ANTHROPOLOGY 492
FIELD SCHOOL IN ARCHAEOLOGY
ANTH 492. Field School in Archaeology
Field Course; 40 hours a week (6).
Prerequisite: ANTH 222 preferred and permission of instructor.
The emphasis in this course is on practical field experience in archaeology. Surveys and excavations are conducted on both prehistoric and historic sites and students learn the mapping, recording, and field artifact identification techniques that are the basis of archaeology. Summer. No more than a total of nine hours of credit from ANTH 492, ANTH 493, ANTH 498, and ANTH 499, may be counted toward the 37 hours for the anthropology major.
The following topics are addressed in this course:
1. Defining the goals of an archaeological project and developing methods for achieving these goals.
2. The logistical organization of equipment and personnel for an archaeological project.
3. Field interpretation of archaeological artifacts and deposits.
4. Professional description and presentation of the results of an archaeological project.
The focus of the course is on students gaining as much field experience as is possible. Therefore, approximately 80% of
class time is spent working on one or more archaeological
sites and thereby learning through doing archaeology.
Before beginning fieldwork, however, students are given an
understanding of the goals and research design of the
particular project. Also, any changes or discoveries during
the project are discussed with the students as they occur.
To give students a broader perspective on field archaeology,
they are required to read papers or publications by other
archaeologists to see how they dealt with problems in the
field and reported their research. On rain days, students
receive laboratory instruction on prehistoric and historic
artifact analysis.
Students will acquire in-depth experience in field archaeology and in planning and problem-solving in the field. Such a field school is required if the student wishes to pursue advanced graduate training in archaeology; it also enhances students' chances of obtaining part or full-time employment on other archaeological projects.
The student's efforts in the field of excavation and mapping are monitored and evaluated by the instructor. Students are required to write at least one large paper in which they critique reports by other researchers and develop their own archaeological research design.
There is a strict attendance policy for the class; one day's absence without an excuse results in the loss of a letter grade. This policy is in effect because an absent student means that all other students have to work harder that day. Graduate students are required to produce annotated bibliographies of 10-15 articles from professional anthropological or archaeological journals. The articles may be selected by the student, but they must focus on some aspect of archaeological field methods or new excavation techniques.
DATE ACTION REVIEWED
September, 2001 Reviewed Peggy A. Shifflett