Student News

Students dig up UK history in unique class

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2022) — At the University of Kentucky, learning experiences expand beyond the classroom. That's what a group of students experienced this summer, as part of an anthropology field school course. 

The students uncovered elements of local history by digging behind campus buildings, which have had multiple purposes over the years — homes, sororities, boarding houses and offices.

“You can certainly learn about archaeology in a classroom and from reading books and articles and from discussions,” said Elena Sesma, assistant professor of anthropology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, who led the dig. “But it's a really hands-on field. You can read about the methods of excavation, but you also need to actually put a trowel in the hands of students and teach them how to remove soil, how to sift soil and identify artifacts. That takes training.” 

Watch the video above to learn more about this unique class experience offered at UK.

Read more here.

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