Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Archaeology Methods

ANTH 4960-01

Course: ANTH 4960-01
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: HSOC
CRN: 32288

Course Description

The 2025 SUU Archaeology Methods course will introduce you to the key elements of archaeological field and lab work. This is a 4 credit, semester long class designed to train you in the basics of archeological survey, excavation, and artifact analysis. We will spend the warm weather months (September and October) outside conducting archaeology survey and test excavations, sometimes in fairly remote areas. As the weather cools we will learn from local archaeologists and carry out artifact analyses. In addition to practical training, there will be fieldtrips to area archaeological sites and lectures on regional prehistory, history, geomorphology, and ecology.

Required Texts

  • Articles on archaeological methods, local prehistory, and archaeology (posted on CANVAS by your instructor).
  • I also recommend purchasing a guide to regional flora (an Audubon Guide to the American Southwest, for ex.)
  • “Rite in the Rain” field book https://www.zoro.com/rite-in-the-rain-field-book-universal-4-58-x-
    7-14in-980t/i/G4735841/ also available on Amazon (this is for your own field notes – I will check these periodically).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:
  • read and use topographic maps, compasses, GIS and GPS systems
  • identify artifacts, features and sites from the prehistoric through historic eras
  • survey for archaeological sites and know how to record and map them on official state site forms
  • conduct a small text excavation (specifically you will learn how to excavate in stratigraphic and arbitrary levels, record finds, screen for artifacts, draw archaeological plans and profiles, take digital photographs, etc.)
  • analyze artifacts and write up the results of your analyses
  • explain -- in general terms -- the prehistory and early history of the American Southwest to your friends, family, and acquaintances.
  • work effectively in groups

Course Requirements

Your command of course skills and concepts will be evaluated via:
  • your ability to master and demonstrate the skills mentioned above in the field
  • your participation and attitude (your willingness to work hard in the field, to share in camp duties, to deal in a mature manner with your instructors and your peers)
  • the quality of your record keeping (the thoroughness and accuracy of your forms and field-notes)
  • the quality of your survey, excavation, and laboratory reports (the critical analyses and data-based insights you come up).

Specifically, your course grade will be determined by the instructor's assessment of your:
  • Participation, attendance, & attitude 60%
  • Command of archaeological skills in the field 10%
  • Field-Notes, Survey, and Excavation Forms 10%
  • Individual Artifact Analysis Project 10%
  • Contribution to Archaeology Outreach Activity 10%

Course Outline

Course Activities (Note: a more detailed calendar of readings and assignments will be posted on CANVAS by the start of the semester)

SURVEY: In September and October we will help conduct archaeological surveys in southern and central Utah. Specifically, there will be an opportunity to participate in a  multi-day systematic survey in central UT alongside the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance (CPAA). This project is scheduled for the second week of October with possibilities of working the preceding or following weekends for students unable to participate midweek. SUU and CPAA will cover your food, transportation, and equipment costs. You will be responsible for personal gear but, again, the department and I can help out with camping equipment. We’ll spend another two to four class days helping survey rock imagery, lithic, and historic sites closer to  home. No camping will be required for these survey days. I will try to schedule these projects during our regularly scheduled class time on Wednesdays, but there may also be occasional weekend opportunities for fieldwork.
In order to meet our credit hour requirements, I am requiring you to do roughly 40 hours (or 5 days) of survey over the course of the semester. You can piece together a few different projects to arrive at this number, or you can do them all in one fell swoop by participating on the CPAA project. I am happy to write letters to your other professors/employers requesting that they excuse your absence.
EXCAVATION: During these weeks of good weather, we will also dedicate at least 3 class periods to either a mock excavation or (depending on how permissions go) actual test excavations at a local site where you will learn how to excavate and record archaeological levels, finds, and features.
LAB/LECTURE: Wednesday class periods in the rainy days of late November and early  December will be dedicated to analyses of various artifact assemblages (ceramics, lithics, animal bones, etc.). During these rainy and snowy class days we will also be visited by Utah archaeologists and cultural resource managers who will teach us about the practicalities of their jobs.
OTHER: We will also visit some local archaeological sites and museums in order to learn about regional prehistory and history. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

As most of your grade in this course is based on your active participation in class activities, it is difficult to 'make up' work. Please plan on arriving on time for class, and on attending and actively participating in all class activities. Most written assignments are carried out during class time and handed in at the end of that same class. The exception to this is your field notebook which I will collect and review twice over the course of the semester. Those dates will be posted on CANVAS and  I will deduct one point per day late.

Attendance Policy

If you are forced to miss a class due to illness, family emergency, or for another compelling reason, communicate with me promptly so that we can arrange for you to make up the missed activity (if possible) or undertake an alternative activity. More than two unexcused absences, and/or consistently arriving late/leaving early, will negatively impact your grade. 

Course Fees

The $4 per credit hour course fee that HSS charges will be used to help supply the equipment, transportation, and food for our class activities and excursions. 

SUU will supply the equipment for survey and excavations. We will also have a van from motor pool that we will use to transport ourselves to any off campus sites.  You are responsible for your own personal effects, and, when appropriate, camping gear (I will post a suggested packing list on CANVAS). I will provide group camping gear -- stove, large water coolers, coolers, etc.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.