SOAN 280

As one of the four fields of anthropology, archaeology seeks to uncover artifacts and the material culture of human life in order to understand past civilizations and the long-term development of human societies across space and time. This course offers an introduction to the field of archaeology, providing an overview of its goals, theory, methods, and ethics. Students have the opportunity to learn and practice basic archaeological techniques, as well as to reflect on the significance of these techniques for understanding other peoples. Through study of specific cases, students are also exposed to some of the major debates that have shaped the field including, for example, questions of artifact authenticity, ownership, and repatriation; the reliability of diverse forms of knowledge and methods; the origins, evolution, and diffusion of human cultures; and the impact of new technology on archaeological methods.

INTD - SOAN (Sociology & Anthropology SOAN)