Quantifying Prehistory
Rachel Most, Anthropology
Stephen Plog, Anthropology
2002 TTI Fellows
Email: sep6n@Virginia.EDU, rm5f@Virginia.EDU
Project website: (under construction)
A fundamental and frequently underemphasized component of an undergraduate education in archaeology is the analysis of data in order to evaluate alternative explanations and answer key questions. Archaeology courses both at U.Va. and elsewhere focus more on theoretical perspectives and on synthesizing current knowledge than on analytical methods. Moreover, students are often more aware of field methods -- excavation and survey that lead to new discoveries -- because they receive the attention of the media and thus the public. The result is that few undergraduate students know about, much less have skills in, methods of data analysis that are the crucial middle step between fieldwork and synthesis.
We want our students to not only be able to understand alternative theoretical perspectives, but also to critically evaluate them based on the fit between theory and data. This project will redesign and restructure the quantitative analysis courses currently taught within the Department of Anthropology. Understanding the construction and use of databases and statistical software will be two key components of the new course. Our planning during fall 2002 will focus on how to integrate computer technology into the course in a productive manner. Our goal is to reach more students from within our own department (Anthropology) as well as students in other departments who we believe may have a research interest in archaeological and environmental data. The new course we create will be a year-long course with a two credit associated lab component. We believe that students who enroll will leave U.Va. with a higher ability to analyze data critically and think creatively.