Major
12 courses plus field experience
I. METHODOLOGICAL CORE (Six courses)
1. ARCH 110/ANTH 110: Archaeology and World Prehistory
2. ARCH 290/ANTH 290:Archaeological Methods
3. ARCH 300/ANTH 300: Archaeological Theory and Interpretation
4. ARCH 400: Senior Colloquium
5. ANTH 100: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
6. GEOS 151: Foundations of Earth Sciences
II. SPECIALIZATION/CONCENTRATION (Six elective courses)
In consultation with your faculty advisor, choose an area of emphasis (Area A or Area B) and select a coherent set of 6 courses based on your interests. Five of the electives must be within your chosen area of concentration and one must be in the other area:
AREA A: Mediterranean Archaeology and Art
ANTH 241: Measurement and Quantification in the Social Sciences
ARCH 120/CLST 221: Greek Art and Archaeology (only counts if not
already taken in the core)
ARCH 130/CLST 224: Roman Archaeology (only counts if not already taken in the core)
ARCH 200: Selected Topics in Archaeology
ARCH 210: Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age (only counts if not already taken in the core)
ARCH 260/ANTH 260: Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 301: Summer Fieldwork in Classical Archaeology (counts after the Field Experience requirement has been fulfilled)
ARCH 500: Independent Study (only with permission of advisor and consent of instructor)
ARCH 560: Student/Faculty Collaborative Research
ARTH 202: Ancient Art and Art History
ARTH 206: Museum Studies
ARTH 302: Roman Painting
ARTH 303: Roman Portraiture
ARTH 391: Studies in Art History
CLST 100: Greek and Roman Mythology
CLST 110: Introduction to Greek Civilization
CLST 200: Special Topics in Classical Civilization (dependent upon topic)
CLST 253: Roman History
ENST 313: Geographic Information Systems
GEOS 309: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
MATH 121: Elementary Statistics
MATH 225: Probability and Statistics I
AREA B: Archaeology, Anthropology, and the Environment
ARCH 200: Selected Topics in Archaeology
ARCH 260/ANTH 260: Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261/ANTH 261: Archaeology of North America
ARCH 262/ANTH 262/LALC 262: South American Archaeology
ARCH 395/ANTH 395: Archaeological Field Studies (counts after the Field Experience requirement has been fulfilled
ARCH 500: Independent Study (only with permission of advisor and consent of instructor)
ARCH 560: Student/Faculty Collaborative Research
ARTH 206: Museum Studies
ANTH 101: Anthropology for the 21st Century (Strongly recommended)
ANTH 205: Native Peoples of Eastern North America
ANTH 214: Ecological Anthropology
ANTH 217: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Gender
ANTH 225: Human Osteology
ANTH 230: Ethnography of Postcolonial Africa
ANTH 233: Anthropology of Religion
ANTH 241: Measurement and Quantification in Social Sciences
ANTH 245: Selected Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 255: Global Eastern Africa
ANTH 331: Human Evolution
ANTH 336: Social Distinctions
GEOS 141: Earth's Hazards
GEOS 142: Earth's Changing Climate
GEOS 201: Surface Processes
GEOS 205: Introduction to Soil Science
GEOS 305: Earth Materials
GEOS 307: Paleontology
GEOS 309: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOS 333: Environmental Geophysics
ENST 313: Geographic Information Systems
MATH 121: Elementary Statistics
MATH 225: Probability and Statistics I
III. FIELD EXPERIENCE
May be fulfilled by either: a) summer excavation fieldwork; or, b) museum/lab internship. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the field experience through the offerings by department faculty. The museum/lab internship may be taken as part of an independent study for academic credit through the department OR for a transcript notation through the Office of Academic Advising. All non-Dickinson field schools and museum/lab internships must be pre-approved by your advisor and the program chair.
Ancient & Foreign Languages
Latin or Ancient Greek is strongly recommended for those specifically interested in Greek and Roman archaeology within the Mediterranean Archaeology and Art emphasis (Area A concentration) or double majoring or minoring in Classical Studies. Four semesters of a recommended ancient language may be counted collectively as two course credits towards the total of six for the area emphasis.
If it is appropriate to the location of the student's intended field experience (for either area), and with the faculty advisor's and chair's approval, two courses of a recommended modern language may count collectively as one course credit towards the total of six for the area emphasis (maximum one credit allowed).
