Course Listing

Please visit the Academic Timetable to see which courses are presently being offered, as not all courses listed below run every term. For specific details about program requirements and degree regulations, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

Courses for Archaeology Degree
COURSE CODE	DESCRIPTION	CROSS LISTED WITH
FIRST YEAR COURSES
ANTH-1001H	General Anthropology (Sc) Anthropology is the study of humankind and anything to do with humans across time and space. This course surveys anthropology as a whole, emphasizing how biological, archaeological, linguistic, and cultural anthropology’s topics, methods, and findings combine to create a holistic understanding of humanity’s origins, prehistory, languages, and ways of life. Excludes ANTH 1000Y, 1010H, 1020H.
ANTH-1030H	Archaeology I: Accessing the Past (Sc) Explores the origin, development, challenges, and lessons of archaeological practice around the world, with a focus on specific, illustrative case studies drawn from the history of the discipline. Excludes AHCL 1001H.
SECOND YEAR COURSES
ANTH-2121H	Foragers to Farmers: The Archaeology of Early Societies (Sc) Archaeology aims to reconstruct and explain the evolution of cultural behaviour in humans. This course surveys major topics in archaeology beginning with the earliest records of human culture to the emergence and expansion of agricultural societies. Excludes ANTH 2120Y.
ANTH-2122H	Farms to Empires: The Archaeology of Complexity (Sc) A comparative survey of how archaeologists have documented and interpreted the evidence related to the emergence of proto-urban and urban settlements, city-states, and empires. Major themes addressed include political and social organization, craft production, art, religion, trade and exchange, social elites, and military power. Excludes ANTH 2120Y.
ANTH-2123H	Archaeology II: Methods of Analysis (Sc) Introduces students to the ways archaeologists obtain data to build knowledge of the past. Students are provided with a critical appreciation and understanding of a representative range of methods used in archaeological survey, excavation and in post-excavation analysis.
ANTH-2150H	Archaeological Science I: Introduction to Archaeological Science (Sc) An exploration of archaeological science (dating techniques, isotopic analysis, ancient DNA, material characterization) through case studies with an emphasis on the articulation of scientific techniques and archaeological research questions. Themes explored include human origins, diet, migration, status, and trade. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits.
ANTH-2201H	Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology from the Pharaohs to the Romans The methods and achievements of archaeologists and the art history of Egypt from the period of the Pharaohs, through the Persians and the Greeks to the Romans. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits.	AHCL-2201H
ANTH-2205H	Archaeology and Art History of Ancient Greece An introduction to Greek material culture from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic Period. Topics include the birth of Western art, the formation of a Greek identity, the relationship to contemporary social developments, and the lasting legacy of Greece in the modern world (including theatres, sculpture, coins, and city-planning). Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits. Excludes AHCL-ANTH 2200Y.	AHCL-2205H
ANTH-2206H	Archaeology and Art History of Ancient Rome An introduction to Roman material culture from the Iron Age through the Late Empire. Topics include the development of a distinctively Roman culture, the influence of the Greek world, the spread of Roman imperialism, the impact of Christianity, and the continuing relevance of Roman institutions in modern society. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits. Excludes AHCL-ANTH 2200Y.
THIRD YEAR COURSES
ANTH-3000Y	Field Methods and Techniques in Anthropology (Sc) An introduction to methods and techniques of discovery, analysis, and interpretation in a field situation in any one sub-discipline (archaeology, cultural, physical, or linguistic anthropology). Summers only—confirm with the department office. Limited enrolment. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
ANTH-3100Y	Archaeology III: Key Ideas and Current Issues (Sc) Examines both the history of archaeological thought and practice, in addition to addressing archaeology's role in the contemporary world. Topics may include those related to evolution, the environment, race, ethnicity, gender, repatriation, and ethics, in addition to current and emerging debates in the discipline. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor.
ANTH-3112H	North American Archaeology (Sc) Covers the archaeology of North America, from Paleoindians through the nineteenth century. Subjects include the shift from hunting and foraging to agriculture, the development of complexity, trade relationships and interregional interaction, shifting religious beliefs and practices, and the consequences of European contact and settlement. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3110Y.
ANTH-3121H	Archaeology of Ancient Mesoamerica (Sc) A survey of the ancient Native civilizations of Mexico and Central America from the earliest settlement to the European conquest. Includes a study of Aztecs, Maya, Olmec, and other societies of Mesoamerica. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 4120Y.
