Ethnoarchaeology

Catalog description

Ethnoarchaeology uses observations of present-day peoples to inform archaeological inquiry, based on analogies between past and present. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students will develop their ability to construct and evaluate such analogies. Using this skill, they will then explore ways in which ethnoarchaeological data contribute to archaeological research: hypothesis building, survey and excavation strategies, interpretation of site and artifact data, and understanding the causes and processes of human behavioral change. In addition to seminar discussions of theoretical issues and case studies, the course incorporates practical exercises in the surrounding community.