What is the evidence archaeologists use to identify a collapse during a specific period. (abandoned sites, evidence of destruction, etc.see Tainter Chapter 1)

The main question you will be exploring is What are the current explanations for how this complex society collapsed? Your paper and your presentation will answer:
What is collapse? How do archaeologists such as J.A. Tainter define it? (Tainter, Middleton, Diamond)
What is the evidence archaeologists use to identify a collapse during a specific period. (abandoned sites, evidence of destruction, etc.see Tainter Chapter 1)
Are there any older explanations for the collapse of this civilization that have now been discounted or shown to be incorrect.? What are they and how to we know they are incorrect?
Current evidence and explanations for their collapse if different from (4). Are there competing theories? Was there one main cause or a series of causes?
Briefly research one major problem (environmental, ecological, political, or economic etc.) that exists in the world today and how it could potentially cause a collapse or severe downturn of a contemporary society.

The majority of your paper and presentation should focus on the theories and evidence for the collapse of your civilization (Question 5).

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