ANTH-3151H	Lab Methods: Lithics and Bone (Sc) The description and analysis of materials from archaeological contexts, including stone tools, bone tools, shell, and ecofacts. This course focuses on hands-on analysis of materials. Fundamental techniques of recording and cataloguing, such as drawing and photography of artifacts, are taught throughout. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3150Y.
ANTH-3152H	Lab Methods: Ceramics and Historics (Sc) Introduces students to basic methods for analyzing of archaeological ceramics and historic artifacts, focusing on ceramic technology and the production of glass and metal artifacts as technologies that transform raw materials into new substances. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3150Y.
ANTH-3153H	Archaeological Science II: Ancient Biomolecules (Sc) Ancient biomolecules (proteins, lipids, DNA), the conditions under which they preserve, how they are isolated and analyzed. Topics include stable isotopes, ancient DNA, proteomics, and organic residue analysis. Labs provide students with hands-on experience with techniques commonly used in archaeological science (emphasis on bone chemistry). Prerequisite: ANTH 2150H, or 2.5 ANTH credits and three of BIOL 1020H, BIOL 1030H, CHEM 1000H, GEOG 1040H, or PHYS 1001H.
ANTH-3155H	Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (Sc) Builds students’ understanding of and confidence in the appropriate use and application of quantitative methods to archaeological data. Topics include sampling theory, univariate tests of significance, multivariate analysis, spatial analysis, and quantitative modelling. Prerequisite: MATH 1052H (or 1050Y)
ANTH-3175H	The Archaeology of Natural Disasters (Sc) Lectures explore the science of natural disasters, and issues relating to resilience and risk management in the contemporary world. Seminars focus on the archaeology of natural disasters, with particular emphasis on how human conceptions of the environment condition people’s perceived vulnerability, and eventually their responses, to sudden environmental changes. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits or permission of instructor.	ERSC-3175H GEOG-3175H
ANTH-3180H	Paleolithic Archaeology (Sc) Explores the archaeological record of the Old World prior to the adoption of agriculture. Students become familiar with cultural change during the Plio-Pleistocene and learn, among others, about the expansions out of Africa, the Middle/Upper Paleolithic transition, and the rise of the first sedentary societies. Prerequisite: 9.0 university credits including ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Recommended: ANTH 2410H (or 2400Y). Excludes ANTH 3120Y.
ANTH-3185H	The Archaeology of Climate Change (Sc) Lectures and readings examine the science of climate change, outline how climate change influenced cultural development in the past, and assess how human perceptions of the environment conditioned the varying responses to climate change. Seminars focus on key methodological and/or theoretical issues, and specific case studies from the archaeological record. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits or permission of instructor.	ERSC-3185H GEOG-3185H
ANTH-3190H	Ancient Anatolia A study of Anatolia in Antiquity. Topics include Lydian, Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Roman Empires, urbanism, roads, local languages and cultures. including Lycia, Isauria, and Pontus, as well as village life and cities such as Sagalassus, Ephesus, Sinop, and Euchaita. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits	AHCL-3190H HIST-3190H
ANTH-3221H	State Religion in Ancient Greece and Rome Offers critical examination of the structure, function, and practices of official religion between the late Iron Age and the rise of monotheism in the late antique Mediterranean. Archaeological remains and ancient texts demonstrate how state-sponsored cults served to bind the populace and codify social and political behaviour. Prerequisite: 8.0 university credits including both AHCL 2102H and 2105H (or 2100Y) or both ANTH-AHCL 2205H and 2206H (or 2200Y). Excludes AHCL-ANTH 3220Y.	AHCL-3221H HIST-3221H
ANTH-3222H	Mystery Cults and Restricted Rituals in the Ancient Mediterranean In ancient Greece and Rome, exclusionary rituals and secretive initiation cults like those of Dionysos, Mithras, Isis, and Christianity overturned entrenched social norms and threatened the cohesion of the state. Archaeological and written evidence provide evidence for the origins, impact, and legacy of such practices in the ancient Mediterranean. Prerequisite: 8.0 university credits including both AHCL 2102H and 2105H (or 2100Y) or both ANTH-AHCL 2205H and 2206H (or 2200Y). Excludes AHCL-ANTH 3220Y.	AHCL-3222H HIST-3222H
ANTH-3240H	Etruscan Archaeology, ca. 1000–200 BCE The material culture of the Etruscans, who rivalled the major Mediterranean powers in trade and warfare and whose art, architecture, and beliefs profoundly influenced ancient Roman culture. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits including ANTH-AHCL 2205H or 2206H (or 2200Y).	AHCL-3240H
