Introduction to Archaeology

3 units

FOR MECC STUDENTS, ONLY. This course is an introduction to the theories and methods of archaeology, the study of human culture through material remains. Through lectures, readings, discussion, in-class activities, and group and independent research, students will learn (1) how archaeological research is conducted in the field and lab, (2) how archaeologists use theory derived from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to create research questions and interpret archaeological data, (3) the major topics of interest to contemporary archaeology. Students should come away from this course with improved understanding of the scientific method, the role of social science in understanding what it is to be human, and how our construction of the past informs the present.