ANTH-L407 and ANTH-L507 Language and Prehistory provides an introduction to the areas of linguistic research that are most relevant to the concerns of archaeologists and other students of prehistory. We investigate the ways in which languages change, explore the principles by which languages are grouped into families, and see how protolanguages, the ancestors of linguistic families, are reconstructed. We then apply the results of these studies to such problems as identifying the locations of ancient populations and revealing the cultures of groups who lived in the distant past. Work for the course includes a series of problem sets that provide experience with the methods of historical reconstruction. Download a sample syllabus above.