Archaeology courses are designed to teach students about history while also equipping them with the skills they’ll need to pursue a career as an archaeologist. Because archaeology can cover nearly any aspect of past culture and history, universities often offer a variety of archaeology courses. History, anthropology, field method, and scientific classes are some of the most common types of archaeology courses.
Many archaeology classes will focus on known historical facts, as archaeology is the study of human history. Depending on the level of difficulty and the goals of the class, the focus of these classes may be broad or specific. A broad historical course might cover broad topics like the rise of civilization in the Mediterranean, whereas a more focused course might cover the history of the university’s immediate vicinity. If these classes are offered as part of an archaeology degree program, they may focus on both the archaeological discoveries that have led to our current understanding of history and the history itself.
Anthropology is the study of human physical and cultural development, and it is critical to archaeological investigations. Anthropology archaeology courses frequently focus on ancient civilizations’ culture, such as their marriage, birth, and death rituals. An archaeologist who studies anthropology will gain knowledge that will help contextualize the discovery of artifacts; for example, an archaeologist excavating a pottery urn will be able to use his or her anthropology knowledge to determine the use and importance of the artifact. Anthropology-focused archaeology courses might cover the culture of a specific society during a specific period in history, such as funeral rituals in medieval Britain.
Many archaeology courses focus on learning proper field methods because archaeology discoveries are made through field research. Students may learn how to excavate, label, and categorize discoveries efficiently and with an emphasis on preservation in these classes. Field method classes may include some hands-on work at archaeological digs and excavation sites. Some courses may also cover the proper care and handling of historical documents and ancient texts, as well as the preservation of ancient materials.
Because science principles are so important in archaeology, many students enroll in classes that cover the fundamentals of the scientific method of experimentation. Students can learn how to properly form a hypothesis, gather data, and conduct experiments in order to arrive at a likely conclusion in science classes. These classes may also cover important scientific procedures in archaeology, such as artifact carbon dating and forensic tests on ancient skeletons. Archaeology courses in science, like anthropology classes, can assist archaeologists in placing discoveries in context so that they can be used to expand human knowledge about ancient cultures.