Archaeology: Classical and Near Eastern at Bryn Mawr College: 2008-2009
The curriculum of the department focuses on the cultures of the Mediterranean regions and the Near East in antiquity. Courses treat aspects of society and material culture of these civilizations as well as issues of theory, method and interpretation.
Assistant Professor and Graduate Advisor Mehmet-Ali Ataç
Rhys Carpenter Professor and Acting Chair, Semester II A.A. Donohue (on leave semester I)
Assistant Professor Astrid Lindenlauf
Associate Professor and Major Advisor Peter Magee
Professor and Chair (on leave semester II) James C. Wright
The major requires a minimum of 10 courses. Core requirements are two 100-level courses distributed between the ancient Near East and Egypt and ancient Greece and Rome and two semesters of the senior conference. At least two upper-level courses should be distributed between classical and Near Eastern subjects and one other should concern method and theory in archaeology (ARCH 330 and ANTH 220). Additional requirements are determined in consultation with the major advisor. Additional coursework in subjects related to archaeology may be accepted for major credit; such courses are offered in the Departments of Anthropology, Geology, Greek, Latin and Classical Studies, Growth and Structure of Cities, and History of Art.
Each student’s course of study to meet major requirements will be determined in consultation with the undergraduate major advisor in the spring semester of the sophomore year. Students considering majoring in the department are encouraged to take the introductory courses early in their undergraduate career and should also seek advice from departmental faculty. Students who are interested in interdisciplinary concentrations or in study abroad during the junior year are strongly advised to seek assistance in planning their major early in their sophomore year.
The Departments of Anthropology, Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, and Geology offer a concentration in geoarchaeology for existing majors in these departments. Please consult with Professor Magee regarding this program.
Requirements for the Concentration:
- Two 100-level units from Anthropology, Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology or Geology, of which one must be from the department outside the student’s major.
- ANTH/ARCH/GEOL 270: Geoarchaeology (Magee, Barber).
- BIOL/ARCH/GEOL 328: Geospatial Data Analysis and GIS (staff).
- Two elective courses, to be chosen in consultation with the major advisor, from among current offerings in Anthropology, Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology and Geology. One of these two courses must be from outside the student’s major. Suggested courses include but are not limited to ANTH 203 (Human Ecology), ANTH 220 (Methods and Theory), ANTH 225 (Paleolithic Archaeology), ANTH 240 (Traditional Technologies), ARCH 308 (Ceramic Analysis), ARCH 332 (Field Techniques), GEOL 202 (Mineralogy), GEOL 205 (Sedimentology), GEOL 310 (Geophysics), and GEOL 312 (Quaternary Climates).
Honors are granted on the basis of academic performance as demonstrated by a cumulative average of 3.5 or better in the major.
Majors who wish to undertake independent research, especially for researching and writing a lengthy paper, must arrange with a professor who is willing to advise them, and consult with the major advisor. Such research normally would be conducted by seniors as a unit of independent study (403), which must be approved by the advising professor before registration.
The minor requires six courses. Core requirements are two 100-level courses distributed between the ancient Near East and Egypt and ancient Greece and Rome in addition to four other courses selected in consultation with the major advisor.
Majors who contemplate graduate study in classical fields should incorporate Greek and Latin into their programs. Those who plan graduate work in Near Eastern or Egyptian may take appropriate ancient languages at the University of Pennsylvania, such as Middle Egyptian, Akkadian and Sumerian. Any student considering graduate study in classical and Near Eastern archaeology should study French and German..
The department strongly encourages students to gain fieldwork experience and assists them in getting positions on field projects in North America and overseas. The department is undertaking several field projects in which undergraduates may be invited to participate.
Professor Peter Magee conducts a for-credit field school at Muweilah, al-Hamriya and Tell Abraq in the United Arab Emirates. Undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology participate in this project, which usually takes place during the winter break.
Professor James Wright directs the Nemea Valley Archaeological Project in Greece. Currently, the collaboration with Professor R. Angus Smith (Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College, 2002) of Brock University in Canada, and under the auspices of the Canadian Institute in Greece, is excavating a Mycenaean chamber tomb cemetery in the valley. Undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology participate in this project, which focuses on excavation techniques, skeletal analysis and museum studies.
The department is collaborating with Professor Aslı Özyar (Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College, 1991) of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, in the Tarsus Regional Project, Turkey, sponsored by Boğaziçi University. This is a long-term investigation of the mound at Gözlü Küle at Tarsus, in Cilicia, which was first excavated by Hetty Goldman, A.B. 1903. Both undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology participate in this project.
