You are here
Archaeology
The Archaeology Program focuses on the study of past human societies primarily through their material remains, or “material culture.” Archaeologists explore the nature of and changes in past cultures around the world through survey, excavation and analyses of stone tools, pottery, bones, plant remains, architecture and other cultural residues. Some of the major research foci of archaeologists are the behaviour and adaptations of early hominins, diversity of hunter-gatherer societies, origins of agriculture, pastoralism, urbanism and politically complex states, the workings of ancient exchange systems, and the development of class-based and gender-based political and economic inequalities in complex societies. Working archaeologists often specialize geographically, chronologically or thematically. Classical archaeologists, for example, specialize in the cultures of the ancient Greco-Roman world, while palaeoethnobotanists explore ways that botanical residues of ancient and prehistoric cultures can inform us about their economies and social systems. The specialist, major and minor programs allow students to explore archaeology in an interdisciplinary setting.
Students in the specialist or major program should consult the program coordinator or faculty members in their intended areas of specialization for advice on the selection of courses. Those intending to go on to graduate studies in departments such as Classics, East Asian Studies, Fine Art History or Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations should pay particular attention to language requirements at the graduate level.
The Archaeology Specialist (Arts program) is designed for students who would like to concentrate in archaeology while drawing on the teaching resources of diverse departments. See details below. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies should combine it with study of the ancient and modern languages relevant to their primary area of interest.
The Archaeology Major (Arts program) is designed for students who would like to pursue their interests in archaeology in conjunction with a Major in another field, such as Art, Classics, Earth Science, History, or Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. See details below.
The Archaeology Minor (Arts program) allows students to sample archaeology while pursuing their main interest in another discipline. See details below.
For all these programs, students are encouraged to seek counselling and information from the Anthropology Undergraduate Administrator/Student Counsellor, Anthropology (416-978-6414).
Careers in archaeology usually require graduate training, although some aspects of archaeology in the public sector can be pursued with an undergraduate degree. Students completing our program have also successfully pursued careers in teaching, tourism, and cultural resource management.
Archaeology Programs
Archaeology Specialist (Arts Program) - ASSPE0155
This is a limited enrolment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enrol.
Completed courses (with minimum grades)
The following course with the stated minimum grade is required:
- ANT200Y1 (70%)
(11 credits, including at least 4 credits at the 300+ level and 1 credit at the 400 level)
First Year:
1. ANT200Y1
2. Statistical Requirement: GGR270H1 (Geography pre- or co-requisites waived for Archaeology and Anthropology students); or 0.5 credit from STA220H1, STA221H1, STA247H1, STA248H1, STA255H1, STA257H1, STA261H1, or ANTC35H3 (at UTSC)
3. ANT100Y1 or CLA160H1. If CLA160H1 is taken, students must take an additional 0.5 credit from the following: CLA210H1, CLA230H1, CLA231H1; FAH206H1, FAH207H1; GGR100H1, GGR101H1; NMC262H1
Upper Years:
4. ARH305H1, ARH309H1, ARH312Y1, ANT411H1
5. Field Requirement: ANT311Y1 or ARH306Y1 or NMC261Y0 or ARH361Y1 or ARH361H1 or ANT418H5 (at UTM). If ARH361H1 or ANT418H5 is taken, students must take an additional 0.5 credit from ANT.
6. 5.0 credits from Groups A and B, of which 2.0 credits must be from Group A and 2.0 credits must be from Group B and 1.0 credits from either group
Note that students may substitute ARH495H1 (Research Practicum) for 0.5 credit of this requirement (assignment to Group A or B to be determined by Undergraduate Coordinator).
Archaeology Major (Arts Program) - ASMAJ0155
(7 credits, including at least 2 credits at the 300+ level and 0.5 credits at the 400-level)
First Year:
1. ANT200Y1
2. ANT100Y1 or CLA160H1. If CLA160H1 is taken, students must take an additional 0.5 credits from the following: CLA210H1, CLA230H1, CLA231H1; FAH206H1, FAH207H1; GGR100H1, GGR101H1; NMC262H1
Upper Years:
3. ARH305H1 and ARH309H1
4. 1 credit from: ARH306Y1, ARH312Y1, ARH361Y1, ARH361H1, ANT311Y1, NMC261Y0, NMC465H1, NMC466H1
5. 2.5 credits from: Group A
6. 0.5 credit from: Group B
Archaeology Minor (Arts Program) - ASMIN0155
This is a limited enrolment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enrol.
