Questions

I developed this course with a couple of questions in mind, things I wanted to know the answers to. Digital archaeology - what the hell is it, anyway? What is it for? Is it just a ‘follower’, repurposing other tools & techniques, a supporting skill for ‘real’ archaeology? Let’s set ourselves a grand challenges: what can digital archaeology be?

This course is a formalized exploration of these questions; I do not know the answers! I’m excited to figure these out with you.

Outcomes

The five points below address your analytical ability, your engagement with methodology, collaboration, argumentation, and professionalization.

1. Situate the emergence and evolution of digital archaeology within the historiography of archaeology more broadly (analytical ability, argumentation)
2. Implement and contribute to a digital archaeology gravestones’ and monuments survey (methodology, collaboration, professionalization)
3. Investigate data, artifacts, and primary sources, using the methods/techniques/perspectives of digital archaeology and digital humanities (analytical ability, methodology, collaboration, professionalization)
4. Develop online experiences that communicate the results of these investigations as an act of public digital archaeology (collaboration, professionalization, argumentation)
5. Given that this is an online course, another outcome will be your ability to conduct such research independently. However, no one operates in a vacuum; digital archaeologists collaborate to troubleshoot or develop technologies, and through open practices to data sharing and reuse, learn to build upon each others’ work in a collaborative fashion. (collaboration, professionalization, methodology)

Texts

See the weekly work section. All readings are open access.

Real Names Policy

You do not need to use your real name or identity on any public-facing work that you do in this course. Nor do you need to explain to me that you wish to use a pseudonym. It is sufficient that you send an email to me with the following message:

‘I would like to use the following username in all public-facing work: xxxxxxxx’

…where xxxxx is the name you have selected. For safety’s sake, if you decide to use a pseudonym, do not use one that you have used on any other website or social media platform.

When Life Intervenes

There’s nothing we can’t roll with, in this class. That said, I can’t help you if I don’t know you need help, a breathing space, some direction. When something comes up, just let me know:

When something comes up and this course has to move to the backburner, contact me and we can figure out something else to do, or something else that will help you be successful here. It’s our course - we can change things up as we need to. Just put “something has come up” in the subject line.

THIS INCLUDES COVID

I fully expect that at some point during the term, COVID and its complications will happen to some of you. When this happens, just email me and say that “something has come up”. I don’t require a dr’s note, or any of the details. Again, I trust you, and we’ll figure something else out.

Similarly, I have small children and people in my life who are at risk. When something comes up on my end, I will let you all know and we’ll figure this out together.