Course Description
Archaeological reconnaissance, survey, excavation, laboratory preparation and analysis of collected materials.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate student performance evaluated according to higher standards.
Athena Title
Field Methods in Archaeology
Non-Traditional Format
This course is taught in the field at an archaeological site, followed by laboratory preparation and analysis of collected materials. During the summer, contact hours can exceed four hours per day, five days per week. Students apply academic knowledge gleaned from lectures and formal instruction to archaeological sites and contexts. Students are mentored by faculty in the principles and practice of archaeological research design, data collection, and analysis. Their work in this course contributes directly to the discovery and formation of new archaeological knowledge.
Prerequisite
Permission of major
Corequisite
ANTH 4240/6240
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Archaeological surveying skills Use of a total station for digital recording and mapping Excavation methods Recording methods Laboratory methods Analytical methods Interpretation of data Presentation of data Ability to work as a team in a challenging setting
Topical Outline
Through participation in an archaeological research project, students will be introduced to the methods of archaeological survey, excavation, data and materials recovery, recording, and processing. Students will be involved in all phases of field excavation, including archaeology survey, test unit excavations, and large-scale data recovery. Students will be trained in basic laboratory processing and analysis and will work collaboratively to present the results of their research. Throughout, students will be encouraged to critically examine how archaeological knowledge is constructed and expressed. Because the class is held in a non-traditional setting, students are also required to learn to live and work together as a group while they contribute to the success of the project.
Syllabus