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Archaeology



Archaeology

Dickinson offers one of the only archaeology majors in the country. The fundamentals of archaeological practice are learned through introductory courses in archaeology and world prehistory, biological anthropology and earth sciences. We offer specialized courses in methods, theory and advanced topics in which students gain first-hand experience conducting research and interpretation.

The curriculum and student-faculty research are supported by three state-of-the art laboratories: the Keck Archaeology Laboratory, the Keck Anthropological Laboratory and the Dickinson Environmental Archaeology Lab (DEAL). 

Two areas of specialization allow students to pursue electives in Mediterranean archaeology and art (Area A) or anthropological and environmental archaeology with a focus on North and South American archaeology (Area B). Students gain valuable field experience by participating in summer excavations, laboratory analyses and museum internships.

Majors participate in the projects of in our labs and at archaeological field projects in the Mediterranean, South America, and Pennsylvania. Students also enjoy guest lectures each semester and field trips to museums in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

Contact Info

Chair

Jim EllisonAssociate Professor of Anthropology

Department coordinator

Heather IngramAcademic Department Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1519

Fax

717-245-1479

Location

#219C, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features



Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs

  • Rowe Elementary School
  • Archaeological Testing and Consulting
  • Walt Disney Company
  • University of Minnesota
  • Fulbright Program
  • EastBanc Technologies
  • Dickinson College
  • Society for American Archaeology
  • Hershey Story Museum
  • Wagman Construction Inc
  • P2 Energy Solutions

Graduate Schools

  • Boston University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Temple University
  • University of Florida
  • Florida State University
  • George Washington University
  • University of North Carolina
  • Duke University
  • Ohio State University
  • Trinity College
  • Columbia University
  • University College London
  • Durham University
  • University of Bradford
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Liverpool
  • American University in Cairo
  • UCL at Qatar
Where Our Students Have Interned
  • Breakthrough Miami
  • National Forest Service
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • U.S. Army War College - Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
  • Atlanta History Center
  • Dickinson College / Trout Gallery
  • New American Pathways
  • Philadelphia Zoo

Student Perspective

“Since I graduated from Dickinson, I've worked on academic excavations in the summer and as a freelance cultural resource manager contractor for the rest of the year. I took a brief hiatus from the latter to attend grad school at University College London's campus in Qatar to study preservation of archaeology in areas of conflict."

- Erik DeMarche, international archaeology consultant to the Afghan government's Ministry of Information and Cultural and the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum


Archaeology News

A Knight’s Tale: Unraveling the Mystery of America’s Oldest Tombstone

A Knight’s Tale: Unraveling the Mystery of America’s Oldest Tombstone

Research by Marcus Key and Rebecca Rossi ’12 on 400-year-old tombstone uncovers the history of long-studied artifact.

Internship Spotlight: Greg Kintzele ’25

Internship Spotlight: Greg Kintzele ’25

What's it like to do an internship in the trenches at an archaeological site in Greece? We asked Greg Kintzele ’25 five questions about his summer abroad.

Student 3-D Model Wows Excavator of Mysterious Ancient Egyptian Ship

Student 3-D Model Wows Excavator of Mysterious Ancient Egyptian Ship

Years after an ancient, near-mythic ship was dragged from the bottom of the Nile Delta, Hunter Omerzo ’24 creates a high-tech model that sheds new light on ongoing research at Oxford.

Indiana Jones & the Temple of Beer and Hallucinogens

Indiana Jones & the Temple of Beer and Hallucinogens

Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology Matthew Biwer discusses the nature of archaeology and his and his students' role in unearthing the past.

 Student Snapshot: Nora Stocovaz ’25

Student Snapshot: Nora Stocovaz ’25

“Just try new things—even if it is scary!” That bravery has served Nora Stocovaz ’25 well, as chief of staff of Student Senate who performed fieldwork in Greece.

Student Snapshot: Mandy Porter

Student Snapshot: Mandy Porter '23

Learning ancient Greek is challenging and deeply rewarding, says Mandy Porter ’23, a double major in archaeology and classical studies and student-researcher who lives in the Human Cultures House.