Handmade: An Archaeological Exploration of Materials and Making (syllabus, 2016) (original) (raw)

This interactive, seminar course provides an introduction to the archaeology of materials and making. The course combines theoretical reflection with hands-on activities and a detailed examination of archaeological case studies. On a theoretical level, we will explore the conceptual terrain mapped out in recent years amidst a flurry of archaeological interest in things, objects, materials, materiality, sensory experience, and embodiment. On a practical level, we will engage directly with a series of materials – among them, clay, stone, wood, and bone – in order to develop an appreciation for the properties of these materials, the constraints that they impose, and the opportunities that they present, as well as the skills, techniques, and creative improvisations that enabled ancient people to transform them into objects of use and value. For each type of material, we will also examine a selection of archaeological, ethnoarchaeological, and ethnographic case studies in order to explore the challenges involved in dealing with archaeological evidence and to highlight cross-cultural similarities and differences. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a richer, embodied understanding of the archaeological record that draws directly on our own felt sense of materials and the process of making.