Archaeology

Sample Programs of Study

The following is a sampling of various possible programs of study that a student might pursue in completing a Secondary Field in Archaeology. Other geographically or topically focused programs may be formulated by the student in consultation with the secondary field adviser. Note, however, that a specific geographical area or topic of study is not required to successfully complete the requirements for Archaeology as a secondary field.

The Archaeology of Civilizations

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Classical Archaeology 100 or Social Analysis 50)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Foreign Cultures 34: Mesoamerican Civilizations

    • Anthropology 1085: Six Great Discoveries in New World Archaeology

    • Anthropology 1120: Comparative Analysis of Ancient Civilizations

    • Anthropology 1174: The Incas

    • Anthropology 1177: South American Archaeology

    • Anthropology 1210: The Archaeology of Early China

    • Ancient Near East 101: Introduction to Mesopotamian Archaeology

    • Ancient Near East 105: History of the Ancient Near East: The Levant (up to Alexander the Great)

    • Classical Archaeology 143: Two Panhellenic Greek Sanctuaries: Olympia and Delphi

    • History 1101: Medieval Europe

    • History of Art and Architecture 13h: Foundations of Early Civilization: An Introduction to the Art of Ancient Mesopotamia

The Archaeology of World Religions

  1. Introductory course (any of the four listed in the general requirements)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Anthropology 1030: Religions of Mesoamerica

    • Ancient Near East 102: Introduction to Mesopotamian Religion

    • Ancient Near East 117: Biblical Archaeology

    • Classical Archaeology 242: Greek Funerary Art

    • East Asian Studies 140: Major Religious Texts of East Asia

    • History of Art and Architecture 282y: The Visual Culture of Relics in East Asia

    • Religion 1400: Introduction to the New Testament: History and Interpretation

    • Religion 1409: The New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Empire: Seminar

Asian Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Anthropology 1010 or Social Analysis 50)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Foreign Cultures 12: Sources of Indian Civilization

    • Foreign Cultures 79: Historical and Musical Paths on the Silk Road

    • Anthropology 1210: The Archaeology of Early China

    • Chinese History 248: Introduction to Archaeology of Medieval China (400-1000)

    • Indian Studies 110: History of South Asia to 1200 CE

    • Japanese History 111a: Gods, Sovereigns, and Shoguns: The History of Early Japan

    • Indian Studies 110. History of South Asia to 1200 CE

Mediterranean Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Classical Archaeology 100)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Historical Study B-06: The Roman Games

    • Literature and Arts B-21: The Images of Alexander the Great

    • Literature and Arts C-61: The Rome of Augustus

    • Classical Archaeology 97r: Classical Archaeology

    • Classical Archaeology 143: Two Panhellenic Greek Sanctuaries: Olympia and Delphi

    • Classical Archaeology 242: Greek Funerary Art

    • Classical Archaeology 244r: Small Greek Bronze Sculptures of the Human Figure: Seminar

    • Classical Archaeology 246: Topography and Monuments of Athens

    • History 90i: Major Themes in Ancient History

    • History 1085: The Roman Empire, Augustus to Constantine

    • History 1111: The Fall of the Roman Empire

    • History 2051: Ethnic Identities in Classical Antiquity: Seminar

    • History of Art and Architecture 133: Greek Architecture and Urbanism

    • History of Art and Architecture 138: Hellenistic Art and Architecture

    • History of Art and Architecture 139s: Roman Sculpture

Medieval Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Anthropology 1010 or Classical Archaeology 100)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Celtic 107: Early Irish History

    • Historical Study B-13: Charlemagne and the Birth of Medieval Civilization

    • History 1101: Medieval Europe

    • History 1111: The Fall of the Roman Empire

    • Medieval Studies 101: The Auxiliary Disciplines of Medieval History: Proseminar

Near Eastern Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Anthropology 1010 or Social Analysis 50)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Ancient Near East 100: History of the Ancient Near East: Mesopotamia

    • Ancient Near East 101: Introduction to Mesopotamian Archaeology

    • Ancient Near East 102: Introduction to Mesopotamian Religion

    • Ancient Near East 105: History of the Ancient Near East: The Levant (up to Alexander the Great)

    • Ancient Near East 109r: History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

    • Ancient Near East 115: Archaeology of the Levant (Syria-Palestine)

    • Ancient Near East 117: Biblical Archaeology

    • Ancient Near East 118: Syro-Palestinian Pottery

    • Ancient Near East 215r: Problems in the Archaeology of Bronze and Iron Age Levant: Seminar

    • Anthropology 1120: Comparative Analysis of Ancient Civilizations

    • History of Art and Architecture 13h: Foundations of Early Civilization: An Introduction to the Art of Ancient Mesopotamia

    • History of Art and Architecture 232: Assyrian Reliefs and the Decorative Programs of Assyrian Palaces

    • Religion 1400: Introduction to the New Testament: History and Interpretation

    • Religion 1409: The New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Empire: Seminar

MesoAmerican Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Anthropology 1010 or Anthropology 1130)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Foreign Cultures 34: Mesoamerican Civilizations

    • Anthropology 1030: Religions of Mesoamerica

    • Anthropology 1170: Mesoamerican Writing Systems

    • Anthropology 2050: Introduction to Maya Hieroglyphs

    • Anthropology 2060: Holy War, the Aztec Empire, and the Spanish Conquest

    • Anthropology 2110: Mesoamerican Archaeology. Seminar

    • History of Art and Architecture 197: The Imperial Arts of the Inca and the Aztec

    • History of Art and Architecture 291r: Topics in Pre-Columbian and Colonial Art

South American Archaeology

  1. Introductory course (e.g., Anthropology 1010 or Anthropology 1130)

  2. Four courses from among the following:

    • Anthropology 1174: The Incas

    • Anthropology 1177: South American Archaeology

    • Anthropology 2115: Origins of Andean Complex Societies

    • Anthropology 2175: The Inca Quipu

    • History of Art and Architecture 197: The Imperial Arts of the Inca and the Aztec

    • History of Art and Architecture 291r: Topics in Pre-Columbian and Colonial Art

    • History of Art and Architecture 292p: Topics in Pre-Columbian Andean Art in the Peabody Museum

NOTE: The above listings are samples only. Please check the listing of courses in the Archaeology chapter of Courses of Instruction , where there is a compilation of courses in which the practice of archaeology is taught or the use of archaeological information is integral. The interested student is urged to consult the full listings of the various departments for related courses, relevant undergraduate tutorials, and graduate-level reading courses. Please consult the Archaeology Secondary Field Adviser for more information and with any questions.

Office of Academic Programs, 617-384-7477, University Hall 1st Floor North, Cambridge MA 02138.