A semester of study abroad is encouraged if the program is approved by the department. Students are encouraged to consult with faculty, since some programs the department may approve may not yet be listed at the Office of International Programs. Major credit for courses taken is given on a case-by-case basis after review of the syllabus, work submitted for a grade, and a transcript. Normally credit will not be given for more than one course and not for courses that are ordinarily offered by the department.
The department is awarded annually two internships by the Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation for students to work for a month in the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, Greece, with an additional two weeks at an archaeological field project. This is an all-expense paid internship for which students may submit an application.
Opportunities to work with the College’s archaeology collections are available throughout the academic year and during the summer. Students wishing to work with the collections should consult the curator/academic liaison or collections manager for art and artifacts.
ARCH B101 Introduction to Egyptian and Near Eastern Archaeology
A historical survey of the archaeology and art of the ancient Near East, Egypt, and the prehistoric Aegean. Three hours of class, one hour of special topics a week. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B102 Introduction to Classical Archaeology
A historical survey of the archaeology and art of Greece, Etruria and Rome. Three hours of class, one hour of special topics each week. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B104 Archaeology of Agricultural and Urban Revolutions From Egypt to India (Cross-listed as CITY B104)
This course examines the archaeology of the two most fundamental changes that have occurred in human society in the last 12,000 years, agriculture and urbanism, and we explore these in Egypt and the Near East as far as India. We also explore those societies that did not experience these changes.
ARCH B110 The World Through Classical Eyes (Cross-listed as CSTS B110)
A survey of the ways in which the ancient Greeks and Romans perceived and constructed their physical and social world. The evidence of ancient texts and monuments will form the basis for exploring such subjects as cosmology, geography, travel and commerce, ancient ethnography and anthropology, the idea of natural and artificial wonders, and the self-definition of the classical cultures in the context of the oikoumene, the “inhabited world.” Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B115 Classical Art (Cross-listed as CITY B115, CSTS B115, and HART B115)
An introduction to the visual arts of ancient Greece and Rome from the Bronze Age through Late Imperial times (circa 3,000 B.C.E. to 300 C.E.). Major categories of artistic production are examined in historical and social context, including interactions with neighboring areas and cultures; methodological and interpretive issues are highlighted.
ARCH B120 The Archaeology, Anthropology and Sociology of Rubbish
This course aims to introduce students to a range of approaches to the study of disposal practices in past and present societies. Particular attention will be paid to the interpretation of spatial disposal patterns, the power of dirt(y waste) to create boundaries and difference, and types and motivations of recycling. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B125 Classical Myths in Art and in the Sky(Cross-listed as CSTS B125 and HART B125)
This course explores Greek and Roman mythology using an archaeological and art-historical approach, focusing on the ways in which the traditional tales of the gods and heroes were depicted, developed and transmitted in the visual arts such as vase painting and architectural sculpture, as well as projected into the natural environment.
ARCH B160 Daily Life in Ancient Greece and Rome(Cross-listed as CITY B160 and CSTS B160)
The often-praised achievements of the classical cultures arose from the realities of day-to-day life. This course surveys the rich body of archaeological and literary evidence pertaining to how ancient Greeks and Romans—famous and obscure alike—lived and died. Topics include housing, food, clothing, work, leisure and family and social life. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B201 Preclassical Greek Art and Archaeology
The art and archaeology of Greece and its Mediterranean neighbors between the end of the Bronze Age and the Persian invasion (circa 1100 to 480 B.C.E.), the period which saw the rise of the city-state, the introduction of democracy and the spread of Greek civilization by colonization and trade. The architecture, painting, sculpture and minor arts will be studied with attention to their historical and cultural contexts. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B203 Ancient Greek Cities and Sanctuaries(Cross-listed as CITY B203)
A study of the development of the Greek city-states and sanctuaries. Archaeological evidence is surveyed in its historic context. The political formation of the city-state and the role of religion is presented, and the political, economic and religious institutions of the city-states are explored in their urban settings. The city-state is considered as a particular political economy of the Mediterranean and in comparison to the utility of the concept of city-state in other cultures. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B205 Greek Sculpture (Cross-listed as HART B204)
One of the best preserved categories of evidence for ancient Greek culture is sculpture. The Greeks devoted immense resources to producing sculpture that encompassed many materials and forms and served a variety of important social functions. This course examines sculptural production in Greece and neighboring lands from the Bronze Age through the fourth century B.C.E. with special attention to style, iconography and historical and social context.
