ANTH 343 Archaeological Field and Laboratory Methods
Fall 2010 TR 12-1:15
Instructor: Dr. Renee B. Walker
Office: 312 Fitzelle
Office Hours: TR 2:30-4:00
Email: walkerr@oneonta.edu
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to methods archaeologists use to excavate, identify, preserve, analyze,
and interpret archaeological remains. The course integrates lectures with field trips and laboratory analysis.
Topics include: field survey methods; excavation methods; and laboratory analysis of lithics, pottery, flora and
fauna, and other evidences of material culture. Emphasis is on using these materials to gain greater insight into
past cultures based on archaeological investigation. Time outside of class will be needed for local field trips.
Prerequisite: ANTH 140.
Participation
You are expected to participate fully in all class discussions, field and laboratory research. This
participation includes completing assigned readings before each class meeting and regular attendance for field
and laboratory activities. Your participation grade will also be based on summarizing two of the readings
throughout the semester and posing two discussion questions to the class.
Assignments
The assignments for this course will include two written assignments (3-5 pages) on the readings and
will be due throughout the semester. In addition, there will be two laboratory assignments.
Grades
Final grades will be calculated according to the following:
100 points-Participation
100 points-Two Writing Assignments
200 points-Two Lab Activities
100 points-Artifact Data Analysis and Oral Presentation
500 points-Total
Course Text & Readings
Peregrine, Peter N. Archaeological Research: A Brief Introduction, 2001
Readings on Reserve at http://eres.oneonta.edu/courseindex.asp Password: trowel
Course Schedule
Date
Th 8-26
Topic
Course Introduction
Reading
Tu 8-31
Th 9-2
Tu 9-7
Th 9-9
Tu 9-14
Th 9-16
Tu 9-21
Th 9-23
Tu 9-28
Th 9-30
Tu 10-5
Th 10-7
Tu 10-12
Th 10-14
Tu 10-19
Th 10-21
Tu 10-26
Th 10-28
Tu 11-2
Th 11-4
Tu 11-9
Th 11-11
Tu 11-16
Th 11-18
Tu 11-23 & Th
11-25
Tu 11-30
Th 12-2
Tu 12-7
T h 12-9
Tu 12-14 2:00
Fieldwork-Emmons Farm
Fieldwork-Emmons Farm
Fieldwork-Emmons Farm
History and Goals of Archaeology
The Archaeological Record & Sampling
Archaeological Survey & Excavation
Record Keeping, Stratigraphy & Spatial
Patterns
Geographic Information Systems
Lithics
No Class-College Break
Lithics Lab
Historic Artifacts
Ceramics
Ceramics Lab
Paleoethnobotany
Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology Lab
No Class-Dr. Walker Attending
Conference
Human Skeletal Analysis
Human Skeletal Lab
Conservation and Curation
Dating Techniques
Presenting Results & Types of
Archaeological Literature
Public vs. Research Archaeology
NO CLASS-College Break
Peregrine Chap 1
Peregrine Chap 2 & 3
Peregrine Chaps 4 & 5
Peregrine Chaps 6 & 7
Schiffer-Formation Processes
TBA
Peregrine Chap 9; Kelly-Biface
*Writing Assignment #1 Due
Sutton & Arkush-Historic Artifacts
Peregrine Chap 8
Sutton & Arkush-Ceramics
Peregrine Chap 10
Peregrine Chap 10
Sutton & Arkush-Human Remains
*Writing Assignment #2 Due
Bleed and Nickel-Optimal Management
Peregrine Chap 11
Adovasio-Meadowcroft
Peregrine Chap 12
Smardz
Legal and Ethical Issues in
Peregrine Chap 13 Lynott & WylieArchaeological Research
Ethics Laboratory Assignment 1 Due
Work on Artifact Analysis/Data Analysis
Work on Artifact Analysis/Data Analysis
Work on Artifact Analysis/Data Analysis Laboratory Assignment 2 Due
Present Results of Data Analysis (Final
Assignment)
Reserve Readings:
Adovasio, J.M., J. Donahue, and R. Studkenrath
1990 The Meadowcroft Rockshelter Radiocarbon Chronology 1975-1990. American
Antiquity, 55(2): 348-354.
Bleed, Peter, and Robert Nickel
1989 Optimal Management of Archaeological Collections. Curator, 32(1):26-33.
Kelly, Robert
1988 The Three Sides of a Biface. American Antiquity, 53(4):717-734.
Lynott, Mark, and Alison Wylie, eds.
1995 Ethics in American Archaeology: Challenges for the 1990s, pp. 17-53. Society for
American Archaeology Special Report.
Schiffer, Michael
1983 Toward the Identification of Formation Processes. American Antiquity, 48(4):673-706.
Smardz, Karolyn E.
1997 The Past Through Tomorrow: Interpreting Toronto's Heritage to a Multicultural Public.
In Presenting Archaeology to the Public: Digging for Truths, edited by John H. Jameson,
pp. 101-113. AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, California.
Sutton, M.Q. and B.S. Arkush
1998 Archaeological Laboratory Methods. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Iowa.
Chapter 6-Ceramic Analysis
Chapter 9-Historical Artifacts
Chapter 12-Human Remains
Assignments:
Writing Assignment #1 (50 points): What must you consider when designing a research
program in archaeology?
Decide on a particular site/area you are going to investigate and explain all the things you
need to consider in constructing a research design. Make sure you consider all the areas of a
research design. Things to consider/include: Aspects of the history and goals of archaeology, the
nature of the archaeological record, choices of survey and excavation methods, site stratigraphy
and formation processes.
Writing Assignment #2 (50 points): What are the methods and techniques used in
archaeological artifact analysis?
Decide on a particular area of artifact/ecofact analysis. If you are analyzing that particular
artifact/ecofact type-what are the things you must consider? What overlap is there between the
artifact you have chosen to discuss and other artifact/ecofact types.
Things to consider/include: Sampling, site stratigraphy and formation processes, excavation
and recovery methods.
Laboratory Assignment #1 (50 points)
Select an artifact type and construct a research question for analyzing and interpreting
your dataset.
Laboratory Assignment #2 (50 Points)
Wash, sort, and analyze artifacts from the Emmons Farm site. Also, mapping location of
artifacts across the site.
Final Assignment (100 points)
Historical Research: Pick a topic concerning the Emmons Farm site and do background research
on this topic. Topics will include:
What information do we have about taverns that date to the same time as the Emmons Tavern?
What other information can we gain from the Emmons Farm site in terms of:
History of the Community
Agriculture
Commerce
Family Structure