The things left behind or thrown away can hold more

information about the people doing the discarding then

their cities and monuments. While archaeologists of the

early 20th century sought the tombs of kings, modern

archaeologists place a greater focus on the homes and

middens of the most common socioeconomic classes.

The trash of the common member of the culture is far

more instructive than the tombs or houses of the

economic elite.
For this assignment I want you to record everything

your throw away for one week. If you live in the dorms

gather data on your roommate’s garbage as well. If

you are part of a household or live off campus record

what is thrown away at your residence. It is not

necessary to take out your trash and go through it, but

if you eyeball it and discuss with other people in your

residence what they have discarded you should be able

to obtain the needed information. Then tell me, in an

essay of at least 300 words, what you think your refuse

says about you and possible those that you live with.
The interpretation is the tricky part and I often advise

students to imagine the garbage belonging to someone

else, perhaps a neighbor. What does the refuse tell you

about the household? Can you gauge the

socioeconomic class of the household? Can you tell

how many individuals were part of the household or if

the refuse was even from a single household?What is

the political or economic system of the culture? Put

careful thought into your analysis. I will be expecting

you to be able to describe how the items of refuse

provides the information you present as well as painting

an image of the culture that created the refuse.
Please include your list of things that were thrown

away; though it does not count toward the minimum

length requirement, it is necessary for me in order to

grade your assignment.