Archaeology

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  • CAS AR 500: Public Archaeology in the United States
    Introduction to the practice of public archaeology in the United States: historical and legal background; federal, state, and local programs; archaeology and Native Americans; contract archaeology; survey, evaluation, and mitigation projects; professional employment in U.S. cultural resource management. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "U.S. Archaeological Heritage Management" that was previously numbered GRS AR 805.
  • CAS AR 503: Archaeological Field Methods: Survey and Excavation
    Archaeology field school intense archaeological techniques and procedures. Direct involvement in field excavation, data recording, description and inventory of artifacts and specimens. Field, lab and lecture involvement; seven hours a day, five days a week. Locations around the world. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Social Inquiry II
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS AR 505: Digital Archaeology
    Lecture/laboratory course that introduces students to a broad range of digital techniques for collecting, visualizing, and analyzing objects, spaces, and landscapes. In addition to technical lab instruction, the course presents a series of research questions and case studies that explore how digital techniques can be used to investigate the material dimensions of social life. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Social Inquiry II
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS AR 506: Regional Archaeology and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
    Use of advanced computer (GIS) techniques 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. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Social Inquiry II
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS AR 510: Proposal Writing for Social Science Research
    The purpose of this course is to turn students' intellectual interests into answerable, field-based research questions. The goal is the production of a project proposal for future research. Also offered as CAS AN 510.
  • CAS AR 516: Paleoethnobotany
    Introduces the theory and method of the study of archaeological plant remains and basic botanical and ecological concepts. Highlights relationships between people and environments and the roles of plants in past societies. Laboratory sessions concentrate on quantitative analysis. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.
    • Quantitative Reasoning II
    • Social Inquiry II
    • Critical Thinking
  • CAS AR 518: Zooarchaeology
    Introduction to the study of archaeological animal bones. Provides theoretical background and methodological skills necessary for interpreting past human- animal interactions, subsistence, and paleoecology. Laboratory sections focus on skeletal identification. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning I.
    • Quantitative Reasoning I
    • Social Inquiry II
  • CAS AR 551: Studies in Mesoamerican Archaeology
    Analysis of major events and processes of the Mesoamerican area. Topics include rise of towns, temples, and urbanism; the origin of state; and the development of empires. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Social Inquiry II.
  • CAS AR 556: Archaeological Field Research
    Supervised original research in excavation, survey, or field laboratory situation, as part of field school program.
  • CAS AR 577: Pots and Pans: The Material Culture of Cookery & Dining
    Exploration of food cultures and technologies through utensils for food preparation and consumption; kitchens from prehistory to present; tradition and fashion in cooking and dining vessels; cooking technology; utensils as metaphors and symbols. Ranges broadly across cultures, time, and space.
  • CAS AR 590: Life Is a Bowl: Ceramic Studies in Archaeology
    Before plastic, there was pottery -- pots and pans, cups and dishes, crocks and jars -- in every culture and in abundance. Research seminar studies pottery across time and space to elucidate personal habits as well as social, economic, and political developments.
  • CAS AR 593: Memory in 3-D: Memorials, Then and Now
    Societies craft their histories and identities via memorials, thereby firming up the past for the future. In this course, we analyze the historical context, form, and message of important memorials in classical antiquity and modern America. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Creativity/Innovation
  • GRS AR 701: The Intellectual History of Archaeology
    The historical development of archaeological methods and theory from the Renaissance to the present day, including comparison of major developments in Western Europe and the Americas with developments in other regions. Basic concepts in archaeological record and society.
  • GRS AR 703: Seminar: Materials in Ancient Society
    Topic to be announced. Offered through the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology. (MIT Materials in Ancient Societies: course #3.984)
  • GRS AR 704: Seminar: Materials in Ancient Society
    Topic to be announced. Offered through the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology. (MIT Materials in Ancient Societies: course #3.989)
  • GRS AR 742: Archaeology in the Holy Land
    In Israel, archaeology is part of current events. We study material remains from the Israelite to the Muslim conquests (c. 1200 BCE -- 640 CE) to learn how physical evidence is created and still plays a role in a larger historical drama. Also offered as GRS RN 690. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Ethical Reasoning, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • GRS AR 747: Egypt and Northeast Africa: Early States in Egypt, Nubia, and Eritrea/Ethiopia
    Comparative analyses of early states in Egypt and northeast Africa, with a focus on socioeconomic institutions, kingship, burial practices, and religions, utilizing archaeological as well as textual evidence.
  • GRS AR 748: Gods, Graves, & Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Religion & Ritual
    The beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, from their origins in Predynastic times to the development of the great temple complexes in the New Kingdom and later are studied in a broad synthesis of the data: archaeological, architectural, and textual.
  • GRS AR 790: The Archaeology of Southeast Asia
    Examines the prehistoric and historic cultures of Southeast Asia, including the first arrival of humans, regional Neolithic and Bronze Age communities, early states, maritime trading networks, as well as political motivations in archaeology and the illicit antiquities trade.
  • GRS AR 795: Politics, Nationalism, and Archaeology
    Explores how archaeology is shaped by and manipulated for political purposes. Case studies from Asia and around the world trace the development of archaeology during colonial empire-building and post-colonial nationalism, and the importance of archaeological heritage in regional politics.

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