# Standing Committee on Archaeology #### Harvard Archaeology Map Harvard archaeologists work in a diverse set of regions and environments. [ Explore where we work! arrow\_circle\_right ](/harvard-archaeology-map-1) ![rsz_dsc_0045.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/sca/files/rsz_dsc_0045.jpg?itok=CQOGqpa4) ### 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** ](/museums)and [**departments** ](/departments)on Harvard's campus. ### Latest in Harvard Archaeology [### Publication Highlight: Chengdu Plain Archaeological Survey. Results from the 2005-2010 Seasons ](/news/2026/04/publication-highlight-chengdu-plain-archaeological-survey-results-2005-2010-seasons) April 21, 2026 Rowan K. Flad (Harvard University), Joshua Wright, Lin Kuei-chen, Zhou Zhiqing, and Jiang Zhanghua have published a new volume, Chengdu Plain Archaeological Survey: Results from the 2005–2010 Seasons (Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, UCLA, 2026)... ![Chengdu Plain COVER (image only)](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Chengdu%20Plain%20COVER%20copy.jpg?itok=zvW6nMWz) [### Science Journalism Corner: How Your Brain Might Trick You During Endurance Activities ](/news/2026/04/science-journalism-corner-how-your-brain-might-trick-you-during-endurance-activities) April 17, 2026 New study finds that doing mentally demanding tasks while engaging in endurance exercise makes some, but not everyone, feel more tired. Sheds light on how early modern humans effectively gathered food over long distances. ![treadmill](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/HEB_183_treadmill.jpeg?itok=px0O-vRz) [### Publication Highlight: The Tobacco Takers by Diana DiPaolo Loren ](/news/2026/04/publication-highlight-tobacco-takers-diana-dipaolo-loren) April 10, 2026 Diana DiPaolo Loren (Peabody Museum, Harvard University) has published a new book, The Tobacco Takers: Puritanism, Smoking, Health, and the Archaeology of Bodily Care (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026). Book Abstract: Indigenous to the Americas and cultivated by... ![Tobacco_book_cropped](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Tobacco4_0.jpg?itok=veV4b-gx) [### Archaeology of Harvard Yard Open House ](/news/2026/04/archaeology-harvard-yard-open-house) April 10, 2026 ![imgalt](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/image001.png?itok=ZfajNENu) [### Science Journalism Corner: Archaeologists Interpret New Findings on Ancient Chinese Bronze Swords ](/news/2026/03/science-journalism-corner-archaeologists-interpret-new-findings-ancient-chinese-bronze) March 21, 2026 2,500 years ago, the Chinese states of Wu and Yue produced elaborate swords representing the pinnacle of bronze-casting technology. Many of these swords have survived for millennia with little visible corrosion. Until recently, the techniques that made... ![Bronze sword analyzed in Wang et al 2025, Figure 1.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/12520_2025_2303_Fig1_HTML%20copy.jpg?itok=fZ6yQ__O) [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) ##### How to Submit to In Situ [See the submission guidelines and instructions here](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/call-submissions-how-submit). ## In Situ Archive ![alttttttt](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Screenshot%202026-05-21%20at%204.49.01%20PM.png?itok=kEJyZvIg) [### Spring 2025 ](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/2025-05/In%20Situ%20Spring%202025_0.pdf) ![alt](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20124310.png?h=9de03929&itok=V99KeNGC) [### Fall 2024 ](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/in_situ_fall_2024.pdf) ![sca-spr-24](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/Screenshot%202025-10-03%20124712.png?itok=RXk7tavl) [### Spring 2024 ](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/in_situ_spring_2024.pdf) ![Jemez potters Wilma Tosa and Aaron Tosa instruct students of GenEd 1105 in hand-building of pottery during a section of the GenEd course “Can We Know Our Past?”](/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/in_situ_fall_2023_cover.png?itok=ahiACFKK) [### Fall 2023 ](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7041/files/sca/files/in_situ_fall_2023.pdf) [ Browse Full Archive arrow\_circle\_right ](https://archaeology.harvard.edu/situ-newsletters-0)