Historical Archaeology Field School

Catalog description

This course will introduce students to historical archaeology and will cover field and laboratory methods including excavation, mapping, survey and consultation of historical sources in the interpretative process. An ethnographic component, where applicable, will also incorporate oral history, interviews or other data from descendant communities for an ethno-historical approach. Although not the primary focus, excavations may uncover prehistoric material. Archaeological inquiry includes but is not limited to: the built environment, ritual practices, ethnicity/identity, childhood, socio-economic realities, and other topics through the lens of material culture. Students will learn to process artifacts by washing, labeling, identifying, and analyzing them on site and in a laboratory. Students will gather historical data from museums and other archival sources with which to compare archaeological findings. Semester(s) Offered: Summer