Professor: Leatherman Course format: Seminar Number of respondents: 15 Total Enrollment: 18 Class Composition: Froshs: 9 Sophs: 3 Jrs: 0 Srs: 5 Concs: 2 Non-Concs: 11 Don't Know: 2

Instructor Average: 1.49 Course Average: 1.64

"Archaeological Field Work" is a hands-on introduction to the types, tools and techniques of excavation. The goals of this seminar course, with a lab, were to gain field experience with archaeology, as well as to learn about specific sites and method. No background for this class is required, although an affinity for dirt and gluing stuff might help. Opposable thumbs for holding the shovels are also a bonus.

Angela Leatherman, the graduate student who taught the course, was described by class members as approachable, friendly and understanding. She was extremely knowledgeable, as well as fun. Ms. Leatherman was attentive to the respondents' needs and gave good feedback, especially at the beginning of the course before students really knew what they were doing. Although her lectures could be somewhat dry, the material covered was more geared towards hands-on experience.

The course required a quiz every class, one 10-15 minute presentation, one trench report and a presentation. The reviewers found the readings to be interesting, but only necessary for the weekly quizzes. People enjoyed many of the homework assignments, which they described as "Kind of like arts and crafts with ancient artifacts."

The course required less work than students had anticipated. With no more than 100 pages of reading a week, students spent from one to three hours working outside of class. The course was not a challenging one; in other words, a good fifth course to take. Students described the course as easy, fun and dirty. Would that more things were at Brown...

View AE/0005 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.