Program Description

Archaeology is the discipline most directly concerned with the understanding and explanation of past societies through the study of their material remains. The reconstruction of these societies through the interpretation of material culture permits archaeology to span both the prehistoric and the historic periods. While certain Archaeology Program courses originate within the program, others are cross-listed from the departments of Anthropology, Art and Art History, and Classical Civilization. Majors design their own curriculum in close consultation with their advisor according to the specific area of concentration within the discipline.

Major Requirements: A major in Archaeology consists of at least nine different courses numbered 200 and above:

  • one Gateway course - see list below
  • one Thinking through Archaeology course - see list below
  • one course in each of the four areas - see lists below
    • Anthropology
    • Classical Civilization 
    • Art History
    • Methods and Theory
  • two electives in Archaeology or related disciplines
  • senior essay/thesis tutorial (1 or 2 credits)

All majors must write a senior honors thesis or a senior essay that involves interpretation of material remains. This may include work on objects in the archaeology and anthropology collections or research tied to a project of a Wesleyan faculty member.

Applying to the major:  To apply to become a major in archaeology, a student must have taken or be currently enrolled in either a "Gateway," or a "Thinking Through Archaeology" course, and earn a grade of 'B' or better.  Following electronic application, admission will be determined by a meeting of the ARCP faculty.

Gateway courses

  • ARCP201 Art and Archaeology of Bronze Age Mediterranean
  • ARCP202 Paleoanthropology: The Study of Human Evolution
  • ARCP214 Survey of Greek Archaeology
  • ARCP215 Art and Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England
  • ARCP223 Survey of Roman Archaeology and Art
  • ARCP225 Excavating America: Historical Archaeology of the Modern World
  • ARCP256 African Archaeology
  • ARCP268 Prehistory of North America

Thinking through Archaeology courses
  • ARCP244 Pyramids and Funeral Pyres: Death and the Afterlife in Greece and Egypt
  • ARCP2** Greek Vase Painting (new; 2013-14)
  • ARCP227  Middletown Materials: Archaeological Analysis
  • ARCP234 Art and Society in Ancient Pompeii
  • ARCP292 Archaeology of Food, Trade, and Power in South India
  • ARCP304 Medieval Archaeology
  • ARCP372 The Archaeology of Death

Anthropology Courses
  • ARCP202  Paleoanthropology: The Study of Human Evolution
  • ARCP225  Excavating America: Historical Archaeology of the Modern World
  • ARCP250  Foragers to Farmers: Hunting and Gathering and the Development of Agriculture
  • ARCP256  African Archaeology
  • ARCP268  Prehistory of North America
  • ARCP300  Archaeological Perspectives on the African Diaspora
  • ARCP364  Monumental Cultures of Pre-Columbian North America

Art History Courses

  • ARCP215  Art and Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England
  • ARCP292  Archaeology of Food, Trade and Power in South India
  • ARCP304  Medieval Archaeology
  • ARCP380  Relic and Image: Archaeology and Social History of Indian Buddhism
  • ARCP387 Water and the Environment in European Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

Classical Civilization

  • ARCP153  Single Combat in the Ancient World
  • ARCP201  Art and Archaeology of Bronze Age Mediterranean
  • ARCP214  Survey of Greek Archaeology
  • ARCP216  The Archaic Age: Archaeology of Early Greece
  • ARCP223  Survey of Roman Archaeology  and Art
  • ARCP234  Art and Society in Ancient Pompeii
  • ARCP244  Greece and Egypt
  • ARCP283  Museums, Cultural Heritage, & Classical Archaeology
  • ARCP290  Archaeology of Greek Cult
  • ARCP321  The Archaeology of the Greek City-State
  • ARCP328  Roman Urban Life
  • ARCP329  Roman Villa Life

Methods and Theory

  • ARCP226  Feminist and Gender Archaeology
  • ARCP227  Middletown Materials: Archaeological Analysis
  • ARCP372  The Archaeology of Death
  • ARCP373  Field Methods in Archaeology
  • ARCP375  Science in Archaeology
  • ARCP383  Monument, Site, and Historical Memory

Study abroad. Students are encouraged to spend a semester abroad at the University of Sheffield, the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, the College Year in Athens, or at a number of other suitable institutions.

Fieldwork Opportunities:  Majors have participated in faculty-directed summer fieldwork opportunities at Morgantina, Sicily (Greek); Pompeii, Italy (Roman); Soissons, France (medieval); Illinois (prehistoric Native American), and Tanzania (colonial Africa).  Excavation experience, either with Wesleyan projects or with other approved field schools, is strongly encouraged.