Course Description
What is archaeology, exactly? The subject fascinates many people, but very few of us really know what archaeologists do and why they do it. This course offers a general overview of the branch of anthropology that investigates ancient societies through the material remains they have left behind. Students learn that archaeologists engage in detailed, systematic detective work aimed at answering a wide range of questions about human behavior. The course introduces students to the history of archaeology, the main goals of archaeological research, the basic techniques of excavation, site survey, and artifact analysis, as well as the famous discoveries and excavations that have broadened our knowledge about the human past.