3 of Historic Archaeological Investigations in the Applewhite Reservoir Project Area (Green, Moir, and Hindes 1992) Guest Speaker: TBA on the role and interpretative potential of Euro-American sites. WEEKEND TRIP, SAT-SUN, NOV 14-15 TO MEDIAN SITE: DATA GATHERING AND DOCUMENTATION , with presentations by representatives of the Friends of the Medina River. |
| Week 12 |
Low-Impact/Sustainable Land-Use (land use of the 21 st century): Research, interpretative center, trails and living exhibits. Assignment: review/read Integrating Sustainable Agriculture, Ecology, and Environmental Policy (Olson, Richard K 1992). Guest Speaker: Dr. Dale Whittaker (Director, Center for Food Processing Technology, TAMUS) on Lone Star Farms and the past as a key to developing a better future. |
| Week 13 |
Lab focus, production and assembly oriented, and catch-up |
| Week 14 |
Lab focus, production and assembly oriented, and catch-up. Final seminar meeting |
| Week 15 |
7 th & 8 th redefined Fri & Thur classes; 9 th & 10 th reading days/no classes; Final exams begin on Friday, the 11 th NO SEMINAR THIS WEEK |
| Week 16 |
FINAL EXAM IS MONDAY NIGHT; ORAL PRESENTATIONS & TURN IN CLASS PROJECTS |
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