Completed courses (with minimum grades)
The following course with the stated minimum grades are required:
- ANT200Y1 (65%)
Course Groups
Group A Theoretical and Methods 1: Theoretical
- ANT370H1 Introduction to Social Anthropological Theory
- ANT372H1 Cultural Property
- ANT388H1 Anthropologists and Indigenous Peoples in North America
- ANT409H1 Landscape Archaeology
- ANT410H1 Hunter-Gatherers Past & Present
- ANT411H1 Advanced Archaeological Theory
- ANT416H1 Archaeology of Ritual and Identity
- ANT420H1 Archaeology of Inequality
- NMC266H1 Archaeologies of Power
- NMC474H1 The Archaeology of Death
- VIC225Y1 A History of the World in Objects
Group A Theoretical and Methods 2: Archaeometry
Group A Theoretical and Methods 3: Ceramic and Lithic Analysis
Group A Theoretical and Methods 4: Geoarchaeology
- ANT409H1 Landscape Archaeology
- GGR272H1 Geographic Information and Mapping I
- GGR273H1 Geographic Information and Mapping II
- GGR301H1 Fluvial Geomorphology
- GGR337H1 Environmental Remote Sensing
- GGR373H1 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- GGR390H1 Field Methods
- GGR413H1 Watershed Hydroecology
- ESS234H1 Introduction to Geological Field Methods
- ESS331H1 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
- JGA305H1 Environmental and Archaeological Geophysics
Group A Theoretical and Methods 5: Osteoarchaeology and Zooarchaeology
- ANT334H1 Human Skeletal Biology
- ANT335Y1 Human Evolution
- ANT338H1 Molecular Anthropology and Human Evolution
- ANT415Y1 Laboratory in Faunal Archaeo-Osteology
- ANT434H1 Health, Diet & Disease in the Past
- EEB318H1 Principles of Evolution
- EEB323H1 Evolutionary Genetics
- EEB324H1 Evolutionary Ecology
- EEB390H1 Vertebrate Paleontology: Major Transitions in Vertebrate History
Group A Theoretical and Methods 6: Paleoethnobotany
Group A Theoretical and Methods 7: Urbanism and Settlement
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 1: Classical and Aegean Archaeology
- CLA210H1 Greek and Roman Archaeology
- CLA215H1 Classical Warfare
- CLA230H1 Introduction to Greek History
- CLA231H1 Introduction to Roman History
- CLA362H1 Early Greece
- CLA363H1 Archaic and Classical Greece
- CLA364H1 The Hellenistic World
- CLA366H1 Topics in the Study of Greek History
- CLA367H1 The Roman Republic
- CLA368H1 Augustus and the Julio-Claudians
- CLA369H1 The Roman Empire
- CLA371H1 Topics in the Study of Roman History
- CLA389H1 Classical Spaces: Sites and Monuments
- CLA392H1 Topics in the study of Classical Culture and Society
- CLA403H1 Advanced Seminar in Roman Civilization
- FAH206H1 Prehistoric Aegean and East Mediterranean Art and Archaeology
- FAH207H1 Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology
- FAH303H1 Emergence of Greek Civilisation
- FAH309H1 City of Rome
- FAH401H1 Aegean Wall Paintings
- FAH407H1 Studies in Roman Painting and Sculpture
- FAH486H1 Case Studies at the Royal Ontario Museum
- HIS320H1 Barbarian Invasions and the Fall of the Roman Empire
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 2: Egyptian Archaeology
- JAL328H1 Writing Systems
- NMC343H1 Farmers to Pyramid Builders: Cultural and Political History of Ancient Egypt I
- NMC344H1 Hyksos Subjects to Empire Builders: Cultural and Political History of Ancient Egypt II
- NMC362Y1 Ancient Egyptian Sites
- NMC367H1 Archaeology & Architecture of Egyptian Monasticism
- NMC368H1 Coptic Art & Archaeology
- NMC461H1 The History and Archaeology of the Horn of Africa and South Arabia
- NMC467H1 Seminar in Egyptian Archaeology I
- NMC468H1 Seminar in Egyptian Archaeology II
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 3: European and Celtic Archaeology
- FAH318H1 Monastic Art and Architecture
- FAH327H1 Secular Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages
- FAH328H1 Gothic Cathedral
- FAH420H1 Studies in Western Medieval Art and Architecture
- FAH421H1 Studies in Medieval Cities
- HIS321H1 Dark Age Europe, 7th 10th Centuries
- HIS323H1 Rites of Passage and Daily Life in the Middle Ages
- HIS336H1 Medieval Spain
- HIS357Y1 A Social History of Renaissance Europe
- HIS403H1 Jews and Christians in Medieval and Renaissance Europe
- HIS424H1 Violence in Medieval Society
- HIS432H1 Topics in Medieval History
- SMC344Y1 Celtic Archaeology
- SMC337H1 Early Celtic History 450-1000
- SMC338H1 The Celtic Nations in the Later Middle Ages 1000-1550
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 4: Historical Archaeology
- ANT412H1 Historical Archaeology
- FAH376H1 Canadian Architecture: A Survey
- GGR240H1 Geographies of Colonialism in North America
- GGR241H1 Geographies of Urban Social Exclusion
- GGR336H1 Urban Historical Geography of North America
- GGR421H1 Histories of Geographical Thought
- HIS369H1 Aboriginal Peoples of the Great Lakes from 1500 to 1830
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 5: Islamic Archaeology
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 6: Near Eastern Archaeology
- JAL328H1 Writing Systems
- NMC260H1 Why the Ancient Near East? Investigating the Great Transformations in Pre- and Proto- History
- NMC264H1 The Archaeology of Stuff
- NMC346H1 Ancient Mesopotamia I: Sumerians and Akkadians
- NMC347H1 Ancient Mesopotamia II: Assyrians and Babylonians
- NMC360H1 Archaeology of the Biblical World I: The Bronze Age
- NMC361H1 The Archaeology of the Biblical World II: The Iron Age
- NMC363H1 Ancient Iraq
- NMC364H1 Art and Archaeology of Syria
- NMC370H1 Ancient Israel
