ARCH 1990 - The Archaeology of College Hill

The celebrations for Brown’s 250^th anniversary have highlighted the long and storied history of the university. As we imagine the campus of the past, however, we must also think of our Providence surroundings. How might College Hill have looked at 250 years ago? 150 years ago? And what questions can we ask of the changing landscape? How was land used, who lived here, and what might their relationship have been to Brown? What material traces of the past might still be present, right under our feet, as we go about our daily lives?

The Archaeology of College Hill addresses these questions directly, through excavations conducted by Brown students at sites in and around Brown’s campus. In past years, fieldwork has been completed at the First Baptist Church, the John Brown House, Hope College, and the Quiet Green. This year, we will move our excavations to a new campus and being work with our neighbors at the Moses Brown School. We will pose our own research questions, conduct archival research, and excavate an on-campus site, all to lay out a plan for a new, three-year project at the Moses Brown School.

Course Syllabus

Weekly Readings

Assignments

Course Blog

Fieldwork Guidelines

Useful References

ARCH1900 Fall15 S01 The Archaeology of College Hill