What We Do
The Standing Committee on Archaeology is a multidisciplinary group of scholars appointed to promote the teaching of archaeology at Harvard and advance knowledge of archaeological activity, research, fieldwork, and techniques in the many and varied fields where archaeology is employed as an approach to past cultures and histories around the world. As promotors of Archaeology, we are in charge of the secondary field, both for undergraduate students and graduate students. Our role is to guide and help all secondary students to take the most out of what the secondary field can offer both at Harvard and beyond, aiming to help expand the student's knowledge and practice in Archaeology.
Archaeology can be seen as the study of past human societies through the recovery, analysis, and interpretation of material remains. Those who practice archaeology employ a wide range of methods, techniques, and theoretical orientations drawn from across the spectrum of academic disciplines to further their specific intellectual goals. Likewise, scholars of many disciplines who do not consider themselves to be practicing archaeologists nevertheless use the results of archaeological work in their teaching and research. Our members and students work with and in a wide range of museums and departments on Harvard's campus.