Archaeology and the Ancient World (formerly Old World Archaeology and Art)

The undergraduate concentration in Archaeology and the Ancient World provides students with an opportunity to explore the multi-faceted discipline of archaeology while examining the critical early civilizations of the so-called ‘Old World’– that is, the complex societies of the Mediterranean, Egypt, and Ancient Western Asia (roughly equivalent to the ancient Near East). The concentration, with its three distinct but overlapping tracks, is intended to allow students flexibility in structuring their own path through this diverse field of study. The concentration is also designed to allow students to build progressively upon what they have learned, moving from introductory courses to upper level seminars. Research opportunities, through summer fieldwork, museum experience, or independent study projects, are strongly encouraged.

With this concentration, the three tracks are: Archaeology and the Ancient World; Classical Archaeology; Egyptian and Ancient Western Asian Archaeology. Archaeology and the Ancient World is the most exploratory of the concentration tracks, and this option emphasizes material culture studies across the full spectrum of the ancient world. Classical Archaeology is intended for those interested chiefly in the ‘classic’ civilizations of the Mediterranean (Greece and Rome), as well as for those interested in both earlier (prehistoric) and later (medieval) periods in that geographic region. Egyptian and Ancient Western Asian Archaeology is intended for those interested chiefly in the cultures of Egypt and Ancient Western Asia (the ancient ‘Near East’ – Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia), from prehistoric through Islamic times.

Required Courses:

Each of these tracks shares the following course requirements: the student must take a total of 10 courses, including:

  1. One introductory course in archaeological methodology, history and/or theoretical approaches (e.g. ARCH 0050) Archaeological Fieldwork; ARCH 0100 Field Archaeology in the Ancient World; or ANTH 1600 Archaeological Field Work).

  2. One introductory course in the methodology, history and/or theoretical approaches of ancient art history (e.g. ARCH 0030 Foundations of Western Art in Antiquity; ARCH 0420 Greek Art and Architecture; ARCH 0520 Roman Art and Architecture; HIAA 0010 Introduction to the History of Art and Architecture).

  3. Two cognate courses, not listed primarily by the Joukowsky Institute, which EITHER relate to the study of the ancient world OR to the discipline of archaeology. Outside courses are chosen with the approval of the concentration advisor from appropriate 1000-level (or above) offerings in other departments such as, but not limited to: Ancient Studies, Anthropology, Classics, Egyptology and Ancient Western Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Geological Sciences, History, History of Art and Architecture, Religious Studies. One term of language study, in any ancient language, may also be counted toward this requirement.

For Archaeology and the Ancient World, the remaining requirements are:

  1. Two courses in Egyptian or Ancient Western Asian archaeology and art.

  2. Two courses in Mediterranean (prehistoric, Greek, Roman, medieval) archaeology and art.

    3. At least two of the courses selected to satisfy requirements #1 and #2 must be at or above the 1000-level.

  3. Two additional courses, in EITHER Mediterranean (prehistoric, Greek, Roman, medieval) archaeology OR Egyptian or Ancient Western Asian archaeology and art, at or above the 1000-level.

For Classical Archaeology, the remaining requirements are:

  1. One course in Egyptian or Ancient Western Asian archaeology and art.

  2. Three courses in Mediterranean (prehistoric, Greek, Roman, medieval) archaeology and art, at least two of which must be at or above the 1000-level.

  3. One course in ancient Greek or Roman history (e.g. CLAS 1210, CLAS 1220, CLAS 1310, CLAS 1320).

  4. One course in either Ancient Greek or Latin, at a level beyond the first year of study (e.g. GREK 0300, GREK 0400 or LATN 0300, LATN 0400).

For Egyptian and Ancient Western Asian Archaeology, the remaining requirements are:

  1. One course in Mediterranean (Bronze Age, Greek or Roman) archaeology and art.

  2. Three courses in Egyptian and Near Eastern archaeology and art, at least two of which must be at or above the 1000-level.

  3. Two terms of course work in a pertinent ancient language (e.g. Aramaic, Akkadian, Coptic, Classical Hebrew, Middle Egyptian).

Capstone Experience and Study Abroad

For each of the tracks, a capstone experience may be substituted for one of these required courses. With the permission of the concentration advisor, up to three successfully completed courses, from relevant and accredited study abroad programs, may be counted towards the concentration requirements.

Honors Concentrations

An Honors concentration in any of these tracks requires the successful completion of all the standard requirements with the addition of an Honors thesis. For the preparation of this thesis, students will ordinarily enroll in ARCH 1970 (AE 191), during both semesters of the senior year (these courses may not be taken S/NC, nor may they be used to satisfy the standard requirements of the concentration). In order to qualify for honors, students must have received more A’s than B’s in concentration courses completed.

Honors concentrations are recommended for students considering graduate work in the discipline of archaeology. Any student interested in a course of graduate study should speak to the undergraduate concentration advisor as soon as possible, not least for advice about additional forms of preparation. Graduate work in the archaeology of the ancient world, for example, requires knowledge of appropriate ancient, as well as modern, languages. Students should start work on acquiring these skills as early as possible.

The Honors Thesis

The Honors thesis is an extended essay, usually of between 40 and 60 pages in length, written under the supervision of a faculty advisor and second reader. (Where appropriate, the advisor or the reader, but not both of them, may be in a unit other than the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World.) The specific topic and approach of the thesis are worked out between the student and the thesis advisor, with assistance from the student's second reader. This process should begin in the latter part of the student's junior year. Details on deadlines for a thesis prospectus, for thesis drafts and for a final public presentation of the work are available on request to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The completed thesis will be evaluated by the advisor and second reader, who will discuss its strengths and weaknesses with the student; they will also agree a grade for both terms of ARCH 1970 (AE 191).

Evaluation

The Director of Undergraduate Studies will review the student’s overall record, in addition to the thesis evaluations. If all requirements have been successfully met, the recommendation will be made that the student graduate with Honors.




Page last updated in February, 2008.

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