The study of archaeological records requires essential background in Earth Sciences and basic understanding of natural processes that are part of the physical environment of human societies. The course provides an overview of fundamental principles in geosciences both as a background for understanding human-nature interactions, and as an introduction for the application of analytical techniques to archaeological materials. 
The course includes three mandatory field trips (on Thursday or Friday); one of the trips requires independent arrival to Jerusalem. The course is a basic requirement of the MA program in Archaeomaterials.