Indian Ocean Glass Networks

The Stanford Archaeology Center plans to offer the lab experience in Summer 2024, either in person or remotely. Based on potential restrictions, the Archaeology Center will be determining whether our lab experiences will be conducted remotely or in person by the early Spring quarter of 2024. 

The dates of this field experience offering will be June - July 2024.

Undergraduate Lab Experience

This project aims to introduce students to the complexities of glass as human material. 

Students will learn about the archaeological history of glass. They will be given brief training in manipulating glass by trained artisans.  They will then be trained in the archaeological analysis of glasses based on typological methods and classification. They will then be introduced to the archaeometric methods of elemental analysis of ancient glasses. 

Through these combined methods students will be introduced to the unique histories of the study of glass beads, bangles, vessels, and production. Students will then engage in in-depth library and lab research about glass in a particular region of the Indian Ocean. 

This summer lab experience is equivalent to a field school in detailed archaeometric methods. Students will have significant flexibility in working with Mudit Trivedi at the Traces lab at Stanford. Trivedi will assign tasks and develop student projects based on interest, fit, and the analytical skills students are most keen to learn. These will include classification and description, microscopic examination, data collation, and statistical analysis. 

The wider project this lab summer school is based on uniquely brings together new insights into the decolonial histories of Africa and Asia, and those who are interested in geology, chemistry, and the computational sciences.

Up to 5 students will be accepted into this program.

What Will You Do

  • Data Management
  • Archaeological Research
  • Archaeometric Data on Elemental Compositions
  • Advanced Confocal Microscopy of Artifacts
  • Literature Review
  • Analytical Writing

Requirements for Participation

  • Students accepted to our lab experiences are required to participate in any pre-meetings with the faculty leader of their program in the quarter prior. Each lab experience has different requirements that will be communicated by the faculty leader. 
  • After the conclusion of their lab experience, the Archaeology Center requires that all lab experience students participate in SURPS (Symposia for Undergraduate Research and Public Service). Students from each lab experience are expected to work together to complete an application, prepare a poster, and present at the SURPS event on the Friday of the reunion homecoming weekend.
  • Each of our field and lab experiences is part of an ongoing research project led by a Stanford faculty member. While in the lab, undergraduates are expected to contribute to the team effort of the archaeological project at the faculty member's direction. Fieldwork can take the form of several different activities. Each day's activities can look different and may change depending on the evolving direction of the research. Students participating in a field or lab experience should be prepared to be flexible and responsive to the instructions of the faculty member or other senior project staff.

Application Information

  • This field experience opportunity is open to all undergraduates except graduating seniors.
  • Undergraduates from all majors are encouraged to apply.
  • No prior knowledge of archaeology is required, although we prefer to support students who will pursue an archaeology-centered career. All necessary training will be provided while in the field.
  • Acceptance to the lab experience comes with funding for eligible expenses subject to the budget of the project. The Archaeology Center will issue a one-time stipend at the beginning of the project. Students will be informed of the stipend limit. 
  • Stipend amounts will be determined by VPUE and communicated to students when they are accepted to the lab experience.
  • Students who plan to participate in an archaeology lab experience cannot receive a major grant or a Chappell-Lougee scholarship within the same academic year as their lab experience.

Learn more about general field or lab experience opportunities with the Stanford Archaeology Center.

Applications for 2024 are open and will close on March 1, 2024. Read more about the opportunity and apply here!

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