SOAN 284 | Historical Archaeology: From Decolonization to Heritage Politics

Past societies are often divided into "prehistoric" and "historic" based on the existence of ties with Western culture. Following this dichotomy, archaeology has long contributed to a Colonialist perspective of selective literacy. In attempt to deconstruct said tendency, this course explores the multiplicity of circumstances in which archaeologists study a past for which historical records exist. The course encompasses ancient societies with hieroglyphic systems of writing, the Near East as the center of biblical archaeology, as well as recent historical periods of the Western nations themselves. For each study region or period, students examine the nature and biases characterizing available written records and explore the ways in which archaeological approaches have created complementary datasets that allow for a more holistic understanding of past societies. This set of comparisons on a global level lays the groundwork for the conceptualization of material culture as an author of its own history even when documents are readily available. As the course modules approach the present -- covering Slavery, the Industrialization, as well as poverty and migration in the 21st century -- discussions increasingly contribute to a comprehensive reflection upon some of the societal problems of today. In this context, the course concludes with an acknowledgment of both the difficulties and potential of heritage stewardship and education.