Archaeology and History of Central Asia

6 units

This summer program entails 4 weeks of field-based archaeological research in the Dzhungar Mountains of Kazakhstan, including field trips to regional archaeological sites and excursions to explore the regional biology and geography. The course content is structured through practicum training as part of archaeological excavations at a 5000 year old pastoralist campsite located in a high mountain landscape. In addition to learning about the history and culture of the region, students will be trained in a variety of archaeological methods by rotating through various on-site scientific stations, including archaeological photography, paleoethnobotany, faunal analysis, rock-art analysis, mapping and landscape survey, GIS, and much more! The course program also includes a series of pre-departure sessions to provide cultural, linguistic, historical, and logistical preparation.