Archaeologists use material remains to address big-picture questions in human history such as the evolution of human behavior, the origins of agriculture and animal domestication, and the development of cities and states. In historically-documented societies, material remains can also illuminate other questions such as the history of art and architecture, the development of religious ideas and practices, and issues such as migration and colonialism in the early modern world.
The Minor in Archaeology is designed to introduce both prehistoric and historic archaeology and archaeological methods. The requirements consist of 20 credits, detailed as follows:
- Foundation course (4 credits): Archaeology: Early Societies and Cultures (ANTH UA-3)
- Archaeological methods and techniques (4 credits): Choose one course (4 credits) from:
a. Archaeological Theory and Technique (ANTH UA-215)
b. Bioarchaeology (ANTH UA-327)
c. Introduction to Archaeobotany (ANTH UA-213)
d. Zooarchaeology (ANTH GA-1212, with permission of the instructor)
e. Other methods courses may be allowed with permission of the instructor - Archaeology electives (12 credits): Choose 12 credits from:
a. Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England (ANTH-UA 200, 2 points)
b. Animal Domestication: Horses, Donkeys, Dogs, and Cats (ANTH-UA 201, 2 points)
c. Prehistoric Hunters and Gatherers (ANTH UA-210, 4 points)
d. Surveys of Regional Prehistory II: Prehistoric Europe to the End of the Ice Age (ANTH UA-216.002, 4 points)
e. Barbarian Europe (ANTH-UA 217, 4 points)
f. Archaeology of Africa (ANTH-UA 218, 4 points) or Discovering Archaeology in New York City (ANTH-UA 225, 4 points)
g. Archaeology of Climate Change (ANTH-UA 226, 4 points)
h. Last Hunters-First Farmers (ANTH-UA 608, 4 points)
i. Migration, Mobility, and Dispersal in Prehistory (ANTH-UA 609, 4 points)
j. Greek Islands--Myth, Archaeology, Networks (CLASS-UA 293, 4 points)
k. Introduction to Classical Archaeology (CLASS-UA 305, 4 points)
l. Classics Courses: Archaeologies of Rome and the Empire (CLASS-UA 351, 4 points)
m. Archaeologies of Greece (CLASS-UA 352, 4 points)
n. Ancient Egypt (HBRJD-UA 150, 4 points)
o. Ancient Israel: History and Archaeology (HBRJD- UA 9118) [NYU Tel Aviv]
p. Seminar on the Archaeology of Israel (HBRJD-UA 9960) [NYU Tel Aviv]
Minors consult with the DUS to request other courses to count as electives. Relevant courses offered by the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World; the Institute of Fine Arts, or the Museum Studies Program may be counted with permission of the Director. A grade of C or better is required in every course to be counted toward the minor. Students must take at least two courses from the Department of Anthropology at New York University in order to receive a minor in anthropology from NYU. You can book an appointment with the DUS here.
Additionally, there are field work opportunities. In addition to the Tel Aviv program, students may also receive credit for archaeological field work at Yeronisos Island in Cyprus through the Classics Department. Other field opportunities are available on a credit basis with permission of the Director. Field work opportunities are also available on a non-credit basis. Grants are available to support summer fieldwork in archaeology through the Center for Ancient Studies.