- NMC445H1 Sacred and Secular Spaces: Mesopotamian Architecture in Context
- NMC446H1 The Babylonian City
- NMC447H1 The Neo-Assyrian Empire
- NMC461H1 The History and Archaeology of the Horn of Africa and South Arabia
- NMC463H1 Warfare: the Archaeology of Conflict in the Ancient Near East
- NMC464H1 The Archaeology of Stuff at the ROM
- NMC466H1 Near Eastern Ceramics
- NMC471H1 Advanced Topics in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
- NMC491H1 Mesopotamian Material Culture: Art and Artifacts
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 7: North and South American Prehistory
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 8: Old World Prehistory
Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 9: East Asian Archaeology
Archaeology Courses
ARH305H1 - Archaeological Interpretation
Transforming archaeological results into statements about people and their life ways. Covers basic archaeological theory, including research design, sampling, stratigraphy, seriation, formation and testing or evaluation of hypotheses, regional analyses. Introduces some of the major schools of archaeological theory, including New Archaeology and Post-Processual Archaeology.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)
JGA305H1 - Environmental and Archaeological Geophysics
Application of near-surface geophysical methods to investigate environmental and archaeological sites; in particular magnetometry, resistivity, ground-probing radar, and seismic surveys. Course will cover background on the various methods, and allow students to run field surveys and present on case studies.
Distribution Requirements: Science
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)
ARH306Y1 - Archaeological Field Methods
Intensive instruction in archaeological field methods and acquisition of field skills, including archaeological search and survey, site mapping, laying out excavation grids, use of theodolites, total station, and GPS, stratigraphic excavation, stratigraphy, field recording, screening sediment, Ontario license and reporting requirements. Normally this course would take place on campus in the summer. This course has a mandatory Lab Materials Fee of $25 to cover non-reusable materials. The fee will be included on the student’s ACORN invoice.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
ARH309H1 - Archaeology, Ethics, and the Public
An analysis of ethics in contemporary archaeology that covers reburial and repatriation, interpretation of the archaeological record in the context of historically oppressed groups, ethnic minorities, and non-western societies, the ethics of collecting and managing cultural property, relationships with the media, the debates surrounding looting, and other issues.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)
ARH312Y1 - Archaeological Laboratory
Techniques for making archaeological data meaningful after excavation or survey. Archaeological measurements, compilation of data, database design, archaeological systematics, and sampling theory in the context of lithics, pottery, floral, faunal and other archaeological remains.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)
ARH360H1 - Prehistory of the Near East (formerly ANT360Y1)
From earliest times through the rise of complex hunter-gatherers, and the food producing revolution to politically complex societies in Southwest Asia.
Exclusion: ARH360Y1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)
ARH361H0 - Field Archaeology
ARH361H1 - Field Archaeology
Opportunity for students participating in non-degree credit archaeological digs to submit reports, field notes and term papers for degree credit. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
ARH361Y0 - Field Archaeology
ARH361Y1 - Field Archaeology
Opportunity for students participating in non-degree credit archaeological digs to submit reports, field notes and term papers for degree credit. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
ARH398H0 - Research Excursions
An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-excursions-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
ARH398Y0 - Research Excursions
An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-excursions-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
ARH482H1 - Special Topics in Archaeology
Unique opportunity to explore a particular archaeological topic in-depth. Topics vary from year to year.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
ARH494H1 - Topics in Emerging Scholarship (Archaeology)
Taught by an advanced PhD student or postdoctoral fellow, and based on his or her doctoral research and area of expertise, this course presents a unique opportunity to explore intensively a particular Archaeology topic in-depth. Topics vary from year to year.
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)
ARH495H1 - Archaeology Research Practicum
Laboratory or practical research on an archaeological project that emphasizes methods and research design in archaeology. Students must obtain the consent of a Supervisor before enrolling. Students are required to give an oral presentation of research results to an open meeting of the Archaeology Centre at the conclusion of the course. Application must be made to the Anthropology Department. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Exclusion: ANT497Y1
Recommended Preparation: ARH305H1, ARH312Y1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science