Students in this courses absolutely must use their new my.stlcc.edu email account.  The college has partnered with Microsoft Windows Live to offer customized email accounts for students.  In order for my students to receive my messages, they must activate their accounts.  Failure to do so will result in students not receiving important information about the course and official communication about add/drop dates, financial aid information etc. from the college. Go to this website for further instructions: http://www.stlcc.edu/Studentemail/

Purpose of the Course: Anthropology studies who and what we are as human beings and how we came to be that way. The course examines biological and physical differences in living and prehistoric populations, and surveys archaeological study of both Old World and Pre-Columbian American cultures.

Learning Goals:
1. The course is designed to acquaint the student with the disciplines of Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. The student will look at the evolution of the genera of Homo from its earliest beginnings to its condition.

2. It is anticipated that each student will acquire a working knowledge of evolutionary processes affecting past and present human conditions.

3. Learn the uses of Potassium Argon and Radiocarbon Dating techniques to date archaeological and fossil materials as well as salient human osteological changes in primate skeletal structure through time.

4. Each student will be exposed to human and non-human primate fossil evolutionary systems to discern Homo sapien evolution as the final goal of the coarse.

5. Understand some of the issues of ethics in relation to both Archaeology and Physical Anthropology.

Required CD-ROM:

Virtual Laboratories for Introductory Physical Anthropology CD-ROM, Version 4.0, by John Kappelman.

Published 2007 by Wadsworth Publishing.

[Do not use anything other than the 4.0 version]

How do you obtain this? You can get the textbook by one of two methods:

1. Go to the Meramec college bookstore and purchase the book.

2. Go on-line and purchase the book from the college bookstore at:

http://www.stlouisccbookstore.com/meramec/

OK, get ready for it, the CD-ROM is not cheap. Good news is that you will do all your readings as electronic files in Blackboard. This class no longer has a $100 textbook!!! Don't fret, you will read as much as when I used a paperback textbook, but without the price.

Equipment Requirements:

Specific hardware and software requirements are a functional PC or Mac that can support Netscape or Explorer. Personally, I use the Safari program on my Apple PowerBook G4. The computer can be at home, work, or in the college library. You must have the same email address for the entire semester.

Be aware that your email may block emails sent by your teacher UNLESS you put MFuller@STLCC.EDU in your email folder as a good guy (not blocked). Most mail servers are fine. If you don't have your email registered with college then you are just a dead duck in this class! HotMail works.

VERY IMPORTANT...Sign your name to every email that you send me. Even if sending it through blackboard! I have no way of figuring out your handle or funny email name. Always fill-in the subject heading of your email or the college spam filter will eat it.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT....All homework must be submitted in the SUBMIT HERE folder at Blackboard. Do not email your answers to me. Answers emailed through Blackboard are not acceptable. There is no way to assign a grade if the homework was not properly submitted through Blackboard.

MEGA IMPORTANT... When submitting a homework assignment or taking a quiz, then the easy way to FAIL is by having multiple applications running at one time. Students from last semester have demonstrated that you can flunk an assignment by having Windows media player, facebook, myspace and black board at the same time. Blackboard will crash when multiple applications are running.

Calendar of Learning:

The class has a total of 240 points possible.
- 120 points from 3 exams
- 120 points from 12 homework assignments

1. There are 3 Quizzes during the semester. Each quiz is composed of 40 multiple choice questions. You will have precisely 80 minutes to take a quiz in the Blackboard computer system.

Yes, each quiz is open notes. Not fair to have your mother take the quiz (mainly because she won't know the answers!!!). There are "hints" posted on the Blackboard to give you a chance to review and see the level of technicality.

Please submit your quizzes before the deadline so if you have trouble with a submission you can do it again. If you wait until the last moment and have a problem don't expect much sympathy from me.

Beware, if you go surfing for the answers, then that often crashes Blackboard and voids your test. That is very, very bad, because you might have to take an essay makeup examination. You do not want to take the makeup test!!! Makeup tests are far more challenging.

