THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2007/2008
- ARCHIVE for reference only
THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
Home : College of Humanities and Social Science : School of Social and Political Studies (Schedule J) : Social Anthropology

Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers (U00519)

? Credit Points : 20  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : SPS-3-SACONHUNT

This course explores ethnography of the world's hunting-and-gathering societies and the contributions made through this ethnography to anthropological theory and contemporary debate. Regions covered include Southern and Central Africa; Aboriginal Australia; the Arctic, Subarctic and Northwest Coast of North America; Indigenous South America; and Foraging Populations of South and Southeast Asia. Theoretical ideas and debates include notions of immediate and delayed-return economic systems, the 'original affluent society', the revisionist debate (on the extent and meaning of culture contact in historic periods), and the indigenous debate (on whether special rights should be accorded to hunter-gatherers by virtue of legally-defined indigeneity).

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Visiting students must have prior study in Social Anthropology or closely related subject area; as a general guide we usually require students to have completed three courses at grade B or above.

Subject Areas

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information
10/01/2008 14:00 15:50 Room G13, Adam Ferguson Building Central

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area
Lecture Thursday 14:00 15:50 Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:
- describe the lifestyles of a variety of hunter-gatherer peoples;
- make meaningful comparisons within and between regions on aspects of subsistence economy, kinship, gender roles, religious belief and ritual, etc.; and
- formulate ethnographically-informed opinions on issues such as social development in hunter-gatherer communities.
They should also be able to engage in debate on theoretical issues in hunter-gatherer studies and understand the relation of these to wider issues in anthropological and social theory.

Assessment Information

One essay of 3000 to 3500 words (80%)
One book review or short assignment of up to 750 words (20%)

Contact and Further Information

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Mrs Moira Young
Tel : (0131 6)50 3933
Email : Moira.Young@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Prof Alan Barnard
Tel : (0131 6)50 3938
Email : A.Barnard@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/

Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Prospectuses
Important Information
Timetab
 
copyright 2007 The University of Edinburgh