Archaeology is an interdisciplinary field connected to many other fields, including anthropology, history, art history, religion, and geology. Because of these connections, and because material culture varies so widely by period and region, there are many different types of archaeology. Classical ,archaeology concentrates on the ancient Greek and Roman cultures and the peoples with whom they interacted, including those across the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East. Biblical or Near Eastern archaeology focuses on the material remains of the ancient Middle East as a region of great cultural diversity. Anthropological archaeology explores the material remains of past peoples within the conceptual and methodological framework of anthropology, often focusing on prehistoric societies or societies outside the ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spheres, such as the pre-modern peoples of the Americas and Asia. A background in archaeology can also pave the way for a career in museums or cultural resource management.
Many different curricular paths lead to graduate study in archaeology. All students who plan to attend graduate school in some field of archaeology should gain field experience (preferably two seasons), and it is useful to gain curatorial, archival, educational, or cultural resource management experience at a local museum or agency. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in anthropological archaeology should considering majoring in Anthropology but taking relevant offerings in geology (e.g., GEOL 155 History and Evolution of Earth, GEOL 260 Geomorphology, GEOL 265 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, GEOL 300 Paleobiology) and certain archaeology courses in the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East:
CLAS 123 Introduction to Archaeology
CLAS 260 Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Art
CLAS 270 Cultural Resource Management
Students wishing to pursue graduate study in classical archaeology should expose themselves to anthropology and geology, but graduate programs will prefer more study of classical art and languages. Also advantageous is a basic knowledge of one of the major modern languages of scholarship, German or French.
CLASSICAL OR NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Select based on the region of your primary interest. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:
- CLAS 121 – The Greek World
- CLAS 122 – The Roman World
- CLAS 127 – Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome
- CLAS 129 – Greek Myths
- CLAS 130 – Early Arab and Persian Empires
- CLAS 135 – India and Rome
- CLAS 145 – Pagans, Christians and Jews
c) For Classical Archaeology, study in Greek or Latin through at least the intermediate level. Those interested in Biblical or Near Eastern Archaeology may prefer Hebrew or Arabic.
d) CLAS 123 Introduction to Archaeology
e) A major research project in a Classical Mediterranean and Middle East, archaeology, art history, anthropology or other appropriate course.
f) CLAS 490 Senior Seminar
g) Electives from the following are particularly recommended:
- CLAS 260 Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Art
- CLAS 270 Cultural Resource Management
- GEOL 155 History and Evolution of Earth
- ANTH 112 Archaeology and Human Origins
- ANTH 115 Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 101 General Anthropology
For a field experience, we recommend participating in an excavation, preferably at least two seasons. Students should study abroad in the region of interest (North Africa, Middle East, Southern Europe, and the like).
ART HISTORY
a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Select based on the region of your primary interest. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:
- CLAS 121 – The Greek World
- CLAS 122 – The Roman World
- CLAS 127 – Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome
- CLAS 130 – Early Arab and Persian Empires
c) Study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Arabic, Greek, Latin or Hebrew):
d) CLAS 123 Introduction to Archaeology
e) A major research project in an art history course.
f) CLAS 490 Senior Seminar
g) Electives from the following are particularly recommended:
- CLAS 260 Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Art
- CLAS 155 January in Rome
- ART 280 Art & Architecture of Ancient Egypt
- ART 281 Art & Architecture of the Ancient Near East
- ART 282 Art & Architecture of the Islamic World
- ART 283 Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece & Rome
- ART 285 Making Imperial Cities: Babylon, Rome & Constantinople
OR a course otherwise approved in advance by the department, such as:
- ART 487 Art History Methodology Seminar (strongly recommended)
- ART 252 Gender, Sexualities, and Feminist Visual Culture
We also recommend at least one course in studio art:
- ART 232 Fibers I
- ART 235 Sculpture I
- ART 238 Ceramic Art
Recommended forms of field experience would include excavation OR interning in a museum, such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Science Museum of Minnesota, or Minnesota History Center. Study away should include archaeological learning in an archival, laboratory or field context.
MUSEUM or CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDIES
Every other year interested faculty across campus collaborate on a course in Museums — please watch for this. Your major plan in the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East department should include:
a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Select based on the region of your primary interest. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:
- CLAS 121 – The Greek World
- CLAS 122 – The Roman World
- CLAS 127 – Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome
- CLAS 129 – Greek Myths
- CLAS 130 – Early Arab and Persian Empires
- CLAS 135 – India and Rome
- CLAS 145 – Pagans, Christians and Jews
c) Study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Arabic, Greek, Latin or Hebrew).
d) CLAS 123 Introduction to Archaeology
e) A major research project in a Classical Mediterranean and Middle East, art history, anthropology, or other appropriate course focused on museums.
f) CLAS 490 Senior Seminar
g) Electives from the following are particularly recommended:
- CLAS 260 Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Art
- CLAS 155 January in Rome
- CLAS 270 Cultural Resource Management
- ART 280 Art & Architecture of Ancient Egypt
- ART 281 Art & Architecture of the Ancient Near East
- ART 282 Art & Architecture of the Islamic World
- ART 283 Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece & Rome
OR courses otherwise approved in advance by the department. Consider:
- ART 149 Introduction to Visual Culture
- ANTH 360 The Anthropology of Tourism
- HMCS 110 Texts and Power
- ECON 252 Economics of Not-for-Profit
- SOCI 250 Nonprofit Organizations
- EDUC 260 Philosophy of Education
- ART 232 Fibers I
- ART 235 Sculpture I
- Courses in Art History or Anthropology that would be good introductions to particular cultures or regions.
For a field experience, we strongly recommend a museum internship (e.g. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota History Center). For study away, look for programs that provide courses or training in an archival, museum, laboratory or field context. You might also want to consider a minor in Legal Studies.