ANTH-3250H	Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology An exploration of the material culture of the Aegean Basin from the Neolithic Period through the Late Bronze Age (ca. 8000–1100 BCE), focusing on such topics as the built environment, art and symbolism, trade and exchange, religion and burial customs, and social stratification and state formation. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits including ANTH-AHCL 2205H (or 2200Y).	AHCL-3250H
ANTH-3251H	The Archaeology of Ancient Athens Examines the material culture of ancient Athens from the Neolithic Period to the Slavic Invasions in the sixth century CE, focusing on changes in the socio-political structure of the city throughout its history by exploring art and architecture, trade and exchange, ritual and mortuary customs, and state formation. Prerequisite: ANTH-AHCL 2205H (or 2200Y). Excludes AHCL 3958H.	AHCL-3251H
ANTH-3252H	From Palace to Polis: The Archaeology of the Greek Iron Age Examines the archaeological record of the Aegean basin from the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces (ca. 1200 BCE) to the rise of the Greek polis (ca. 600 BCE), focusing upon such topics as art and architecture, trade and exchange, ritual and mortuary customs, economics, and state formation. Prerequisite: 4.0 university credits including ANTH-AHCL 2205H (or 2200Y). Excludes AHCL 3955H, AHCL-ANTH 3260H.	AHCL-3252H
ANTH-3275H	Cultural Identity and Ancient North Africa By critically comparing archaeological and textual evidence with scholarly publications, we examine attitudes toward culture and self-identification in ancient North Africa (ca. 700 BCE–450 CE), as expressed by both ancient peoples and scholars of the past circa 150 years, a period of tremendous change in political and academic thought. Prerequisite: 6.0 university credits. Excludes AHCL 3961H.	AHCL-3275H HIST-3275H
ANTH-3404H	Human Osteology (Sc) A lab-based introduction to the anatomy and biology of the human skeleton. Topics include basic skeletal anatomy, bone biology and development, the functional morphology of bones, identification of complete and fragmentary bones, and skeletal pathology. Prerequisite: ANTH 2410H (or 2400Y). Excludes ANTH-BIOL-FRSC 3415Y, 3420H.	BIOL-3404H FRSC-3404H
ANTH-3540H	Mortuary Archaeology (Sc) Examines the act of burial from an archaeological perspective. We focus on temporal trends in mortuary customs from Neandertals to modern humans. Gender, age, ethnic, and social differences in burial patterns are also explored. Prerequisite: ANTH 2001H (or 2000Y) or both 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y) or 2410H (or 2400Y); or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH-AHCL 4410H.
ANTH-3650H	Landscape and Settlement Archaeology (Sc) Explores the spatial dimension of archaeological data and its relationship to ecology and human behaviour. Approaches to the distributions of artifacts and sites, the organization of buildings and settlements, and the interactions between cultures are discussed. Both techniques of analysis and interpretative concepts are presented. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor.
ANTH-3680H	Environmental Archaeology (Sc) Focuses on the concepts and methods used by archaeologists to investigate the long-term interactions between humans and the environment. Explores the wide diversity of approaches (geomorphology, paleobotany, archaeozoology, paleoentomology, and isotopic analyses) developed over the years in order to sharpen our understanding of past human–environment dynamics. Prerequisite: ANTH 1001H or both 1010H and 1020H (or 1000Y); or ERSC 1010H and 1020H (or 1000Y); or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3520Y.	ERSC-3680H
ANTH-3731H	Archaeozoology (Sc) Introduces the analysis and interpretation of animal remains in archaeological sites. Students become familiar with the interpretation of faunal assemblages and learn through hands-on practice and discussions to think critically about the implications that can be drawn from these remains. Limited enrolment. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H or 2122H (or 2120Y) or 2410H (or 2400Y) or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3730Y.
ANTH-3850Y	Field Course in Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology (Sc) A field course in archaeological methods and techniques at a Classical or Near Eastern site in the Mediterranean. Spring/summers only—confirm with the department office. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and 1.0 credit from ANTH-AHCL 2205H, ANTH-AHCL 2206H, ANTH 2121H, ANTH 2122H (or AHCL-ANTH 2200Y or ANTH 2120Y). Limited enrolment.	AHCL-3850Y
ANTH-3950H	Special Topic: Archaeology of South America (Sc) Examines the archaeological record of South America. Topics include how and when people first came to South America, extinction of megamammals, the process of plant and animal domestication, monumental architecture, organization of civilizations and empires, current research problems, and ethnoarchaeology of Amazon hunter-gatherers. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H or 2122H (or 2120Y) or permission of the instructor.
