Introduction
Students in Archaeology at Dickinson receive a solid grounding in methods and theory, learn essential laboratory skills, and gain valuable practical experience by participating in summer excavations, laboratory research, and internships. Students learn and do research in three fully equipped laboratories. The Keck archaeology laboratory includes a full-scale training excavation and workstations for digitization, imaging, and the use of spatial technologies like Geographic Information Systems. The Dickinson Environmental Archaeology Laboratory (DEAL) includes microscopes with digital imaging capabilities as well as the facilities for analysis of archaeological plant remains. In the Keck biological anthropology laboratory, students learn paleoanthropology through hominin fossil casts, human skeletal identification and analysis, and other biological and forensic anthropology methods. All students complete a practical experience requirement outside of the regular class offerings. Opportunities for field and laboratory research with department faculty exist in the Mediterranean and South America. Outside programs for fieldwork, laboratory work, archival work, and museum experience are also available.
Potential majors and advisors of first-year students should note that the study of Archeology at Dickinson includes many interdisciplinary opportunities. Students can earn credit toward the Archaeology major through coursework in the programs of Anthropology, Art and Art History, Classical Studies, and Geosciences. Many students in Archeology also choose to pursue additional majors in these and other fields.
Courses appropriate for prospective majors
Students intending to major in Archaeology should take ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory, in the first year (usually offered Spring semester), ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology (usually offered Fall semester), and/or an Archaeology elective at the 100 or 200 level (examples listed below, offered Fall and Spring).
Students may explore their interest in Archaeology by selecting any of the 100- or 200-level courses, which may be taken as the "first course" in the field. Students should expect greater depth and analysis of topics through reading, writing, and discussion in the 200-level courses.
ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archeology ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology
ARCH 200, Current Topics in Archaeology
ARCH 210, Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin: Archaeology. Additional course descriptions are available at Anthropology or Classical Studies
Courses that fulfill distribution requirements
Arts (Division I):
ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archaeology
ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology
ARCH 210, Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
Social Sciences (Division II):
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
Lab Science (Division III):
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Global Diversity:
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archeology
US Diversity
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
Sustainability
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
Suggested curricular flow through the major
The Archeology major is designed to introduce students to archeological methods and theories used by archeologists across the globe and to help students gain greater, more in-depth experience in one of two areas. Students who choose to pursue Area A of the major focus on Mediterranean Archaeology. Students who choose to pursue Area B of the major focus on Anthropological Archaeology of the Americas and other world regions as well as Environmental Archaeology. Students are encouraged to explore both areas of study in coursework and in field experiences.
These guidelines suggest courses to take each year rather than specifying a required sequence. Students can tailor these guidelines to their circumstances in discussions with an Archaeology faculty member.
First Year
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology (usually offered in the Fall)
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory (usually offered in the Spring)
Any 100- or 200-level electives in Area A or B
GEOS 151, Foundations of Earth Science
Sophomore Year
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology or GEOS 151, Foundations of Earth Science (if not taken in First Year)
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory (if not taken in First Year)
ARCH electives within chosen Area A or Area B Concentration
ARCH 290: Archaeological Methods (usually offered in the Fall only)
Summer Practical Experience
Junior Year
Study Abroad (one or two semesters) can fulfill electives for Area A or Area B, with departmental approval
ARCH electives within Area A or Area B
ARCH 300, Archaeological Theory and Interpretation (Fall only)
Summer Practical Experience (additional if already done the previous summer)
Senior Year
Complete electives within Area A or Area B
ARCH 300, Archaeological Theory and Interpretation (if not taken in Junior Year; Fall only)
ARCH 400, Senior Colloquium (Spring only)
Honors
Honors may be granted in Archaeology for a two-semester project that results in a well-researched, sophisticated, finely crafted thesis within the range of sixty to one hundred pages. Students are self-selected but acceptance as an Honors candidate is based on the judgment of the department faculty and their assessment of the student's academic ability and potential for successfully completing the project. They will work closely with one advisor but will receive guidance and resources from other members of the department. Only the best projects will be granted Honors, but any student who completes the project will receive credit for the two semesters of independent study.
Independent study and independent research
Independent studies are available. Any independent study must involve an interdisciplinary research topic in Archaeology. No more than two independent studies may be counted toward the major. Topic proposal and program of work must be approved by the instructor.
Independent research leading to Honors in the Major or student/faculty collaborative research may be undertaken with one of the contributing departments.
Co-curricular activities/programs
Archaeology Club
The Archaeology Club meets weekly to discuss topics in archaeology and to plan activities related to archaeology. Past activities have included campus events for International Archaeology Day (mock excavations and artifact analysis), flint knapping and atlatl experiments, cooking ancient recipes, ceramic workshops, movie nights, and visits to museum exhibits in nearby cities (Philadelphia, Washington DC, etc.)
Anthropology and Archaeology Majors Committee
Majors can join the Majors Committee, which is a student organizing arm of the department. Students on the majors committee help interview job candidates; contribute to discussions about the department and the majors; contribute to faculty reviews; and organize special programming, activities, and events with the department. Students who join the majors committee tend to care about the department and their experiences at Dickinson and want to help make these experiences and the department even better.
Human Cultures House
The department helps to support a Special Interest House for Anthropology and Archaeology Majors. Students living in the house study together and bring classroom and campus discussions about human cultures to their living spaces. The house also hosts BBQs and events with students and faculty.
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Lectures
Dickinson College hosts one or two AIA lectures each year. The lectures are given by distinguished archaeologists working around the world on a variety of major topics in the field. In addition to attending the lectures, students often have an opportunity to meet the speaker during an informal gathering. Students learn about the guests' research and teaching and can ask questions about opportunities for research and practical experience.
Opportunities for off-campus study
Field experience in archaeology is an important component of the Archaeology major/minor. We encourage participation in summer archaeological field schools, museum internships, and other hands-on research opportunities. The Field/Lab Requirement ensures that all Archaeology majors have an opportunity to experience archaeological field work, laboratory research, or museum work first-hand, domestically or abroad. This may come through field work/study abroad programs carried out by Dickinson faculty, or by approved opportunities through other institutions. Information about and approval of eligible field schools should be sought through the student’s advisor.
Ancient & Modern Foreign Languages
At least two semesters of Latin or ancient Greek are required for those choosing the Classical Art and Archaeology area emphasis. Recommended modern foreign languages include any of the following: Spanish, German, French, Modern Greek, or Italian. Four semester courses of a recommended ancient or modern foreign language may be counted collectively as one (maximum allowed) of the four elective courses toward the Archaeology Major.
Additional Remarks
Experiential learning opportunities: Students may have excavation, laboratory, or other research opportunities with Dickinson faculty during the academic year and/or summer. Opportunities could include work on archaeological sites, laboratory work with archaeobotanical materials, artifacts, or data from archaeological projects, and work with archival materials. Students should discuss experiential learning opportunities with their advisor and prepare for these opportunities by taking recommended courses. Students may also pursue non-Dickinson archaeological field schools, laboratory opportunities, internships, and museum experiences after consultation with their advisor and approval from the department.