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. Please type all the
work you turn in. Anything turned in after class is considered late.

April 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.

May 10 – 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 each 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.

May 21– 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.

June 1 – 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 (if you wish to do something else, please check
with me first):

South and East Asia South America

Mohenjodaro Monte Verde, Chile
Harappa Chavín de Huántar culture
Lung-shan culture Moche culture
Shang civilization Sipán culture
Zhou civilization Nazca culture
Qin civilization Tiwanaku civilization
Wari civilization
Near East Chimú civilization
Çatalhöyük, Turkey Chan Chan
Jericho, Israel Inca (Tawantinsuyu) civilization
Uruk Cuzco
Sumerian civilization Machu Picchu
Akkadian civilization
Assyria Mesoamerica
Babylon Olmec civilization
Hittite civilization Zapotec civilization
Phoenician civilization Monte Albán
Early Israelite civilization Teotihuacán
Maya civilization
Egypt Palenque
Giza Tikal
Saqqara Copán
Memphis Chichén Itzá
Thebes Toltec civilization
Specific pharaohs and kings Tula/Tollan
Aztec civilization
Europe Tenochtitlán
Varna, Bulgaria
Carnac, France North America
Newgrange, Ireland Hohokam culture
Stonehenge, England Mogollon culture
Minoan civilization Ancestral Pueblo culture
Mycenean civilization Chaco Canyon
The “Sea Peoples” Mesa Verde
Pueblo Bonito
South Pacific Adena culture
Australia aboriginal cultures Hopewell culture
Lapita peoples Mississippian culture
Easter Island Cahokia