everything.study
ANTH 2137

Method & Technique in Archaeology

0.5 credits · Undergraduate

Winter 2026

Topics

  • take the position that archaeologists do not provide “final answers” to the questions we pose
  • understandings change as the kinds of questions we ask and the approaches we use change. But
  • while there be no “right” answer, there are better and worse ones — ones with more or less
  • supporting evidence. This course asks students to evaluate claims based on supporting evidence
  • what—and whom—is included in our representations of the past
  • Correctly describe the archaeological research process
  • Critically evaluate academic and non-academic sources of archaeological information
  • a selection of basic archaeological methods and apply them to given datasets
  • the potential and limitations of archaeological methods for approaching particular
  • kinds of research questions and objectives
  • archaeological research and the heritage management sector
  • Chippewas of Rama First Nation

Readings

Fall 2025

Topics

  • Introduction to course
  • What is archaeology? Introduction
  • A short history of archaeology
  • The nature of the archaeological record
  • The concept of culture
  • Archaeological data (artifact, assemblage, site, settlement
  • patterns, etc.)
  • Chronometric dating
  • Relative dating (stratigraphy, seriation)
  • Absolute dating (e.g., K-Ar
  • radiocarbon
  • U series)
  • HANDS-ON 1 Tour of an archaeological site on campus (voluntary)
  • Finding and assessing archaeological sites
  • Archaeological survey
  • remote sensing
  • Site assessment
  • Archaeological excavation
  • Importance of multidisciplinary teams
  • Types of excavation
  • Process of excavation
  • Artifact typology and classification
  • Lithic technology and analysis
  • HANDS-ON 2 Lithic artifacts
  • Ceramic technology and analysis

Readings

  • Required: Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. New York: Thames & Hudson. Latest Edition. Price: Previous edition is acceptable.
Sources