How can you prepare for a quiz? They are going to be very similar (but not exactly like) the practice questions at the back of each assigned chapter. Yes, they can also be related to information you learn on the CD Rom exercises.

2. There are 12 homework assignments related to the textbook, CD-ROM, and internet. The specific questions can only be found by going to the Blackboard website. http://blackboard.stlcc.edu

3. You are welcome to visit me some day at the Meramec campus. Email me ahead of time to make an appointment because I am often out doing archaeological fieldwork or museum research. BUT, you never ever are required to come to campus. No orientation. No sit-down Mid-term. No sit-down Final Examination.

4. The ACCESS OFFICE - disAbility Support Services has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, counsel and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services through the ACCESS OFFICE and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment to see me as soon as possible to discuss you approved accommodation needs. Email me if you have an Instructor Notification Memo provided by the ACCESS OFFICE to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.

5. An Honors Contract can be developed for this class if your GPA is 3.5 or higher. Please contact the Honors Coordinator (Dr. Eric Meyers at 314/984-7555) for more information. Go to http://www.stlcc.edu/mc/dept/honors/index.htm for more information. Please e-mail me if you wish to do this and we can discuss your project.

6. Email me if your are having problems with the course. ALWAYS, always put ANT 101 in the subject heading. ALWAYS tell me your whole name! Don't assume that if you send an email through blackboard that it shares you name with me!!! It does not!

7. I very, very, very rarely give Incomplete grades at the end of the semester. Keep track of your grades and ask me before doing anything rash about dropping the class.

8. HOSE ME DOWN AND I WILL FAIL YOU. Translation: you will be given a failing grade if you cheat on an assignment, cheat on a test, or hack into any of the computer system.

But in this class you can talk loudly and make funny noises. It is OK to spill food and drink on your keyboard. You can even wear inappropriate clothing when taking this class!!! Yup, I can't see you. What happens if you computer is old, slow or dead? Use a college computer in the college library! You need to wear appropriate clothing in the library, by the way.

CAN I GET SOME DIRT UNDER MY FINGERNAILS??? Yes,

Spring 2010

Fieldwork on selected Saturdays at the Blake Mound site in Chesterfield, Missouri:

July 2010

Fieldwork at a Medieval site in Republic of Macedonia. 2005 was the first season of a highly successful collaboration between St. Louis Community College (SLCC) and archaeologists at the Museum of Skopje. A second season was very successful during the summer of 2006. The third season was during summer of 2007 and it had wonderful discoveries. The fourth season during the summer of 2008 completed our research design in the castle of King Marko. The joint Macedonian/American archaeological Project program allows students to participate in exciting educational activities involving archaeology and art history. Numerous field excursions will punctuate the academic program. Participants will earn six hours of academic credit. The course may be audited. Yes, plan to come for the 2010 field season.

Summer Archaeological Project
in the Republic of Macedonia: 2010

Michael and Neathery Fuller have spent decades doing archaeological research in Egypt, Jordon, Greece and Syria. We usually do fieldwork during Spring Break and Summer Vacation. A few students are allowed to come along at their own expense. Talk to Professor Fuller if you would like to be one of those few. We will also have a spring break fieldtrip.

Aliases of your teacher:
Michael Fuller - The name his parents gave him
Dr. Michael Fuller - The name that gets extra respect
Professor Michael Fuller - How the college thinks of him


Lord Michael de Safita - deadly Medieval crossbowman


Moodeer Fuller - Arab villagers in Syria call him this as he searches for lost secrets


Daddy - Amira Fuller calls me this (alas, my daughter's career path is piracy)


Neathery's husband - wife's students call him. She also teaches rt and web classes.



Madman - common nickname around Instructional Resources until I cut my beard!

I always dress in Academic robes while grading your homework,
I NEVER SLEEP and yes,
I am watching you to make sure that you don't cheat!