At Dickinson College the study of archaeology draws on the expertise of five departments —archaeology, anthropology, geology, classical studies, and art history— thus transcending boundaries and bridging humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Students get a solid theoretical grounding in the discipline and gain valuable field experience by participating in summer excavations at Mycenae (Greece) and Sewanee (TN), and systematic geoprospection surveys (with use of ground-penetrating radar, fluxgate gradiometer, GPS and total station). The archaeology department boasts a fully equipped archaeology lab with a full-scale training trench (dig simulator or S.E.F.) and several digital projects, including a digital slide library (ICON), a bibliographical search engine (ATREUS), field databases (D.E.P.A.S.), and 3-D monument/artifact reconstructions applying site scanner (LiDAR), artifact scanner (NextEngine), and geographical information system (GIS) technology.
Sample Courses
Fundamentals of Archaeology; Field Archaeology; Prehistoric Aegean Archaeology; Greek Archaeology; Roman Archaeology; Ancient Greek Sculpture; Greek and Roman Painting; Ancient Greek Architecture; Ancient Greek Religion and Sanctuaries; Anthropology of Religion; Egyptian Art & Archaeology; Near Eastern Art and Archaeology; The Archaeology of North American Indians; Environmental Archaeology; Biological Anthropology; Principles of Human Evolution; Human Osteology; Sedimentology and Stratigraphy; Paleontology.
Study Abroad
All students are encouraged to spend at least part of a summer at an excavation abroad (Mycenae , Greece) or locally. Other semester- or year-long opportunities abroad are also available, including Durham University (Department of Archaeology), the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, the College Year in Athens, and the American College in Cairo.
Outside of Class
Students participate in the Keck Archaeology Lab and contribute to various digital archaeological projects, travel to regional museums and exhibitions, enjoy the bi-annual A.I.A. lecture series at Dickinson, the annual Moser Memorial lectures, and various invited guest lectures, and participate in summer archaeological digs and immersion programs abroad.
After graduation
Students go on to graduate work in archaeology (30-35% of the alumni), work as hired archaeologists by the state or private companies, as museum curators, or pursue a wide variety of professions.
External Review
“The Interdisciplinary Archaeology Program (IAP) is a remarkable program, notable for its truly interdisciplinary approach to a complex subject. It has broad and positive support from all faculty involved with the program. The students are enthusiastic and energetic, volunteering their own time to construct databases necessary for the future success of the excavation at Mycenae and the IAP itself. The resources available for teaching students in Carlisle, especially the SEF [dig simulator], are extraordinary, and the latter is, to our knowledge, unique. This tool enables students to be conversant with both archaeological methodology and actual technique well in advance of their arrival at excavations in Greece or elsewhere. The IAP is regarded by Dickinson College as a flagship program, visited by prospective students and prospective donors as well as by nearly three-quarters of the members of the Board of Trustees. Dickinson College has every reason to be proud of the IAP…, because the program represents the best of Dickinson and the energies of its faculty and students.” (excerpt from the External Reviewers' report, April 2007)
What Students Say
“Archaeology at Dickinson is a fast growing program with great faculty and a wide range of courses. It offers students an opportunity to explore many sides of the discipline and to participate in a summer dig.”
“Archaeology is more about organization, accuracy and sweat and less about treasure - it's not as glamorous as Indiana Jones makes it out to be. The initial shock has worn off and the students realize that all the skills and knowledge they applied to the SEF are basically the same in Mycenae barring the change in climate. Yes, the team seems to have adapted to life as an archaeologist... well, except the part about getting up at 5 am. But we're constantly reminded of how incredibly lucky we are to be working on the legendary citadel of Agamemnon during our daily hike through the Lion's Gate on the way up to the site. No experience can ever compare to watching the sun rise over the Argolid every morning while sitting on the ancient walls of a city made immortal by Homer. Nothing.”
“Students at all levels…are thoroughly invested in the program. Many came to Dickinson expressly to major in archaeology and several who had not known of the program before matriculating were so captivated by their early experience with courses in the IAP that they decided to major in archaeology. The students who led our tour through the Archaeology Laboratory and the SEF had a laudable proprietary sense of the place, using the personal pronouns “we” and “our” as they talked about the lab, the excavation, and the databases…Many of the students wish to continue their archaeological studies in graduate school or in their future careers and their devotion to the discipline made the reviewers jealous of the ability of the program to involve and to energize undergraduates to such a high degree.” (excerpt from the External Reviewers' report, April 2007)
More Info?
Contact Prof. Karen Weinstein, chair, weinstek@dickinson.edu
