Archaeology Minor

Students who minor in archaeology are those who are excited about history and enjoy the process of discovery. They are interested in studying what it means to be human across space and time. They generally like to travel, collaborate with an array of colleagues and researchers, and work with their hands. The typical archaeology minor pursues a major in anthropology/sociology, art history, history and classics, but the field also regularly attracts students from the physical and natural sciences. These students are trained to conduct independent and collaborative research, with opportunities to work closely with faculty and researchers both here on campus and around the world.

Why Study Archaeology at W&L?

Housed in the Sociology and Anthropology Department, the interdisciplinary archaeology minor offers opportunities for students to combine coursework with hands-on experience in the lab and field. Archaeology is a compelling and rewarding discipline that draws on concepts from across a range of academic fields, incorporating both the sciences and the humanities into a comprehensive study of past cultures. Students will obtain a geographical and temporal understanding of material culture, and they will come into contact with archaeological sites and all the political, historical and media ramifications of such work.

About the Minor

Faculty at W&L currently work on projects in Athens, Greece, at Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, and at Liberty Hall and other sites sites here on campus and around Virginia. Students can participate and conduct research in these faculty-led projects during Spring Term and every summer, as well as join other ongoing projects in various locations. The Leyburn Fellowship, through the Sociology and Anthropology Department, allows students affordable ways to experience the thrill of archaeology worldwide.

After W&L

Students who minor in archaeology usually share their insights with audiences outside of academia, helping foster leadership, service and the lifelong study of human culture from a global perspective. In addition, the skills they obtained inside and outside the classroom will be transferable to graduate programs in archaeology, as well as a number of other professions such as cultural resource management, cultural heritage and site preservation, and historical preservation.