Archaeology seniors excavate an outdoor fireplace in their field methods course

Archaeology seniors excavate an outdoor fireplace in their field methods course

Archaeology majors excavate an outdoor fireplace during their field methods course.

Archaeology majors excavate an outdoor fireplace during their field methods course.

Roman lamp from the Sweet Briar Collection

Roman lamp from the Sweet Briar Collection

Roman coin, feature the god Janus, from the Sweet Briar Collection.

Roman coin, feature the god Janus, from the Sweet Briar Collection.

Engage with the lives of past peoples using our campus as a natural laboratory.

Archaeology and Ancient Studies

At Sweet Briar, we celebrate connectivity of thought, and we invite our students to do the same. 

The interdisciplinary program of archaeology and ancient studies offers students the opportunity to engage with past peoples through multiple lenses, combining visual, textual and material evidence to generate new perspectives.

By inviting students with an interest in material studies to think together with those working on textual materials, we highlight the ways in which knowledge is generated, providing students with the tools to conduct independent research, both in the library and in the field.

Our campus serves as a natural laboratory that lets us explore the lives of diverse populations and helps students construct a framework they can carry with them — to excavations in Italy or internships in law firms.