Material Culture and Archaeology
Concentration in the Sociology/Anthropology Major
Are you eager to dig deep — literally and figuratively — into the origins of human culture? Our Archaeology concentration is for you. Feel the thrill of discovery as you uncover the culture of past human societies including Black Feminist Archaeology, Postcolonial and Anticolonial Theory, and Landscape Theory. Decipher the secrets in a pot sherd, the charcoal remains of an ancient palisade, or a kitchen midden.
Archaeology helps us understand contemporary systems of capitalism, environmental sustainability, climate change, human resilience, systemic inequality, and the modern family. As an Archaeology student, you get to take part in many different projects, including participating in different Archaeology Field Schools, working on the Archaeology Crew, and curating collections gathered from many sites. As a senior, you’ll design your own research project with the help of your advisor.
Why study Archaeology at Warren Wilson?
- Discovery to Archival: Every student learns and completes the full life cycle of artifacts, from discovery to exhibit and archival.
- Field School: Warren Wilson is one of the few schools around with a strong archaeology program that offers hands-on excavation and field school experiences both locally and internationally. You’ll excavate a site, analyze artifacts, and get plenty of hands-on experience.
- Real Artifacts: In all courses, you’ll have opportunities to work locally and utilize real artifacts in your research.
- Unique Work Experience: On our Archaeology Crew, you’re able to curate your own exhibits and care for objects recovered on campus.
See how Archaeology students put our education into action
Work
You can work on any crew as a student but many — majors choose to be on crews such as:
- Archaeology Crew
- Library Archive Crew
- Farm Crew
- Herb Crew
Study Abroad
In Archaeo-Ecology of Ecuador, you’ll start on campus building a foundation in archaeology and tropical ecology to better understand the history of peoples as well as ecological interactions of plants and animals in Ecuador. Abroad, you’ll spend part of your time in the highlands of Quito and part of their time in the Amazonian lowlands in Tena studying traditional ecological knowledge and exploring the deeply entangled histories of people and landscape.
Senior Capstone
Ali Minnihan (she/her) explored the interactions between groups of people through ceramic analysis for her senior capstone project. By examining potsherds from over 50 ceramic vessels made by Native American Women, Ali determined that the women at Joara interacted with Spanish soldiers and other groups of Native American Women of Catawba and Cherokee descent.
Popular Courses
Archaeology in Popular Culture
In this course, you’ll explore how films, tv shows, books, and games tell stories about the past, whose stories are being told, and what these representations imply about U.S. society.
Archaeology of Food and Feasting
You’ll use archaeology to investigate the diversity of human food systems and the various roles food and drink have played around the world through deep time in this course.
Archaeological Field Methods
This course is an introduction to basic field methods including site identification and recording, site excavation, mapping, and reporting.
Scotti M. Norman, Ph.D
Research Interests
- Indigenous Responses to European Colonialism
- Gender Studies
- GIS and Landscape
“The students at Warren Wilson have a keen interest in equality and empathy, and it is a pleasure to explore together how archaeology of past societies can create a more just contemporary society.”
Siti Kusujiarti, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Gender and Development
- Southeast Asian topics, especially Indonesia
- Rural and Environmental Sociology
“Warren Wilson students are poised to learn and to expand their horizons.”
Ben Feinberg, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- The Politics of Representation and Identity
- Indigenous Cultures of Mexico
- Anthropology of Tourism
“At Warren Wilson, we have the time we need to know our students as real, complete, complicated human beings, not just a butt in a seat and a name on a paper.”
Susan Ortiz, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Social Stratification and Inequality
- Intersectionality
- Privilege and Power
“Warren Wilson is the place where both academics and intellectual virtues matter. We are all on a journey together to build a more trusting, empathetic, patient, caring, and connected community, state, nation, and world.”
Christey Carwile, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Water Religions in West Africa and the Diaspora,
- Gender, Power and the Politics of Reproduction (Nigeria)
- African Aesthetics in Popular Dance
“I love that Warren Wilson allows me to be my own quirky self both in and outside of the classroom. If I cannot be honest and true to who I am while teaching and learning, then what’s the point? The kinds of connections I am able to make with students here are invaluable; I am always learning from them, always being challenged and always growing along with them.”