Class Schedule

Class information

ATH102 Intro to Archaeology

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  • CRN: 20134
  • Credits: 4
  • Locations, days, times, and instructors:
    • Online (no scheduled meetings), Available 24/7
      From March 30 through June 13, 2026, Michele L Wilson

Class materials

Textbooks

Find out which textbooks are required for this class.

Details about this class

​Welcome to Introduction to Archaeology! ​
 
With a new focus and new outcomes, this course will introduce archaeology to you as an exploration of self, lifeways, a past, and diverse communities of practice.
 
T​he appeal of archaeology​ is great​.​ ​Its prominence in ​popular culture, film, and literary works has shaped much of what people know about archaeology, and what they expect from it...time travel, a path to the past.

But, what is the past? Whose past are you, we looking for? And, why do we want to know?

​I​n this course, we'll think about these questions as we explore the approaches and practice of archaeology. Our work will center the contributions and perspectives of many people who participate in the archaeological sciences​, including archaeologists, Tribal consultants, Indigenous communities, geologists, paleontologists, and geographers. ​

Students will examine cultures and lifeways​ that came before using ​cultural evidence​, like artifacts, structures, and historic documents. We will compare historic and contemporary archaeological approaches to ​understand the development of modern archaeology, and students will have o​pportunities to practice applying archaeology to diverse lines of inquiry​ in climate science, cartography, ecology, geology, ethnography, and Tribal sovereignty.

Students will also evaluate the implications of false stories and​ cultural misrepresentation​. We will analyze ethics, professional responsibilities​, and antiquities legislation to understand the multifaceted role archaeology plays in today's global landscape - especially in its ability to enhance a culture's sense of identity, place, and belonging.​ And, finally, students will create new lines of inquiry based on historic and contemporary patterns of human behavior.

I hope you'll join me!

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Online technical requirements

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Students with disabilities

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Prerequisite for online classes

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