Archaeology of Complex Societies

This seminar examines the concept of complexity from an archaeological perspective. It surveys various cultural traditions, focusing on issues associated with the emergence and development of social, economic and political complexity such as the advent of sedentism, early villages, the evolution of urban, literate societies, city-states and incipient supra-regional polities, and ancient "world empires". Students should complete the subject with a critical understanding of historical and contemporary theoretical issues in archaeological research and interpretation concerned with complexity, and have a knowledge of various methodologies utilised toward these interpretative ends.

运用考古学研究复杂社会结构与演变。

• 1Discuss historical and contemporary theoretical issues in archaeological research and interpretation concerned with complexity
• 2Utilize various methodologies toward these interpretation concerned with complexity
• 3Analyse and evaluate the material remains and archaeological evidence of complex societies, including their social, political, economic, and religious structures, and the processes that contributed to their rise and decline
• 4Critically examine the challenges and limitations associated with studying complex societies through archaeological data, and develop strategies to address these challenges through interdisciplinary approaches and innovative techniques.