Dr. Schuyler wrote:
>
> You should look at the Graduate Program list of the Society for
> Historical Archaeology. Where you are, by the way, is a good place to
> study historical archaeology.
>
 
Thanks for that endorsement, Professor Schuyler. I'll shamelessly take
this opportunity to hawk anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth
University, if I may. This department had a very strong and innovative
program until 1982 when budget cuts cost us three positions. We are
now, finally, on the mend, and our program has much to offer undergrad
students looking for a good foundation in socio-cultural anthropology,
culture theory and archaeology. Students have excellent opportunities
to undertake undergrad research projects and/or study-abroad
opportunities in the following areas:
 
Historical Archaeology (Virginia), peasant societies (Scotland and
South America), prehistoric archaeology (Virginia, Mesoamerica, Peru,
Israel), and Caribbean studies (Barbados). Teaching is offered in all
four fields, although we have no advanced courses in Physical
anthropology at present (forensics, osteology etc. are offered through
our med school). VCU has an Archaeological Research Center with more
than 15,000 square feet in laboratory and curation space and an
extensive computer network, etc. Three faculty members (2 historical
archs and one prehistorian) are the co-Directors of the Center.
 
 
Anthropology at VCU has expecially close ties with the African
American Studies program here which stresses approaches of history and
the social sciences and a Diaspora perspective. At present AAS is
offering only a minor, but this year the major will be in place, and a
central focus will be the archaeology of Africans in the New World,
with focus on Virginia and the Caribbean. Our senior anthropologist,
Professor Audrey Smedley, is a classically trained (Manchester)
Africanist social anthropologist and is highly regarded for her recent
writings on race in America. Dr. Dr. Edward Knipe has done work among
Appalachian miners and, for many years now, in a Scottish fishing
village.He teaches courses on the cross-cultural aspects of drug
use,and on anthropology theory. Dr. Christina Turner is a South
Americanist with interests in applied anthropology. She has been very
active in our International Studies program and in bringing
distinguised visiting professors to VCU. Dr. Walter Witschie is
Director of the Science Museum of Virginia and, as a visiting
assistant professor he teaches his special area of interest;
Mesoamerican archaeology.
 
I do research and teaching in contemporary culture theory, historical
archaeology, interdisciplinary culture studies, and the Caribbean
area. I teach a summer field school in archaeology each year and,
beginning this year, I lead an interdisciplinary study-abroad program
in a cooperative agreement between the University of the west Indies
in Barbados.
 
So, while our anthro may not be "awe-inspiring," it ain't too shabby,
either.
 
Dan Mouer
http://www.freedomnet.com/~dmouer/homepage.htm