Archaeological Thought and Practice

Stanford Archaeology has a strong commitment to theoretical innovation in archaeology, with faculty members that continue to make significant contributions to contemporary theoretical debates, including topics such as materiality, environment, sexuality, heritage, ethics and social critique. There is a focus also on visual culture and the arts, with particular reference to innovative performance and art practice. There is an openness to different theoretical perspectives and a welcoming of debates across and between positions. As well as conducting research and teaching on current theoretical themes, there is a strong focus on practice and method, including new developments in scientific and laboratory techniques. Many faculty members also have field projects in which students can learn cutting-edge techniques and gain training in a wide range of specialities (zooarchaeology, starch analysis, geomorphology, micromorphology, and more).