Description:

This course is a practicum of archaeological field methods and techniques. The fundamental principles of archaeological research will be considered. Students will create and implement their own research design in the context of on-going investigations. Emphasis will be placed on practicing the essential skills needed to conduct archaeological research. 160 integrated lecture lab hrs./semester

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Explain the key goals and concepts of archaeological research.
2. Develop and implement an archaeological research design.
3. Demonstrate the skills necessary to collect, process, and analyze archaeological evidence.
4. Interpret archaeological evidence.
5. Write an archaeological research report.
6. Assess the impact of archaeological research on local communities.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Introduction
   A. Archaeology and Anthropology
      1. Describe the key characteristics of the discipline of
Anthropology. 
      2. Explain the context of Archaeology as one of the four fields of
Anthropology.
      3. Distinguish between culture and material culture. 
   B. Understanding the Past
      1. Be conversant with the key figures and concepts in the rise of
the field of Archaeology.
      2. Discuss the current state of Archaeology in the relevant research
area.

II. Archaeological Fieldwork
   A. Research Design
      1. Explain how archaeological research is designed to answer
specific questions.
      2. Review existing research designs; evaluate why these designs were
successful or unsuccessful. 
      3. Identify data suitable to address research questions. 
      4. Determine a data collection strategy.
      5. Describe the protocols for processing, classifying, and analyzing
data after it has been collected.
      6. Discuss the final product of research and how archaeological
findings may be disseminated to professionals and the public.
      7. Create and complete an appropriate research design for the field
season. 
   B. Locating Sites
      1. Identify potential site locations using documentary sources,
aerial and satellite imagery, or informant interviews.  
      2. Discuss the implications of various sampling strategies. 
      3. Distinguish between extensive and intensive reconnaissance. 
      4. Conduct a pedestrian survey and identify surface-visible cultural
material (or the lack of cultural material).
      5. Demonstrate skills necessary to record the location and map an
archaeological site or feature, for example:
         a. Compass and tape
         b. Handheld GPS
         c. USGS or other appropriate map
         d. EDM and Total Station
   C. Assessing and Recording Site layout
      1. Describe an archaeological site or feature by its size, type, and
layout.
      2. Discuss the implications of various surface-collection strategies
and how these strategies relate to the research design. 
      3. Demonstrate skills necessary to collect and document
surface-visible cultural material, for example:
         a. Determine limits of an artifact scatter.
         b. Bag and tag archaeological remains.
         c. Complete documentation using site or feature sheet, sketch,
field notes, or photographs
      4. Discuss the implications of various sub-surface detection
strategies.
      5. Demonstrate skills necessary to test for sub-surface remains, for
example:
         a. Probe
         b. Shovel test-pit
      6. Review the various methods of noninvasive remote sensing
techniques. 
   D. Excavation
      1. Explain the purpose and key concepts in excavation.
      2. Discuss the implications of various excavation strategies and how
these strategies relate to the research design, for example:
         a. Test unit
         b. Axial trench
         c. Lateral excavation
         d. Tunneling
      3. Demonstrate skills necessary to conduct an excavation, for
example:
         a. Layout a one-meter by one-meter test unit.
         b. Determine structure orientation and correctly align an axial
trench.
         c. Select and use appropriate tools (e.g. pick, shovel, trowel,
brush, etc.).
         d. Use a line-level and measuring tape (or other technique) to
determine provenience.
      4. Identify stratigraphy, cultural deposits, and archaeological
context in an excavation unit.
      5. Recover various classes of archaeological remains.
      6. Demonstrate skills necessary to record excavation information,
for example:
         a. Field notes
         b. Photographs
         c. Drawings, including: sketch, plan, profile, and section
      7. Demonstrate proper etiquette in and around open excavations. 

III. Archaeological Laboratory Techniques
   A. Artifact Classes
      1. List the different cultural remains commonly recovered in the
research area, for example:
         a. Ceramics
         b. Lithics
         c. Metal
         d. Sculpture
         e. Botanical remains
         f. Faunal remains
         g. Skeletal remains
      2. Discuss how each class of cultural remains must be treated to
address questions from the research design. 
B. Processing
      1. Demonstrate proper cleaning technique for each class of cultural
remains. 
      2. Record the appropriate information for each class of cultural
remains. 
      3. Enter all information into a database. 
   C. Classification
      1. Discuss the methods commonly employed to categorize each class of
cultural remains, for example:
         a. Type-Variety System 
         b. Modal Analysis
         c. Technological or Behavioral Typologies
         d. Use-wear 
      2. Demonstrate the skills necessary to place cultural remains in a
typology using attributes of the artifact or ecofact. 

IV. Interpretation
   A. Reconstructing the Past
      1. Discuss how cultural remains can be used to reconstruct patterns
of behavior, for example:
         a. Individual activities and identities
         b. Community-specific activities and identities
         c. Society-wide activities and identities
      2. Develop an interpretation of the past based on the artifact
assemblage.
   B. Chronology
      1. Explain the significance of dating to archaeological
interpretation. 
      2. Discuss the implications of various dating techniques and how
these techniques relate to the research design, for example:
         a. Stratigraphy
         b. Typological sequence
         c. Seriation
         d. Radiocarbon dating
         e. Obsidian-hydration dating
      3. Apply the appropriate dating technique to the collected remains. 
 
   C. Current and Future Research
      1. Prepare a summary of research conducted over the season and the
results of the research. 
      2. Identify successful and problematic elements of the research
design.
      3. Address questions posed in the research design and propose new
questions for future research. 

V. Ethics and Responsibilities
   A. Conservation and Archival
      1. Review the human causes of site destruction:
         a. Archaeologists
         b. Looters
         c. Agriculture
         d. Development
      2. Be conversant with the problems and techniques associated with
the conservation of each class of cultural remains.
      3. Discuss archival techniques for cultural remains. 
      4. Review and evaluate examples of museum curation.
   B. Ownership and Cultural Patrimony
      1. Define cultural patrimony.
      2. Discuss the legal and ethical implications of possessing cultural
remains. 
      3. Evaluate the impact of archaeological interpretation on modern
communities. 
   C. Community-based strategies for Archaeology
      1. Identify the key concepts of applied Anthropology, specifically
community-based Archaeology. 
      2. Assess the impact of archaeological interpretation, education,
collaboration, and development on the local community. 

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Students must demonstrate proficiency at skills, methods, and
techniques necessary for the successful completion of archaeological
fieldwork. Demonstration of skills will make up 60% of the final grade.
Students are required to develop and implement a research design by the
end of the class. The research design is worth 20% of the final grade.
Students are required to complete a final report of their research by the
end of the class. The final report is worth 20% of the final grade. 

Caveats:

1. Students are required to remain with the project for the duration of the course (three to four weeks).
2. Students are guests of the host country and must act accordingly. Inappropriate behavior may result in immediate removal from the course.
3. Students will participate in potentially strenuous activity under a variety of conditions.
4. Students may incur additional travel and lodging expenses in addition to normal tuition and fees, dependent on external funding opportunities.
5. Professor approval is required for enrollment.
6. A cultural component will be taken in conjunction with this course based on the location of the field school. For example, if offered in Honduras, students are required to enroll in People and Cultures of Mesoamerica.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.