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ANTHRO 214-0 : Archaeology: Unearthing History

Description

Archaeology in popular culture often conjures up images of grand pyramids, buried treasure, and ruined cities. But what do these material remains tell us about the people who created them in the past? This course is an introduction to anthropological archaeology: the study of past people through the stuff they leave behind. Students will learn about the methods and theories of archaeology. Together, we will explore the history of the field, how archaeologists design projects to answer questions about past human lives, and how they use survey, excavation, computer programs, and analysis of buildings, bones, plants, pots, and tools to tell stories about the past.

We will also cover archaeology’s relevance to contemporary political and social topics, for example, heritage preservation, Indigenous rights, Black histories, environmental justice, gender equity, and sustainability.

Throughout the course, students will learn about archaeological case studies from all over the world and from various time periods, highlighting the diversity of human histories and experiences.