Course Description
Concepts and principles of archaeology, including site formation, survey and excavation techniques, artifact retrieval and analysis, chronology, archaeological theory, and contemporary issues such as "ownership" of the past; focus on sites from Greek and Roman antiquity.
Athena Title
Intro to Classical Archaeology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in CLAS 3015E, ANTH 3015E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIELD OF CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. 2. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF SITE FORMATION. 3. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE METHODOLOGIES FOR SITE IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESS THEIR USE. 4. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS AND ASSESS THEIR APPLICATIONS. 5. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEFINE MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PERIODS AND DESCRIBE MAJOR TYPOLOGIES FOR MATERIAL CULTURE. 6. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATING TECHNIQUES, TECHNIQUES FOR COLLECTING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, AND SOURCING FINDS AND TO ASSESS THEIR USE IN CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. 7. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE ETHICAL ISSUES IN CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY RELATING TO CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, DATA RECOVERY AND DISSEMINATION, AND "OWNERSHIP" OF THE PAST. 8. STUDENTS WILL PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE FIELD OF CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. 9. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY.
Topical Outline
I. CHANGING GOALS, CHANGING TECHNIQUES A. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY? B. THE PROGRESS OF THE DISCIPLINE II. IS THERE ANYTHING TO FIND? A. EFFECT OF FORMATION PROCESSES B. UNUSUAL PRESERVATION -- WET AND DRY CONDITIONS C. UNUSUAL PRESERVATION -- FROZEN AND BURIED III. HOW DO YOU FIND IT? A. LOOKING DOWN -- AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY B. LOOKING BELOW -- SUBSURFACE TESTING C. LOOKING ACROSS -- FIELD SURVEY D. LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT IV. DIGGING IT UP A. EXCAVATION: IF, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW B. WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU FIND C. ARCHAEOLOGY UNDERWATER D. COMPUTERS IN ARCHAEOLOGY V. DATING MATERIAL: ESTABLISHING CHRONOLOGIES A. RELATIVE DATING METHODS B. ABSOLUTE METHODS VI. MAN IN ARCHAEOLOGY A. SUBSISTENCE AND DIET 1. PLANTS, ANIMALS AND FOOD PREPARATION 2. TEETH, BONES, AND STOMACH CONTENTS B. EXAMINING PEOPLE 1. CAN ARCHAEOLOGY TAKE A CENSUS? 2. SEX, AGE, AND DETERMINING THE KILLER 3. RECONSTRUCTING FACES FROM THE PAST C. TECHNOLOGY, RESOURCES, AND CONTACT 1. METALS, STONES, AND POTS 2. TRACING CONTACT VII. PUBLICATION AND PRESENTATION: SELLING THE PAST A. MUSEUMS -- DO NOT TOUCH B. CONSERVATION, POLLUTION, AND DESTRUCTION C. CULTURAL PROPERTY AND POLITICS D. "ALTERNATIVE" ARCHAEOLOGIES-- GENDER, NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY E. FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE QUESTION OF WHO OWNS THE PAST
General Education Core
CORE V: Social SciencesSyllabus