Archaeology Field & Research Methods

4.0 credits

This course introduces you to historic research and field methods in historical archaeology. In the broadest sense, you will learn about cultures and colonization in the early modern Atlantic world through a multidisciplinary approach that draws on documentary, material culture, and architectural sources. Although most of our time will be spent in the field excavating sites on Smith's Island, we will use the entire island of Bermuda and its 400-year history as a classroom for exploring topics such as landscape archaeology, maritime archaeology, historical research, slavery, gender, creolization and ethnogenesis. You will learn about Bermuda’s local history and contemporary culture through field trips, lectures, readings, personal exploration and working alongside Bermudian volunteers. Through public involvement with this dig and visits to local museums, you will gain insights into the fields of public history and archaeology. By the end of this course, you will be competent in basic field excavation techniques, early modern artifact identification, archival research, and the identification of architectural trends.