The Archaeological Report will be your final project, which holds 50% of the semester’s grade.
This project can be done individually or in groups of up to THREE students.
For this project, you will choose 1 archaeological site in NY from the list I uploaded to this folder, and you will fill up the form I also uploaded here.
The questions on the form will help you to apply the knowledge you got during the 4 modules of our course: “History of Archaeology, theories, and methods,” Archaeological context,” “Interpreting vestiges,” and “Life in the past.”
Step by step:
– Choose an archaeological site from the list; (please, there are several archaeological sites; you can find a good and easy one!)
– Use the annotation to assign “your site” with your name (I do not want the same site to different people or groups);
– Look at the item “Location of the archaeological collection and final report.”
– Find the report on the indicated site (a lot of them are on the LPC website);
– Remember that Google can help you with that.
– Read the report, and try to find extra information (Google, Google Scholar, Researchgate, send emails, Sci-hub, librarian, etc.);
– Answer the questions on the form, including REFERENCES;
What am I evaluating?
– Your ability to find RELIABLE information; (that means finding information is part of the assignment);
– Your knowledge (of course!);
– Your dedication (if you visit the archaeological site, and or collect pictures of the artifacts, its a plus).
Module 1: History of Archaeology, theories, and methods
1.1 Identify (if possible) the theoretical and methodological background used by the researchers.
Module 2: Archaeological context
2.1 – Identify and describe the survey method applied to find the archaeological site.
2.2 – Describe the archaeological context.
2.3 – What was the method used during the process of excavation? Did the researchers justify their choice? If yes, why did they choose that method?
2.4 – Describe the archaeological record.
2.5 – Describe the types of material culture they found in the archaeological site.
2.6 – Describe the stratigraphy of the archaeological site
2.7 – Describe the dating method and its results.
Module 3: Interpreting vestiges
3.1 – Describe the methods applied to analyze each one of the archaeological records found in the archaeological site.
3.2 – Did the researchers found objects that are product of trading or exchange? If yes, what was their interpretation?
Module 4: Life in the past
4.1- Did the researchers interpret how was life in the archaeological site? If yes, describe their results.
4.2 – Was any type of symbol find in the archaeological site? If yes, what type?
4.3 – Is the archaeological site a type of landmark? What is its meaning for the past and/or present society?
4.4 – Is the archaeological site associate to any type of symbol of power? If yes, each one(s)?
4.5 – Is the archaeological site associate to any type of ritual? If yes, describe it if possible.
4.4 – Was it possible to identify the society people that occupy the archaeological site were part of? If yes, describe how did the researchers got to that conclusion.
This my archaeological site
City hall park, Manhattan
LPC with Brooklyn 1989 College Archaeological
Project
Multiple archaeological features uncovered, attributed
to the first Almshouse (1736-1797)
Collection curated at the NYC Archaeological
Repository; final archaeological report can be found on
the LPC website.