Minor
Six courses
I. METHODOLOGICAL CORE (four courses)
1. ARCH 110/ANTH 110: Archaeology and World Prehistory
2. ARCH 290/ANTH 290: Archaeological Methods
3. ARCH 300/ANTH 300: Archaeological Theory and Interpretation
4. ANTH 100: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
II. AREA EMPHASIS (two courses)
In consultation with your faculty advisor, choose an area of emphasis and select a coherent set of courses based on your interests from one of the following two groups:
Area A: Mediterranean Archaeology and Art
At least two courses from among the following: ANTH 100, 205 (dependent upon topic), 241, ARCH 120/CLST 221, ARCH 130/CLST 224, ARCH 210, ARCH 260/ANTH 260, ARCH 200, ARCH 301 (after the Field Experience requirement has been fulfilled), ARCH 400, 500, 560; ARTH 202, 302, 303, 391; CLST 100, 110, 200, 253; ENST 313; GEOS 141, 142, 309; MATH 121, 225
Area B: Archaeology, Anthropology, and the Environment
At least two courses from among the following: ANTH 100, 101, 205, 214, 217, 225, 230, 233, 241, 245, 255, ARCH 260/ANTH 260, ARCH 261/ANTH 261, and ANTH 331, 336, ANTH/ARCH 395, (after the Field Experience requirement has been fulfilled); ARCH 200, 500, 560; GEOS 141, 142, 201, 305, 307, 309; ENST 313; MATH 121, 225.
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 the Mediterranean and Classical 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 Areas A or B
GEOS 151, Foundations of Earth Science
Sophomore 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 (Spring only)
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology or GEOS 151, Foundations of Earth Science
Summer Field/Lab 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)
Senior Year
Complete ARCH electives within Area A or Area B
ARCH 300, Archaeological Theory and Interpretation (Fall only)
ARCH 390, Advanced Studies in Archaeology (Spring only)
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.
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.
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.
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 excvations 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.)
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 to 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 information gathering at the campus café. Students learn about the guests' research and teaching and can ask questions about opportunities for research and education.
Courses
110 Archaeology and World Prehistory
Archaeology is the primary means by which we decipher human prehistory. Using archaeology as a guide we will start with the origins of culture from its rudimentary beginnings nearly 4 million years ago, follow the migrations of hunters and gatherers, explore the first farming villages and eventually survey the complex urban civilizations of the Old and New Worlds. We will examine the development of technology, economic and social organization through the lens of archaeological techniques and discoveries throughout the world.
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 110.
Attributes: Appropriate for First-Year, ENST Env Stud Spec (ESSP), Food Studies Elective, Global Diversity, Social Sciences
120 Greek Art & Archaeology
A general introduction to the art and archaeology of ancient Greece from Prehistoric to Hellenistic times: Bronze Age civilizations (Cycladic, NE Aegean and Trojan, Minoan, Helladic/Mycenaean); Protogeometric, Geometric, Archaeic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greece. A survey of architecture (temple, secular, funerary), sculpture, vase-painting, monumental painting, metalwork, and minor arts of these periods, both on mainland Greece and in the Greek colonies (Asia Minor, Pontus, Syria, Phoenice, Egypt, S. Italy and Sicily); comparative study of typological, iconographical, stylistic, and technical aspects and developments; styles and schools, regional trends. Historical contextualization of ancient Greek art and brief consideration of socio-economic patterns, political organization, religion, and writing. Evaluation of the ancient Greek artistic legacy and contribution to civilization. Field trips to archaeological collections and Museums.
This course is cross-listed as CLST 221. Offered every fall.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARTH Ancient Art, Appropriate for First-Year, Arts
130 Roman Archaeology
A general introduction to the art and archaeology of the Roman world from the Late Republic to the 4th century AD. A survey of architecture (temple, public, domestic, palatial, funerary), monumental painting, sculpture, metalwork, and minor arts of these periods in Italy and the rest of the Roman world; particular emphasis on Rome, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ostia, Greece/Asia Minor, and North Africa. Comparative study of typological, iconographical, stylistic, and technical aspects and developments; regional trends and foreign influences. Historical and cultural contextualization of Roman art and architecture with consideration of socio-economic patterns, political developments, religion, and writing.
This course is cross-listed as CLST 224. Offered occasionally.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARTH Ancient Art, Appropriate for First-Year, Arts
200 Selected Topics in Archaeology
Courses offered on an occasional basis that cover special periods, methods or topics in archaeology not dealt with in the rest of the curriculum.
