The Human Past: Introduction to Archaeology

Cave painting with intricate geometric patterns.

A Chumash cave painting in Santa Barbara County, California. (Photo courtesy of Gyrus.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

3.986

As Taught In

Fall 2006

Level

Undergraduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Features

Course Description

This class introduces the multidisciplinary nature of archaeology, both in theory and practice. Lectures provide a comparative examination of the origins of agriculture and the rise of early civilizations in the ancient Near East and Mesoamerica. The laboratory sessions provide practical experience in aspects of archaeological field methods and analytical techniques including the examination of stone, ceramic, and metal artifacts and bone materials. Lab sessions have occasional problem sets which are completed outside of class.

Related Content

Harry Merrick. 3.986 The Human Past: Introduction to Archaeology. Fall 2006. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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