Historical Archaeology

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Examines the material and documentary evidence of European colonization in North America and its impact on Indigenous populations, African enslaved peoples and the environment. Integrates historical records with archaeological findings to understand how European imperial powers such as the Spanish, the Basques, the French, the Dutch and the English shaped the Americas through settlement, trade and social structures. Includes case studies from contact-era settlements, plantations, forts, battlefields and maritime contexts, highlighting how artifacts, architecture and written documents complement and sometimes challenge one another. Emphasizes methods of historical archaeology, including document transcription, genealogical research, artifact analysis and field methods that provide students with tools to critically interpret North American history through a material lens. May incorporate topics that respond to current events, student interests or emerging issues in historical archaeology. TOPICS AND THEMES. European exploration and colonial expansion led by European nations including Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and England; Indigenous populations; forced migration and enslavement of Africans; trade, exchange and economic structures; archaeology of gender, identity, racialization, plantations, forts, battlefields, settlements, graves and shipwrecks; historical archaeological theory and methods including survey and excavation methods, absolute and relative dating methods and artifact analysis; archival and research skills including genealogical research, transcription and historical document analysis; also taught at Galveston campus.