Theories of Things: Archaeology

This co-taught seminar examines how archaeologists study things as evidence of the past, and how insights from this discipline might be applied to enhance broader interdisciplinary object-based study. Archaeology, itself an interdisciplinary field that draws upon the social and natural sciences as well as the humanities, specializes in the evaluation of things as its primary source of evidence about history and the lives of past peoples. This course will begin with an account of where “archaeology” came from and will then delve into the varied theories and methods employed by archaeologists (prehistoric, classical, and historical) from about 1870 onwards: Culture History, New Archaeology (Processual Archaeology), and Postprocessual/ Interpretive Archaeologies (including hermeneutic, phenomenological, neo-Marxist, material cultural, embodied, feminist, and intersectional approaches). These methods and theories will be explored through archaeologists’ publications as well as through the writings of some of the scholars in other disciplines (such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology, history, and folklore) who influenced the archaeologists, modelling how disciplines can successfully borrow from one another. Through case studies, each class meeting will also familiarize students with some of archaeology’s major material discoveries. Assignments will include a research paper or project (digital projects are welcome) and presentations. 3 credits.