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Archaeology

Archaeology Programs | Archaeology Courses

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

Enrolment Requirements:

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:

Completion Requirements:

(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

Enrolment Requirements:

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 courses with the stated minimum grades are required:

Completion Requirements:

(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

Enrolment Requirements:

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:

Completion Requirements:

(4 full course equivalents, including at least 1 FCE at the 300- or 400-levels)

1. ANT200Y1
2. ARH305H1 and ARH309H1
3. 1.5 credits from Group A
4. 0.5 credits from Group B

If ARH312Y is completed, it will be considered a Group A course.

 

Course Groups

Group A Theoretical and Methods 1: Theoretical

Group A Theoretical and Methods 2: Archaeometry

Group A Theoretical and Methods 3: Ceramic and Lithic Analysis

Group A Theoretical and Methods 4: Geoarchaeology

Group A Theoretical and Methods 5: Osteoarchaeology and Zooarchaeology

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

Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 2: Egyptian Archaeology

Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 3: European and Celtic Archaeology

Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 4: Historical Archaeology

Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 5: Islamic Archaeology

Group B: Area Courses and Cultural History 6: Near Eastern Archaeology

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

Hours: 24L

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.

Prerequisite: ANT200Y1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)

JGA305H1 - Environmental and Archaeological Geophysics

Hours: 24L/12P

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.

Prerequisite: ESS241H1 or ANT200Y1 or GGR201H1
Distribution Requirements: Science
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

ARH306Y1 - Archaeological Field Methods

Hours: 12L/61P

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.

Prerequisite: ANT200Y1 or (NMC260H1 and NMC262H1) or NMC261Y0
Distribution Requirements: Social Science

ARH309H1 - Archaeology, Ethics, and the Public

Hours: 24L

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.

Prerequisite: ANT200Y1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)

ARH312Y1 - Archaeological Laboratory

Hours: 28L/44P

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. 

Prerequisite: ANT200Y1 and a half statistics course (e.g. GGR270H1*, STA220H1, STA221H1, STA257H1, STA261H1, ANTC35H3**. Note: *Geography Pre- or co-requisites waived for Anthropology and Archaeology students; ** to be taken at the Scarborough Campus
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

ARH360H1 - Prehistory of the Near East (formerly ANT360Y1)

Hours: 24L

From earliest times through the rise of complex hunter-gatherers, and the food producing revolution to politically complex societies in Southwest Asia.

Prerequisite: ANT200Y1 or NMC260H1 and NMC262H1
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.

Prerequisite: Permission of Undergraduate Co-ordinator and Supervisor
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.

Prerequisite: Permission of Undergraduate Co-ordinator and Supervisor
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.

Distribution Requirements: Social Science

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.

Distribution Requirements: Social Science

ARH482H1 - Special Topics in Archaeology

Hours: 24S

Unique opportunity to explore a particular archaeological topic in-depth. Topics vary from year to year.

Prerequisite: ARH305H1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science

ARH494H1 - Topics in Emerging Scholarship (Archaeology)

Hours: 24S

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.

Prerequisite: ARH305H1
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.

Prerequisite: A minimum of 14 credits, permission of Supervisor and Undergraduate Coordinator.
Exclusion: ANT497Y1
Recommended Preparation: ARH305H1, ARH312Y1
Distribution Requirements: Social Science

 

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