This course provides a comprehensive introduction to archaeology by exploring how archaeologists work to create narratives about the past (and the present) on the basis on the material remains of the past. The course begins with a consideration of how archaeologists deal with the remains of the past in the present: What are archaeological sites and how do we ‘discover’ them? How do archaeologists ‘read’ or analyze sites and artifacts? From there, we will turn to the question of how archaeologists interpret these materials traces, in order to create narratives about life in the past. After a review of the historical development of theoretical approaches in archaeological interpretation, the course will consider contemporary approaches to interpreting the past.

CILO-1: Explain key archaeological methods and theories, and apply them to analyze case studies or fieldwork scenarios. CILO-2: Identify and explain key issues in the collection and analysis of archaeological data, and evaluate how these issues influence archaeological interpretation through case studies or practical exercises. CILO-3: Analyze and discuss how archaeological study reflects and contributes to broader historical shifts in intellectual traditions, using examples from different time periods or theoretical frameworks. CILO-4: Be able to think critically and write about how knowledge of the past is developed and presented for both academic and popular audiences.