ARCH B206 Hellenistic and Roman Sculpture(Cross-listed as HART B206)
This course surveys the sculpture produced from the fourth century B.C.E. to the fourth century C.E., the period beginning with the death of Alexander the Great that saw the transformation of the classical world through the rise of Rome and the establishment and expansion of the Roman Empire. Style, iconography and production will be studied in the contexts of the culture of the Hellenistic kingdoms, the Roman appropriation of Greek culture, the role of art in Roman society and the significance of Hellenistic and Roman sculpture in the post-antique classical tradition. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B209 Aegean Archaeology
The prehistoric cultures of the Aegean area concentrating on Minoan Crete, Troy, the Aegean Islands, and Mycenaean Greece. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B220 Araby the Blest: The Archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula from 3000 to 300 B.C.E.
A survey of the archaeology and history of the Arabian peninsula focusing on urban forms, transport and cultures in the Arabian peninsula and Gulf and their interactions with the world from the rise of states in Mesopotamia down to the time of Alexander the Great. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B224 Women in the Ancient Near East
A survey of the social position of women in the ancient Near East, from sedentary villages to empires of the first millennium B.C.E. Topics include critiques of traditional concepts of gender in archaeology and theories of matriarchy. Case studies illustrate the historicity of gender concepts: women’s work in early village societies; the meanings of Neolithic female figurines; the representation of gender in the Gilgamesh epic; the institution of the “Tawananna” (queen) in the Hittite empire; the indirect power of women such as Semiramis in the Neo-Assyrian palaces. Reliefs, statues, texts and more indirect archaeological evidence are the basis for discussion. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B226 Archaeology of Anatolia
One of the cradles of civilization, Anatolia witnessed the rise and fall of many cultures and states throughout its ancient history. This course approaches the ancient material remains of Anatolia from the perspective of Near Eastern archaeology, examining the art, artifacts, architecture, cities, and settlements of this land from the Neolithic through the Achaemenid periods. Some emphasis will be on the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age, especially phases of Hittite and Assyrian imperialism, Late Hittite states, Phrygia, Lydia, and the Urartu.
ARCH B228 The Archaeology of Iran: From the Neolithic to Alexander the Great
Examines the archaeology of Iran and its eastern neighbors from circa 8000 B.C.E. to the coming of Alexander at the end of the fourth century B.C.E. Focus on the emergence of agriculture and urbanism and the appearance of the Achaemenid Empire, examined in the light of contacts with states in Mesopotamia and South Asia and the abilities of the ancient inhabitants of Iran to exploit their environment.
ARCH B230 Archaeology and History of Ancient Egypt
The cultural, social and political development of Egypt from the beginning of settled communities in the Nile Valley to the end of the New Kingdom (circa 5000 to 1100 B.C.E.), in both the African and the wider Near Eastern contexts. Emphasizes archaeological remains, but also makes use of documentary evidence. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B234 Picturing Women in Classical Antiquity (Cross-listed as CSTS B234 and HART B234)
We investigate representations of women in different media in ancient Greece and Rome, examining the cultural stereotypes of women and the gender roles that they reinforce. We also study the daily life of women in the ancient world, the objects that they were associated with in life and death and their occupations.
ARCH B240 Archaeology and History of Ancient Mesopotamia
A survey of the material culture of ancient Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, from the earliest phases of state formation (circa 3500 B.C.E.) through the Achaemenid Persian occupation of the Near East (circa 331 B.C.E.). Emphasis will be on art, artifacts, monuments, religion, kingship and the cuneiform tradition. The survival of the cultural legacy of Mesopotamia into later ancient and Islamic traditions will also be addressed.
ARCH B244 Great Empires of the Ancient Near East (Cross-listed as CITY B244, HIST B244, and POLS B244)
A survey of the history, material culture, political and religious ideologies of, and interactions among, the five great empires of the ancient Near East of the second and first millennia B.C.E.: New Kingdom Egypt, the Hittite Empire in Anatolia, the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires in Mesopotamia, and the Persian Empire in Iran. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B252 Pompeii (Cross-listed as CITY B259)
Introduces students to a nearly intact archaeological site whose destruction by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E. was recorded by contemporaries. The discovery of Pompeii in the mid-1700’s had an enormous impact on 18th- and 19th-century views of the Roman past as well as styles and preferences of the modern era. Informs students in classical antiquity, urban life, city structure, residential architecture, home decoration and furnishing, wall painting, minor arts and craft and mercantile activities within a Roman city. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B255 Sport and Spectacle in Ancient Greece and Rome (Cross-listed as CITY B260, CSTS B255, and HIST B285)
Sport and spectacle in ancient Greece and Rome and how they compare to the institutions of education and sport in modern society. Topics are the Olympic games and other sanctuaries with athletic competitions, the built structures for athletics (stadium, gymnasium, baths, amphitheaters, circuses, and hippodrome) and spectacles, such as gladiatorial combat. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B263 Roman Archaeology
The art and architecture of Rome from the Republic through the Empire in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B268 Greek and Roman Architecture (Cross-listed as CITY B268 and HART B268)
The course will introduce the structure of Greek and Roman cities and sanctuaries, the variety of building types and monuments found within them, and how local populations used and lived in the architectural environment of the classical world. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B270 Geoarchaeology (Cross-listed as ANTH B270 and GEOL B270)
Societies in the past depended on our human ancestors’ ability to interact with their environment. Geoarchaeology analyzes these interactions by combining archaeological and geological techniques to document human behavior while also reconstructing the past environment. Course meets twice weekly for lecture, discussion of readings and hands on exercises. Prerequisite: one course in anthropology, archaeology or geology.
