Significance of Archaeology

In the words of the American Anthropological Association, “Only anthropology seeks to understand the whole panorama--in geographic space and evolutionary time--of human existence.” To study archaeology, a subfield of anthropology, is to explore the many avenues throughout time of what it means to be human.

Northern Kentucky University is located in the heart of the Ohio Valley prehistoric mound-builder cultures and often works with the local Central Ohio Valley Archaeological Society (COVAS) and local museums. 

The Director of Archaeology at NKU is Dr. Barbara J. Thiel who can be reached at her office in 248 Landrum or by phone at 859-572-5524 or 5259 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Dr. Thiel has done archaeological research in both the Philippines and the Ohio Valley.  She runs NKU's annual summer archaeological field school.    

Archaeology minors are encouraged to participate in the Student Anthropology Society.

Archaeology minors have the opportunity every May to participate in a dig of a prehistoric Native American village in Kentucky. Also, every April anthropology faculty and alumni host an Anthropology Careers Day program to assist students in archaeology and other areas of anthropology.

Click here to see how often each of the anthropology courses below is offered.

All NKU students must have at least one major in addition to a minor, a concentration, or a second major.  The minor in archaeology is not open to students majoring in anthropology since an archaeology focus is already available within the anthropology major.  The minor in Archaeology consists of at least 21 semester hours and requires the completion of the following:

• Three core courses (9 semester hours)
  • ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology
  • ANT 110 Introduction to Archaeology
  • ANT 210 Introduction to Archaeological Method and Theory
• One of the following methods courses (3 or 4 semester hours)
  • ANT 215 Archaeological Field Methods
  • ANT 307 Museum Methods
  • ANT 355 Archaeological Laboratory Analysis
• Three of the following (9 to 11 semester hours)
  • ANT 114 Great Archaeological Sites (formerly ANT 194) 
  • ANT 215 Archaeological Field Methods (if not used as methods course)
  • ANT 307 Museum Methods (if not used as methods course)
  • ANT 308 Cultural Resource Management
  • ANT 318 Prehistoric Ecology
  • ANT 331 Women in Prehistory
  • ANT 335 Advanced Archaeological Field Methods
  • ANT 336 Historical Archaeology
  • ANT 350 North American Archaeology
  • ANT 352 Archaeology of Mesoamerica
  • ANT 355 Archaeological Laboratory Analysis (if not used as methods course)
  • ANT 374 Celtic and Viking Archaeology
  • ANT 380 Origins of Civilization
  • ANT 392 Research Topics in Archaeology (up to 3 credit hours)
  • ANT 410 Archaeological Theory

To declare a minor in archaeology, drop by 217C Landrum for about five minutes of paperwork, or click here.

For all sorts of anthropology and archaeology resources, click here.

To receive announcements about what is happening in Archaeology and Anthropology at NKU, add your email address to our Anthropology Email List.