Archaeology and Ancient Studies • Sweet Briar College

Student excavates on campus

Archaeology seniors excavate an outdoor fireplace in their field methods course

Abigail Huling '25 participates in an archeological dig in Albania.

Abigail Huling ’25 participates in an archeological dig in Albania.

Student excavates on campus

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

Picture of Roman lamp

A Roman lamp from the Sweet Briar Collection.

Picture of Roman coin

A Roman coin, featuring 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.