ARCH B274 Bioarchaeology (Cross-listed as ANTH B274)
Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B301 Greek Vase Painting
Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B303 Classical Bodies (Cross-listed as HART B305)
An examination of the conceptions of the human body evidenced in Greek and Roman art and literature, with emphasis on issues that have persisted in the Western tradition. Topics include the fashioning of concepts of male and female standards of beauty and their implications; conventions of visual representation; the nude; clothing and its symbolism; the athletic ideal; physiognomy; medical theory and practice; the visible expression of character and emotions; and the formulation of the “classical ideal” in antiquity and later times. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B305 Ancient Athens (Cross-listed as CITY B305)
Detailed analysis of the monuments, archaeology and art of ancient Athens—the home of such persons as Pericles, Plato and Sophocles. The course considers the art and monuments of ancient Athens against the historical background of the city, and is a case study in understanding the role of archaeology in reconstructing the life and culture of the Athenians.
ARCH B308 Ceramic Analysis
Pottery is a fundamental means of establishing the relative chronology of archaeological sites and of understanding past human behavior. Included are theories, methods and techniques of pottery description, analysis and interpretation. Topics include typology, seriation, ceramic characterization, production, function, exchange and the use of computers in pottery analysis. Laboratory work on pottery in the department collections. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
ARCH B312 The Eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age
This course will cover economic and cultural interactions among the Levant, Cyprus, Anatolia, Egypt and the Aegean. We will study the politics and powers in the Eastern Mediterranean circa 1500 to 1100 B.C.E.—the Egyptian and Hittite empires, the Mitanni, Ugarit and Syro-Palestinian polities, Cyprus and the Mycenaeans. Topics include: metallurgy, mercantile systems, seafaring, the Sea Peoples, systems collapse, and interpretive issues when working with archaeological and historical sources. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B322 The Archaeology of the Roman Empire
An examination of the growth of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire at its height, from its acquisitions of the Hellenistic kingdoms (second and first centuries, B.C.E.) to its domination of Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Prerequisite: ARCH B102. Not offered in 2009-10
ARCH B323 On the Trail of Alexander the Great
This course explores the world of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic world based on a variety of sources. Particular focus is put on the material culture of Macedonia and Alexander's campaigns that changed forever the nature and boundaries of the Greek world. Prerequisite: a course in Classical Archaeology or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20 students, selected from Archaeology majors and minors.
ARCH B328 Analysis of Geospatial Data Using GIS (Cross-listed as GEOL B328, BIOL B328, and CITY B328)
ARCH B330 Archaeological Theory and Method
An historical introduction to archaeological theory and methods. Topics: archaeology’s origins in the Renaissance; the formation of archaeology and geology and social scientific approaches to the human past; competing philosophies of knowledge, phenomenology and postmodern constructions of knowledge. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B342 Greek Architectural Sculpture
This course examines in depth a large and important body of remains from the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, that puts the sculpture in its architectural and cultural contexts, allowing study of original examples of Greek art that are couched in a relatively well established chronology. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B352 Ancient Egyptian Architecture: The New Kingdom
A proseminar that concentrates on the principles of ancient Egyptian monumental Architecture with an emphasis on the New Kingdom. The primary focus of the course is temple design, put palaces, representative settlements, and examples of Graeco-Roman temples of the Nile Valley will also be dealt with.
ARCH B359 Topics in Classical Art and Archaeology (Cross-listed as CSTS B359 and HART B358)
A research-oriented course taught in seminar format, treating issues of current interest in Greek and Roman art and archaeology. Prerequisites: 200-level coursework in some aspect of classical or related cultures, archeology or art history. Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B369 Topics in Medieval History (Cross-listed as HIST B369 and CSTS B369)
Not offered in 2009-10.
ARCH B398, B399 Senior Seminar
A weekly seminar on common topics with assigned readings and oral and written reports.
ARCH B403 Supervised Work
ARCH B425 Praxis III: Independent Study