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The archaeology program focuses on studying and teaching about ancient American cultures, spanning from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest (from British Columbia to northern California), the Columbia Plateau, the Great Basin, Southwestern Pueblo communities, Mesoamerica, and the Andes region. Professors utilize various research techniques including pottery and stone tool examination, ancient economic and environmental studies (incorporating geological archaeology, animal remains analysis, and plant microfossil/macrofossil investigation), along with stable isotope testing, archaeometric methods like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and computer modeling. WSU offers distinctive lab-based courses that provide hands-on methodological training, while introducing students to theoretical frameworks rooted in evolutionary science, agency/practice concepts, and complex systems research.