Introduction to Archaeology

Undergraduate / Graduate

Archaeology is the study of the material evidence of past human activity. This course, which is offered every year in the Autumn Quarter, briefly reviews the history of archaeology as a discipline and then surveys the methods used by archaeologists to obtain evidence about past human activity via excavations, surface surveys, and remote-sensing technologies such as satellite imagery and ground-penetrating radar. The course also covers the methods used to date, classify, and analyze various kinds of evidence after it has been obtained. And since archaeological evidence is always collected and interpreted within a larger intellectual framework for making sense of human culture and society, this course provides a brief overview of the various social theories that have influenced archaeologists over the years. The latter topic is explored in more depth in the departmental course on "Archaeological Theory," which is taught every year, and in David Schloen's course on "Social Theory and Ancient Studies" (NEHC 20010/30010), which is offered occasionally.