ASB 231

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS

SUMMER 2007

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INSTRUCTOR: Shereen Lerner, Ph.D.

slerner@mail.mc.maricopa.edu

The purpose of the course is to provide you with the basic academic and practical skills in excavating an archaeological site. You will be involved in the excavation of an archaeological site in Ireland.

It is our goal that at the completion of the course, you will be able to: (1) define the basic vocabulary of field excavation, (2) determine the purpose of excavation, and why it occurs, (3) have some background of Irish archaeology, (4) know how to map and grid a site, (5) understand horizontal and vertical data control and the use of special excavation techniques such as pollen, flotation, dating samples, etc., (6) interpret the meaning of artifacts and features and the implication of spatial relationships, and possibly (7) conduct archaeological survey. You will learn will about the laws that guide archaeological field work and some of the ethical issues that, as archaeologists, we must consider.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

There are no exams in this class. There are three major requirements. First, attendance and active participation in both the class and field components of the class is mandatory. Your grade is tied to your participation. Each student will be required to maintain a journal containing a log of their experience in the class. Included in the journal should be critical information received in the classroom and a record of your weekly fieldwork.

The second requirement will be to prepare a final report of the field work. The content of the report will be explained in class.

Fieldwork needs: always bring water, sunscreen, hat. Equipment: trowel, pens, pencil (with eraser), ruler, notebook.

Schedule:

We will hold classes the week before the field season begins. These classes will provide you with basic information regarding archaeological field methodologies and Irish archaeology. The field portion of the class will be held over a two-week period. We will leave our apartments at approximately 7-7:30 am, arrive at the field between 8 and 8:30 am, and return to the apartments by 6:30 pm, Monday-Friday. These will be long days, but enjoyable. The web site which explains where we will be working is: (http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/controller?action=groups&gid=72).