Archaeological Studies, IDC 4U, Grade 12, University Preparation

Prerequisite: Any university or university/college prep course in Social Sciences and Humanities, Canadian and World Studies, or English

This course examines the methods of archaeological surveying, excavating, artifact collecting and field interpretation.  Students will review the history of archaeology and investigate the development of archaeological theory. Using diverse research methods and field study, they will also examine archaeological evidence in local, national and international museums and sites; learn to analyze archaeological materials, apply data management skills, create field maps and cross-sectional drawings of archaeological phenomena; discuss artifact dating techniques and effects of erosion and weathering; and investigate legal, ethical, and technological issues regarding archaeological investigation.

As this is an interdisciplinary course, we will incorporate other disciplines including Visual Arts, Geography (Travel and Tourism), History (World Issues, Identity and Culture), Classical Civilizations and Anthropology to make this a fascinating course on exploration and discovery.

The major theme is the analysis and the interpretation of evidence; In other words, how do various groups “handle the pieces of the past?” Students examine how factors of religion, gender, nationality, race, and class play a role in the interpretation of the pieces of the past.

The issues and conflicts surrounding archaeology and the ownership of artefacts have become more prominent in today’s society. Questions such as: Who owns these pieces of the past? need to be examined to determine who legally controls the artifacts from our past.  

You will study the federal, provincial, and international laws that govern archaeological activities; the reasons for their existence; and their impact on those people who are most influenced: professional archaeologists, landowners, farmers, developers, and native peoples.

You will be asked to propose principles that separate the ethical use of archaeological discoveries from mere plunder or exploitation, and develop guidelines to ease the frequent conflict between individual rights and a wider public interest. Students also examine how effective UNESCO and the maintenance of heritage sites have been in preserving the past. The unit culminates with a case study dealing with many legal and ethical issues involving control and ownership of artifacts.

Major activities for assessment will include a Simulated Archaeological Excavation and an Archaeological Journal.

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