Master of Arts in Archaeology - Heritage and Unwritten Histories

Since the human experience extends far beyond the confines of written histories, this concentration utilizes the methods of archaeology and ethnography to explore aspects of cultural heritage often left unrecorded by traditional sources and ignored or repressed within dominant narratives. Cultural heritage is the legacy of the physical, cultural and natural worlds that we inherit from previous generations, use to structure our current world, and pass on to future generations. It plays a central role in the expression and development of cultural identities at a variety of scales from the individual to the nation state and is an often contested part of a wide range of social movements. Across the globe heritage relates to a set of critical issues, including:

The documentation and protection of the material record of human history through the excavation and preservation of archaeological sites at risk due to urbanization and looting
Connecting descendent and local communities to cultural heritage resources and involving them in the protection and development of these economically important resources
The use of nontraditional narratives (archaeological histories, oral histories, etc.) to empower under-represented, unrecognized and persecuted groups
Ongoing conflicts over the ownership of cultural heritage and intellectual property rights
The protection, exploration, management and celebration of heritage are the focus of a range of national and international bodies, museums, and NGOs including the National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, and UNESCO. Such organizations often promote controversial approaches such as heritage tourism as a rapidly growing vehicle for economic development representing billions of dollars in revenue. However, heritage also represents a powerful tool for empowering communities struggling for civil rights and recognition. In this context, claims of ownership and deployment of heritage within social movements are often contested and violent and are imbued with complex meanings attached to histories of race, power and politics. In this concentration we explore a wide range of culturally aware approaches to understanding the role of heritage in the modern world. We have particular strengths in the archaeological and ethnographic unwritten histories of the American South and Latin America with thematic strengths in expressive culture, memory, and oral histories.

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