Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the human past through investigation of material traces (artifacts, food remains, features, structures, etc.) and their relationships in space and time. Drawing on a wide range of explanatory theory and rigorous methodologies, we use archaeological records of past activities to better understand human technological, economic, social, and cultural evolution from the deep past (Lower Paleolithic) to recent centuries. In doing so, we share many intellectual, theoretical, and methodological interests with our colleagues in other sub-disciplines of anthropology and around the UW campus. Our archaeology faculty has multiple affiliations with the environmental anthropology program, the Quaternary Science Center, and the Burke Museum. In addition, we collaborate with a much broader array of researchers across campus and beyond – e.g., Material Science, Geology, Geography, Physics, Forestry, Chemistry, Oceanography. These connections are critical for maintaining and increasing the range of tools and collaborations vital to increased resolution of archaeological problems. Despite this diversity, archaeology remains integral as a subunit within anthropology, and it is our focus on the temporal dimension of human diversity through the study of artifacts (broadly defined) that unites us.

The Archaeology Program at the University of Washington is dedicated to an explicitly scientific approach to the study of the human past on the basis of material remains. We believe that the most fruitful and enduring research derives from the systematic application of scientific methodology (deduction of hypothesis and empirical evaluation). This approach, rather than areal specialization, is the common theme uniting the research interests of the faculty. It also lies at the heart of our teaching program at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Our educational mission is to turn the pursuit of scientific knowledge about the past into a dynamic tool for learning. We regularly engage undergraduate and graduate students in field and laboratory research.

Our core curriculum includes strong theoretical and methodological training, and it revolves around the hands-on analysis of tangible empirical data (e.g., lithics, archaeofaunal remains, ceramics, geoarchaeology, and geo-spatial relationships). In our introductory classes, we seek to train students broadly in the following archaeological topics:

• Social relevance (how can lessons from the past be applied to contemporary concerns: the research core of archaeology)
• Basic archaeological skills (how do we use the archaeological record to draw inferences about the past)
• Stewardship (how can we preserve archaeological information for the benefit of the present and future)
• Real-world problem solving (knowing the rules, law, process, and responsibilities)
• Communication (writing, speaking, computer literacy)
• Professional ethics and values
• Diverse interests (scientific, public, governmental)

Graduate students in the archaeology program obtain a solid foundation in archaeological method and theory, the full range of laboratory techniques, and research design. Each student also achieves competence in a major cultural area of his or her choice. Currently, students are working in all major areas of the New and Old Worlds. Each student is expected to acquire substantial field experience beyond the field school level, although the dissertation need not be based on this work. Dissertations are based on original research and represent significant contributions to archaeology.