World Prehistory

Research Paper Assignment

200 points

In a 6-10 typed, double-spaced, 12 point font paper (double-sided is acceptable), discuss

a famous site, culture, or civilization relevant to the course.

Some possible sites are listed as “Key Sites” in the text’s expanded Table of Contents,
pages 6-16. Also see below for some of the locations and cultures discussed in class.
Note that I do not include Classical Greece and Rome in this course.

Your discussion should place the site into its spatial and temporal context and be a review
of the anthropological literature of the subject. While there are some respectable
websites, I will not accept websites as acceptable resources. In other words, only
academic books and journal articles are acceptable sources. Journal articles can be
obtained through EPSCO and ProQuest: newspaper articles are not acceptable.

There are a series of due dates for the research paper assignment.

January 19 – Your topic is due along with five academic references (no websites or
newspaper articles!). Indicate what you are specifically looking at regarding the site
(what is the specific topic of your paper) and why you have chosen the topic. If turned in
on time, the specific topic portion is worth 25 points and the five references are worth 25
points. If late, you will receive half credit for each.

February 5 – An annotated bibliography is due for at least five academic references (no
websites or newspaper articles). You should provide a one or two paragraph summary of
how the reference relates to your topic, including some of the important information that
you will include in your paper – this means you should have read the article and
preferably the book. Also include the credentials of the author. The annotated
bibliography is worth up to 25 points. If late, you will receive at most half credit.

February 22 – A detailed outline of your paper is due. You should outline the major
sections for your paper, including the Introduction and Conclusion, and the subtopics
within the different major sections. The detailed outline is worth up to 25 points. If late,
you will receive at most half credit.

March 8 – The research paper is due. Cite your references in text using MLA or any
other standard format. The paper is worth up to 100 points. For each day the paper is late
you will lose 10 points.
 World Prehistory

Some sites and cultures discussed in class:

South and East Asia

Mohenjodaro
Harappa
Lung-shan culture
Shang civilization
Zhou civilization
Qin civilization

Near East
Çatalhöyük, Turkey
Jericho, Israel
Uruk
Sumerian civilization
Akkadian civilization
Assyria
Babylon
Hittite civilization
Phoenician civilization
Early Israelite civilization

Egypt
Giza
Saqqara
Memphis
Thebes
Important pharaohs and kings

Europe
Varna, Bulgaria
Carnac, France
Newgrange, Ireland
Stonehenge, England
Minoan civilization
Mycenean civilization
The “Sea Peoples”

South Pacific
Australia aboriginal cultures
Lapita peoples
Easter Island
 World Prehistory

South America
Monte Verde, Chile
Chavín de Huántar culture
Moche culture
Sipán culture
Nazca culture
Tiwanaku civilization
Wari civilization
Chimú civilization
Chan Chan
Inca (Tawantinsuyu) civilization
Cuzco
Machu Picchu

Mesoamerica
Olmec civilization
Zapotec civilization
Monte Albán
Teotihuacán
Maya civilization
Palenque
Tikal
Copán
Chichén Itzá
Toltec civilization
Tula/Tollan
Aztec civilization
Tenochtitlán

North America
Hohokam culture
Mogollon culture
Ancestral Pueblo culture
Chaco Canyon
Mesa Verde
Pueblo Bonito
Adena culture
Hopewell culture
Mississippian culture
Cahokia