This course uses the rural countryside as a laboratory to examine the cultural landscape. It will trace the impact of natural, cultural, economic, and technological forces on the "built" environment. The course studies the evolution of buildings and their settings, with emphasis on settlement and rural industrialization. Subjects to be discussed include the evolution of architectural styles and construction techniques, town planning and land division, the evolution of transportation, and the harnessing of water power. Although the course will use specific locales as examples, it is intended to instill general principles by which any human landscape can be examined and interpreted in relationship to natural resources and human culture.
Please note this course requires 2 self-directed field trips.
This course examines the international, national, and state legal frameworks for the protection and movement of cultural property. Archaeological site looting, transnational antiquities trafficking, and armed conflicts threaten global cultural heritage. The international and American governments' responses to such threats have resulted in the development of major treaties as well as the enforcement of criminal laws and customs regulations. Topics for discussion include the 1954 Hague Convention, the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the ICOM Code of Ethics, the National Stolen Property Act, and the Cultural Property Implementation Act. The course also introduces students to important national heritage laws such as the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the rules governing shipwrecks. State statutes and the common law regulating cultural property are also reviewed.
Please note there is an additional course meeting for a field trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Saturday July 14 from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Travel to the museum is the responsibility of the student. The student is responsible for any admission fee.