Description: This course takes you into the past using archaeology,
historical documents, and material culture. Historical archaeology
customarily focuses on North American societies after the point of
contact with European cultures. This time period is one of culture
contact, rapid change, population movement, immigration, and
fluctuating power relations. Historical archaeology is particularly
suited to looking at the archaeology of domestic life for a variety of
folks, including enslaved peoples, Native Americans, and European
colonists in the Americas. It is also useful for examining activities
that are not well documented otherwise, perhaps because they are
unpopular or illegal. During the first part of the course, we will
cover general topics and methodology. We will evaluate documents and
explore the kinds of documents that historical archaeologists use. You
will get practice evaluating artifacts, including structures and
technology (like bricks, glass and ceramics). We will then read and
discuss case studies that deal with different cultural situations.
Finally we will discuss the implications of historical archaeology for
heritage and preservation issues. Format: There will be illustrated
lectures, discussions, guests, labs, videos
and field experiences.

Evaluation: Your grade comes from papers/exercises, tests, and a project.