Archaeology
Office: 100 Brooks Hall
Phone: (434)924-7044
The interdisciplinary major in archaeology combines the faculty and resources of several departments (anthropology, art history, classics, biology, and environmental sciences) to create a program of study in prehistoric, historic, and classical archaeology. The discipline of archaeology is concerned with the recovery, analysis, and interpretation of the material remains of past cultures and societies. The topics of study pursued within the program can vary widely. They range anywhere from issues of human origins and cultural evolution to the study of Classical Greece and Rome; or from the structure of ancient Pueblo societies in the American Southwest to the study of colonial life in Virginia.
Two core courses, ANTH 280 (Introduction to Archaeology) and a classical art and archaeology course (generally ARTH 213, 214, or 215) introduce students to the field of archaeology. Both of these courses are well-suited for first-year students and they fulfill two of the three core curriculum requirements for majors. The third requirement is an archaeological field school.
We also offer a number of other courses appropriate for first-year students including ANTH 280 (Introduction to Archaeology), ANTH 281 (Human Origins), and ANTH 282 (Rise of Civilization). For more information on these courses and others, see the Course Offering Directory listings under the Departments of Anthropology, Art History, and Classics or consult the Archaeology web page.