Prerequisite: course in arts, humanities or social sciences, depending upon topic.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARCH Area B Elective
202 Reality, Idealism, Beauty, and Power: Topics in the Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome
How can we understand the representation of reality, idealism, beauty, and power in the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome through studying their art and architecture? How can these issues in ancient art illuminate our understanding of the visual and structural expression of human experience? In this course, we will examine major monuments in painting, sculpture, and architecture in both cultures from a variety of interpretive perspectives through which they have been addressed in primary sources and scholarly literature. Students will study and analyze textual, art-historical, and archaeological “readings” of these monuments and compare the strengths and weaknesses of the authors' arguments in terms of methodological approach and evidence. In addition, the authors' cultural assumptions, interpretive premises, and ideological goals (if any) will also be addressed in attempting to understand how these works of art have acquired a particular meaning over time and what constitutes that meaning. Students will also acquire competency in recognizing and analyzing diverse stylistic initiatives and their aesthetic significance.
This course is cross-listed as ARTH 202. Offered every year.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARTH Ancient Art, Arts
206 Museum Studies
Introduces students to the history, theory, practice, and politics of American museums. The course examines museums’ historical relationships with colonization and considers issues of nationalism, audience accessibility, curatorial activism, and social justice initiatives in the US. Case studies consider controversies and changes in museums, including: the creation of national museums, artists as activists, censorship and the culture wars, and art and identity politics, specifically how gender, race, class, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, feminism, and disability might determine inclusion in or access to exhibitions. This course is open to all students and is especially relevant to those studying the arts, history, archaeology, American Studies, and public policy.
This course is cross-listed as ARTH 206. Offered every year.
Attributes: Arts
210 Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
The Mediterranean Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE) was a time of intense connectivity and interaction. Long-distance trade connected the eastern Mediterranean to Africa and Asia, diplomatic alliances shaped regional politics, early writing facilitated the beginnings of epic literature, and vast empires emerged around capital cities, ruled by royal households and powerful religious figures. After 2000 years of innovation and prosperity, this complex world fell apart in just a few decades—a drastic collapse still fiercely debated by archaeologists. This course considers the archaeology of an interconnected Bronze Age, including the cultures of ancient Egypt, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, and the Aegean. A comparative approach highlights the shared characteristics of these early empires and the important exchange of objects and ideas between some of the most well-known cultures of the ancient world.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARTH Ancient Art, Appropriate for First-Year, Arts
218 Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a powerful technology for managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data and geographically-referenced information. It is used in a wide variety of fields including archaeology, agriculture, business, defense and intelligence, education, government, health care, natural resource management, public safety, transportation, and utility management. This course provides a fundamental foundation of theoretical and applied skills in GIS technology that will enable students to investigate and make reasoned decisions regarding spatial issues. Utilizing GIS software applications from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), students work on a progression of tasks and assignments focused on GIS data collection, manipulation, analysis, output, and presentation. The course will culminate in a final, independent project in which the students design and prepare a GIS analysis application of their own choosing.
Three hours per week. This course is cross-listed as ENST 218 , GEOS 218 and GISP 218.
Attributes: ARCH Area A Elective, ARCH Area B Elective, Biology Elective, ENST Foundations (ESFN), Quantitative Reasoning, Sustainability Connections
260 Environmental Archaeology
The study of the human past requires knowledge of the biological and geophysical systems in which cultures developed and changed. This course explores past environments and the methods and evidence used to reconstruct them. Emphasis is on the integration of geological, botanical, zoological, and bioarchaeological data used to reconstruct Quaternary climates and environments.
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 260. Offered every two years.
Attributes: ARCH Area B Elective, ENST Society (ESSO), Food Studies Elective, Global Diversity, Social Sciences
261 Archaeology of North America
This course reviews Pre-Columbian landscapes north of Mesoamerica. We consider topics including the timing and process of the initial peopling of the continent, food production, regional systems of exchange, development of social hierarchies, environmental adaption and the nature of initial colonial encounters between Europeans and Native Americans. These questions are addressed primarily by culture area and region.
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 261. Offered every two years.
