IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
How did humans go from hunting and gathering to growing crops, keeping animals, and living in villages and cities? In this class we will look at one of the most important changes in human history: the shift from foraging to farming. We will explore archaeological evidence for how and when this unfolded in different parts of the world, possible explanations for the transition, and why experts still debate whether it was really a “revolution.” Along the way, we will look at the surprising consequences of farming, from rising populations and technological innovations to disease, inequality, and war. Drawing on examples from several continents, the class offers a lively introduction to a change that still shapes the world we live in today.
Raven Garvey is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Curator at the University of Michigan, where she investigates how past peoples adapted to—and sometimes thrived amid—challenging environments and dramatic climate changes. She has conducted archaeological research in ten U.S. states and four countries, and for the last 20 years has focused on Patagonia (southern Argentina and Chile), where she and her colleagues unearth clues about human ingenuity and resilience. In recent years, she has also partnered with aerospace engineers and geophysicists to explore how unconventional approaches and cross-disciplinary team efforts can further illuminate ancient mysteries.
