Enroll in Introduction to Archaeology with Dolphin STEM Academy

Course Overview

This one-semester course is intended as an engaging and practical survey of the field of
archeology. The course is structured into lessons and Course Activities as follows:

• The first lesson discusses archaeology as a field of study.
• The next lesson discusses the history and evolution of modern archaeology, and how
modern archaeology differs from traditional archaeology.
• The next two lessons describe what career options are available in archaeology in the
United States, the qualifications and certifications required to get into those careers, and
familiarize you with the different types of archaeology.
• The next three lessons familiarize you with the techniques and methods used in
archaeology, which include research techniques used in archaeological projects, types of
archaeological evidence, the importance of identifying material evidence, and methods used
for identifying and surveying archaeological sites.
• The next two lessons discuss the work involved in archaeological site excavation, such as
various excavation techniques, application of geological principles, methods of recovering
artifacts, methods of recording archaeological finds, and identifying age of artifacts with
dating techniques.
• The next two lessons familiarize you with ways of preserving and storing archaeological
finds, such as long-term conservation treatment for artifacts, ways to preserve artifacts while
transporting them from archaeological sites, and different storage requirements in different
environments.
• The next lesson discusses the role of archaeology in the indigenous cultures in the United
States and steps taken to improve relationships with native cultures.
• The next lesson familiarizes you with the methods archaeologists use to share
archaeological findings with people, ethical and practical considerations in public
archaeology, and outreach programs used in archaeology.
• The last lesson familiarizes you with the ways of protecting archaeological sites from
vandalism and illegal trade, such as using site management strategies and voluntary
strategies, empowering local communities, and using federal government laws.

You will submit the Course Activity documents to your teacher, and you will grade your work in
the Lesson Activities by comparing them with sample responses. Each lesson also has a
multiple-choice mastery test. A multiple-choice end-of-semester test completes the course.

The Course Activities (submitted to the teacher) and the Lesson Activities (self-checked) are
major components of this course. They will guide your learning as you work through this course.

Course Goals

This course will help you meet the following goals:
• Recognize archaeology as a field of study.
• Analyze the evolution of modern archaeology.
• Describe and compare the career options available in archaeology in the United States.
• Describe and explain the various types of archaeology.
• Investigate the process of archaeological research.
• Identify the different types of archaeological evidence.
• Evaluate methods to identify and characterize archaeological sites.
• Describe and explain various “invasive” archaeological investigation and site excavation methods.
• Describe the techniques used for recovering, recording, and analyzing archaeological finds.
• Describe the techniques used for preserving archaeological discoveries.
• Recognize the requirements for storing archaeological collections.
• Investigate the controversial role of archaeology in prehistoric and historic indigenous
cultures in the United States.
• Evaluate the role of public archaeology for sharing information and creating awareness.
• Identify strategies to maintain authenticity of archaeological sites and protect them from
threats such as vandalism and illegal trade.