500-level courses

AR503 Archaeological Field Methods: Survey and Excavation ♣
Prereq: CAS AR 101 and 102 or consent of instructor.
Archaeological field school with intensive study of archaeological techniques and procedures. Direct involvement in field excavation, assisting in data recording, and in the description and inventory of artifacts and specimens. Field, lab and/or lecture involvement; requires six to seven hours a day, five days a week. Various locations around the world. (4.0/VAR)

AR 504 Preserving World Heritage: Principles and Practice ♣
Examination of fundamental issues of preservation and management of World Heritage sites, implementation of UNESCO’s Conventions, Recommendations and Charters; selection, evaluation, and nomination of cultural properties for inscription as World Heritage sites and their protection from human and natural causes. (4.0/Lec)

AR505 Remote Sensing and Archaeology ♣
Prereq: Two archaeology courses or consent of instructor.
Lecture/laboratory course introducing students to applications of remote sensing in archaeology. A variety of geophysical survey methods as well as multispectral image analysis are taught. Topics include the use of remotely sensed data for regional analysis, the discovery and mapping of buried archaeological features, and computer analysis of multispectral data. (4.0/Lecture)

AR506 Regional Archaeology and Geographical Information Systems ♣
Prereq: Two archaeology courses or consent of instructor.
Advanced computer (GIS) techniques are used to address regional archaeological problems. This applied course examines digital encoding and manipulation of archaeological and environmental data, and methods for testing hypotheses, analyzing, and modeling the archaeological record. (4.0/Lecture)

AR509 Geoarchaeology ♣
Prereq: CAS AR 101 and AR 102 or consent of instructor.
Lecture/laboratory course illustrating the use of geological concepts and methods in the study of archaeological problems. Topics include: stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles, geological environments and earth-surface processes, anthropogenic sediments, archaeological materials and their analysis; the formation of archaeological sites. Field trips in the Boston area. The lab component to this lab is course number AR512. (4.0/Lecture)

AR511 Studies in European Archaeology ♣
Topics vary. Intensive coverage of particular periods, sub-areas, or events in European prehistory (Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, Western Europe or Eastern Europe, population migrations, etc.) as selected by instructor. (4.0/Lecture)

AR512 Laboratory and Field Methods in Geoarchaeology ♣
Introduction to laboratory and field methods used in Geoarchaeology, including description of field profiles and settings; map (topographic, geological, soil survey) and aerial photo interpretation; laboratory analytical techniques, such as soil micromorphology, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). This course is the lab component to AR509. (Course fulfills partial department technical requirements.)

AR513 Studies in African Archaeology ♣
Topics vary. Intensive coverage of particular periods or sub-areas in Africa as selected by the instructor. (4.0/Lecture)

AR515 Micromorphology of Terrestrial Sediments ♣
Prereq: AR102 & AR509, OR ES202 OR ES220 OR ES222 & ES101 OR ES105, two semesters of geology, or consent of instructor.
The micromorphological examination and interpretation of soils, sediments, and archaeological and anthropogenic materials features (e.g., ceramics, bricks, hearths), with focus on the processes of landscape evolution and the mechanisms of archaeological site formation. (4.0/Lecture)

AR528 Studies in Mesoamerican Art and Architecture ♣
Topics vary. Studies of ancient Mesoamerican cultures as known from their archaeological sites and reconstructed history as known from their changing plans, architecture, art and iconography. (4.0/Lecture).

AR532 Studies in Near and Middle Eastern Archaeology ♣
Topics Vary. Recent offerings have included: Trade in the Near East, Near Eastern Cities of the Bronze and Iron Ages, and Near East Prehistory-Palaeolithic through Neolithic. (4.0/Lecture)

AR535 Europe and the Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity ♣
Interdisciplinary overview of Europe and Mediterranean World in the 3rd-6th centeuries A.D., based on the archaeological record and material culture (including art), and drawing on history and literature. Topics include: rise of Christianity; town and country; public and private life. (4.0/Lecture)

AR543 Introduction to Akkadian Cuneiform I ♣
An introduction to the Semitic language that served as the lingua franca in the Near East from ca. 2500-500 BC, with emphasis on reading texts in cuneiform script. (4.0/Lecture)

AR544 Introduction to Akkadian Cuneiform II ♣
Completes coverage of the essentials of Akkadian grammar and highlights differences between Assyrian and Babylonian dialects. Readings in cuneiform include sections of the Code of Hammurabi and the Epic of Gilgamesh. (4.0/Lecture)

AR551 Studies in Mesoamerican Archaeology ♣
Topics vary. Analysis of major events and processes of the Mesoamerican area. Topics include the arrival of man; development of regional patterns; origin of food production; rise of towns, temples, and urbanism; the origin of state; and the development of empires. (4.0/Lecture)

AR555 Ancient American Writing Systems ♣
Study of the various writing systems and interdependent Mesoamerican calendar, as found in many media among the pre-Columbian Olmec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Mixtec, Aztec, and Maya cultures, from the last centuries BC to the sixteenth century. (4.0/Lecture)

AR556 Archaeological Field Research Experience ♣
Supervised original research in excavation, survey, or field laboratory situation, as art of field study program. (4.0/Lecture)

AR560 Civilization of Central and South Asia ♣
Prereq: Any AR or AN 100, 200, or 300 level course.
Emergence, development, and decline of two Bronze Age Civilizations called “Oasis” in Central Asia and Indus/Harappan in South Asia. Focus on comparative study of cultural processes of urbanization, complex social, economic and religious institutions, specialized crafts, and long distance trade. (4.0/Lecture)

AR570 Studies in Historical Archaeology ♣
Topics vary. Intensive coverage of particular aspects of historical archaeology as selected by instructor. (4.0/Lecture)

AR572 Studies in Industrial Archaeology ♣
Topics vary. The study of the remains of our industrial heritage including above-ground excavations. Topics include mills, dams, canals, bridges, and all other material remains of America’s industrial development. Field trips to New England industrial sites. (4.0/Lecture)

AR576 Collections: Ancient and Historical in Modern Context ♣
Considers ancient and historical objects in collections from historical, functional, material, aesthetic perspectives to understand original cultural context. Case studies demonstrate the changing theory, practice, legal and ethical implications of museum acquisition and display. (4.0/Lecture)

AR580 Studies in Archaeological Heritage Management Archaeological Collections Management:
Curation and Public Interpretation ♣
Examination of public uses of archaeological collections and technical issues of archaeological curation. Understanding elements of a collection, environmental and other threats to long-term stability. Involves hands-on collections labs and exercises in peer review, evaluation, and revision of public products. (4.0/Lecture)