Attributes: AMST Struct & Instit Elective, ARCH Area B Elective, Social Sciences, US Diversity
262 South American Archaeology
This course examines the development of prehistoric societies in the South American continent through archaeological data. This course will explore the interactions of culture, economics, and politics in the prehistory of two major regions: the western Andean mountains and Pacific coast, and the eastern lowlands focusing on the Amazon River basin and Atlantic coast. In addition to learning the particular developments in each region, we will address three overarching themes: 1)What role did the environment play in shaping socio-political developments? 2) What influence do ethnographic and ethno-historical sources have on the interpretation of pre-Hispanic societies in South America? 3) What were the interactions between highland and lowland populations, and what influence did they have (if any) on their respective developments?
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 262 and LALC 262.
Attributes: ARCH Area B Elective, Appropriate for First-Year, ENST Env Stud Spec (ESSP), Global Diversity, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT Elective, Social Sciences, Sustainability Connections
290 Archaeological Methods
This course focuses on archaeological field and laboratory methods through readings, lectures, and hands-on experiences and the data these practices generate. It will cover the essential field methods employed in archaeological survey (pedestrian, aerial, and geophysical) and excavation. This will include the fundamentals of documentation including note-taking, drawing, photography, and map-making. It will also introduce how archaeologists organize and analyze the large quantities and wide range of data recovered in these processes with particular attention to the use of computer databases, especially Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It will provide a general overview of different types of laboratory analysis including lithics, ceramics, metals, plant and animal remains, and discuss the available dating methods. Students will have the opportunity to practice many of the field and lab methods in the Simulated Excavation Field (SEF), and, when available, archaeological sites in the Cumberland Valley. Through these experiences and interactions with a range of archaeological datasets, students will learn how the archaeological record is formed and what its patterns can teach us about ancient human livelihoods. Finally, students will learn to synthesize and present the results of field and laboratory research in reports, a critical genre of writing in the discipline.
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 290. Prerequisites: Any two ARCH courses at 100- or 200-level; ARCH 110 highly recommended.
Attributes: Writing in the Discipline
300 Archaeological Theory and Interpretation
This course explores the concepts and theories archaeologists employ to develop interpretations about and reconstructions of past societies. It examines the history of archaeological inquiry from amateur collecting to a profession and science dedicated to the systematic discovery and analysis of material remains and their interpretation. It will explore different traditions of archaeological inquiry particularly in Europe and the study of Classical archaeology and in the Americas with its roots in anthropology. Students will become conversant with contemporary trends in archaeological theory in both areas from evolutionary, ecological, and systems theory perspectives to agent-based approaches that consider gender, power, and daily practices in shaping past societies. Finally, students will engage with pertinent ethical issues surrounding archaeological patrimony.
Prerequisite: ARCH 290. This course is cross-listed as ANTH 300. Offered every Fall.
Attributes: Social Sciences, Writing in the Discipline
318 Advanced Applications in GIS
The course is intended as a continuation of the introductory course on Geographic Information Systems, 218, and will concentrate on more advanced discussions and techniques related to spatial analysis and GIS project design. The main focus of the course will be on using higher-level GIS methods to investigate and analyze spatial problems of varying complexity; however, the specific project and topical applications will vary depending on student interests. Students will be required to develop and complete an individual spatial analysis project that incorporates advanced GIS techniques.
Prerequisite: 218 or ENST 218 or GEOS 21 8 or GISP 218 or equivalent GIS experience. Three hours of classroom per week. This course is cross-listed as ENST 318, GEOS 318 & GISP 318. Offered every two years.
Attributes: Biology Elective, ENST Applications (ESAP), Quantitative Econ Elective, Sustainability Connections
345 Advanced Topics in Archaeology
Courses offered on an occasional basis exploring thematic, theoretically informed topics not otherwise given in-depth coverage within the Archaeology curriculum, such as food and foodways, archaeology and nationalism, urban archaeology.
Pre-requisites: Dependent upon topic.
395 Archaeological Field Studies
Application of the fundamentals of archaeological survey, excavation and the laboratory processing and cataloging of artifacts.
This course is cross-listed as ANTH 395.
Attributes: ARCH Area B Elective
400 Senior Colloquium
This course for senior archaeology majors, offered every spring, explores the latest themes and seminal publications shaping the discipline. Common readings are selected based on recent scholarship and student interests. These ideas then inform individual capstone projects designed around student-selected research topics. Research projects may include the analysis of archaeological data and other relevant primary sources to form new interpretations as well as the communication of scholarly research to non-academic audiences.
Prerequisite: 300.