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African American Heritage at Sweet Briar

Syllabus: Archaeological Field Methods (ANTH 115)

Excavating trenches at the Upper lake, Fall 2002.

In this course we will apply archaeological methods and theories to the analysis of local, historic sites.Each student will have the opportunity to participate in an archaeological survey, excavations, and laboratory processing of recovered artifacts. Topics to be explored will include the history of the Sweet Briar Plantation, mortuary traditions in local cemeteries, and analyzing historic ceramics. We will also be using GPS and GIS technologies to survey, locate, and map historic sites located on campus. Enrolled students will have full access to the Archaeology Computer lab.

Grading and Course Requirements: 1. Exam #1 (25%). 2. Exam #2 (25%). 3. Computer Module - assignment #1 (10%) 4. Computer Module - assignment #2 (10%) 5. Final Project Oral Presentation (5%). 6. Final Project ( 25%).

Both exams will be take-home and due one week after they are handed out. The two assignments will address important archaeological techniques and will be approximately 2-pages in length. For the final project you will analyze artifacts excavated from the Sweet Briar Plantation and design a small exhibit incorporating archaeological techniques and the results of your artifact analysis. On the last day of class you will give an oral presentation on your exhibit.

Textbook - Hester, Shafer, & Feder, 1997, Field Methods in Archaeology. Coursepack - to be assembled from JSTOR.

Schedule of Lectures Class 1: Introduction: Anthropological Archaeology Class 2: How do you know where to dig? Research Design in Archaeology Class 3: Mapping Archaeological Sites - Part I Assignment #1 Handed Out Class 4: Mapping Archaeological Sites - Part II Assignment #1 Due Class 5: Archaeological Survey Exam #1 Handed Out Class 6: Excavation Techniques Class 7: Archaeological Excavations on the Sweet Briar Plantation Class 8: Analyzing Archaeological Trenches Class 9: Analyzing Archaeological Artifacts - Part I: Ceramics and Lithics Class 10: Analyzing Archaeological Artifacts - Part II: Bones Class 11: Mortuary Analysis Assignment #2 Handed Out Class 12: Interpreting Historical Artifacts Assignment #2 Due Class 13: Communicating Archaeology to the Public: Museums Exhibits Class 14: Final Project Presentations