Anthropology, the field of study that explores culture relativistically and holistically, is uniquely positioned to teach us about how social differences shape and have been shaped by political, economic, and cross-cultural relationships within the U.S. We will do so in this class by examining topics through the disciplinary frameworks of Indigenous archaeology, post- colonial anthropology, and decolonization. We will explore the cultures of several Indigenous societies in Eastern North America from their first arrival in the region to today. We will examine past and present societies and their connections through archaeology, ethnohistory, and ethnography. We will also focus on three consistent themes: diversity, colonization, and resilience.
