This course deals with historical archaeology of the modern world--the growth of capitalism, the spread of European colonization and later industrialization. Historical archaeology covers artifacts and features buried beneath the ground, standing buildings and ruins, and historical information including maps and oral histories that relate to the material remains of the past. Through a range of readings, lab analysis, and a field trip to a local historical archaeological site, we will examine material remains of the recent past. Geographically, material covered will include U.S. sites, including Middletown, New York, and a range of other urban and rural case studies, and international sites, including those in England, South Africa, and Australia. Through these we will examine some of the major themes of historical archaeology, particularly the formation of gendered, class, and ethnic identities. |