Archaeology courses cover history, anthropology, field methods, and science to help students gain skills for a career in archaeology. Anthropology courses focus on the culture of ancient civilizations, while field method classes teach proper excavation techniques. Science classes cover the scientific method and procedures important to archaeology.
Archeology courses are designed to help students learn about history and gain the skills needed to start a career as an archaeologist. Because the field of archeology can include virtually any element of past culture and history, there are often many different types of archeology courses available at universities. Some of the most common types of archeology courses include history, anthropology, field method, and science classes.
Since archeology is the study of human history, many archeology classes will focus on known historical facts. The focus of these classes can be broad or specific, depending on the difficulty level and objectives of the class. A broad history course may involve broad topics such as the rise of civilization in the Mediterranean, while a more specific course may focus on the history of the university’s local area. If these courses are available through an archeology degree program, they can place a special emphasis on archaeological discoveries that led to the current understanding of history, in addition to focusing on history itself.
Anthropology is the study of the physical and cultural development of human beings and is crucially important for archaeological pursuits. Archeology courses in anthropology often focus on the culture of ancient civilizations, such as marriage, birth, and death rituals. By studying anthropology, an archaeologist will gain knowledge that helps contextualize the discovery of artifacts; for example, an archaeologist excavating a ceramic urn might use his knowledge of anthropology to determine the artifact’s use and significance. Archeology courses that focus on anthropology may include the culture of a specific society during a specific era in history, such as funeral rites in Britain during the medieval period.
Because archeology discoveries are made through field research, many archeology courses focus on learning proper field methods. In these classes, students can learn to properly excavate, label, and categorize discoveries efficiently and with an emphasis on preservation. Field method classes may involve some actual field work at the archaeological dig site and dig sites. Some courses may also focus on the preservation of ancient materials, such as the proper care and handling of historical documents and ancient texts.
The principles of science can be very important to archeology, leading many students to take classes that cover the basics of the scientific method of experimentation. Science classes can teach students how to correctly form a hypothesis, collect data, and run experiments to reach a likely conclusion. These courses may also focus on the scientific procedures important to archeology, such as carbon dating of artifacts or forensic testing used on ancient skeletons. Like anthropology classes, courses in archeology in science can help the archaeologist place discoveries in context so they can be used to expand human knowledge about ancient cultures.
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