FOURTH YEAR COURSES
ANTH-4003H	Senior Seminar in Classical Archaeology Students gain practical experience in the processes of scholarly investigations and dissemination of findings by engaging in the ongoing research project of the instructor. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits, including AHCL course(s) to be specified on a course-by-course basis.	AHCL-4003H
ANTH-4145H	Cultural Heritage: Threats and Responses The cultural identity of living peoples and the appreciation of the human past rely on the safeguarding of tangible heritage, yet physical remains of the past are under constant threat of destruction, disappearance, or distortion. What underlies these threats, and how effectively are legal and professional standards addressing them? Prerequisite: 8.0 university credits.	AHCL-4145H
ANTH-4150H	Cultural Heritage Management (Sc) An introduction to the approaches archaeologists use to address challenges and solve problems in the identification, evaluation, conservation, management, and interpretation of archaeological sites. Emphasis is placed on examples from southern Ontario. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y) or permission of instructor.
ANTH-4155H	Great Lakes Archaeology (Sc) A critical review of the archaeology of the Great Lakes region of North America, from the earliest evidence of human presence to European colonization. Seminars address the long-term historical and evolutionary nature of landscapes and societies, focusing on environmental change and population history, technology, subsistence, settlement, trade and exchange, and socio-political organization. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 4151Y.	CAST-4155H INDG-4155H
ANTH-4170H	Archaeology and Popular Culture Provides a critical assessment of ways in which archaeology and archaeologists are portrayed in various forms of popular culture, including films, television dramas, documentaries, cartoons, fiction novels, magazines, video and board games, and science fiction. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y); and 3000Y or 3100Y; or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 4931H.
ANTH-4180H	Collapse of Complex Societies (Sc) Using anthropological theory and archaeologically-generated data sets, this course explores the characteristics of, and reasons for, the “collapse” of complex societies. The focus is on the last two phases of the “Adaptive Cycle”: release and reorganization. Implications for the contemporary world are also discussed. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits or permission of instructor.	AHCL-4180H ERSC-4180H
ANTH-4185H	Human Impact on Ancient Environments (Sc) Using archaeological and environmental theory and diverse data sets, lectures and student research projects explore human impacts on ancient environments. The focus is on the first two phases of the “Adaptive Cycle”: exploitation and conservation. Seminars concentrate on contemporary environmental issues. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits or permission of instructor.	AHCL-4185H ERSC-4185H
ANTH-4350H	Origins and Spread of Agriculture (Sc) Provides students with a critical understanding of the theoretical models and archaeological evidence for the origins and spread of agricultural societies. The course explores evolutionary, ecological and social theories and reviews genetic, linguistic, archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and settlement data from Southwest and Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Prerequisite: 9.0 university credits including ANTH 2121H and 2122H, or permission of the instructor. Excludes ANTH 4290H in 2009.	SAFS-4350H
ANTH-4420H	Palaeopathology (Sc) Focuses on the study of disease in human skeletal remains. Emphasis is placed on the description and diagnosis of bone pathology, theoretical issues underlying the reconstruction of the health of past populations, and recent molecular and microscopic approaches to the study of disease in bone. Prerequisite: ANTH-BIOL-FRSC 3404H and ANTH-FRSC 3405H (or ANTH-BIOL-FRSC 3420H or 3415Y) or permission of instructor.
ANTH-4500H	Advanced Archaeological Lab Methods (Sc) Provides advanced training in archaeological laboratory methods. Students work on processing and analyzing an archaeological collection held by the Department of Anthropology, completing research reports on a topic of their choosing, in consultation with the course instructor. Prerequisite: ANTH 3151H and 3152H, or permission of instructor.
ANTH4710H	The Maya (Sc) Survey of the ancient and modern Maya of Central America. Examines the culture of the contemporary Maya, one of the largest Indigenous groups of the Americas, as well as the archaeology of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Prerequisite: ANTH 2121H and 2122H (or 2120Y), or permission of instructor. Excludes ANTH 3710H.

Archaeology

Course Listing

Program

Related Links