Course Description

Historical Archaeologies and Material Modernity is a graduate level seminar class for students interested in developing an understanding of advanced theory and method in the diverse subfields of Historical archaeology and material culture studies. Historical archaeology was initially defined as the study of the material world post-colonization in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia or the “post-Medieval” era in Europe. This classic definition, while still partially accurate, fails to capture the incredible thematic, theoretical, and methodological diversity that characterizes the present range of research. Rather than focusing on specific time periods, these archaeologies are connected by their concern for how material dimensions of colonization, capitalism and precarity shape modernity, and how marginalized communities (often cast as “people without history”), challenge or alter these same cultural structures of domination. This class will cover topics including, archival bias, diaspora, enslavement and emancipation, rebellions, class, violence, consumerism, modern and post-modern warfare, acculturation, gender, race/ethnicity, and the evolving space of new materialist perspectives. 

The course readings focus on works published in historical archaeology, history, folklore studies, anthropology, critical ethnic studies, and material culture studies. Archaeologists draw on and contribute to social theories and histories that originate in other disciplines as well as from prehistoric and classical archaeology. This class is committed to an interdisciplinary framework rather than a purely archaeological one and will appeal to students in the humanities or social sciences. Advanced
undergraduates are welcome to take this course, and a modified reading load will be provided.

Contact Dr. Nathan Acebo for more information.