Course aims:

I.1104
Demonstrate a general understanding of basic field methods of site survey, excavation, and recording. Be able to describe important types of artifacts found such as lithics, ceramics, and faunal remains. Also describe and practice the basic techniques of analyzing artifacts to learn more about human
Describe how archaeologists study human culture using case studies from world history that may include but do not exclusively include: human evolution, the rise of agriculture, the rise of cities, Ancient Near East, Far East, Classical World.

Course Entry Requirements:

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Course contents:

1. What is archaeology? Purpose and methods of archaeological research. The contribution of science to the archaeology development 2. A Brief History of Archaeology. First records of archaeological activities. The legacy of Antiquity Collectors and antiquarians 3. Introduction to archaeological research. From analytical to systemic archaeology. 4. Processual and post-processual archaeology. Cultural anthropology and etnoarchaeology 5. Site Identification. Site Excavation. Interpreting Features. Excavation and stratigraphy. 6. Recording stratification 7. The Archaeology of Settlements 8. Non-destructive prospections. Geophysics. Soil electrical resistivity. Magnetometry Dating the Past 9. How is Pottery Made? 10. Stone Artifact Analysis. Determining the type and flaking properties of stone Plant Remains. Archaeobotany 11. Animal Bones. Archaeozoology 12. Conservation and restoration of archaeological artefacts. Archaeological materials drawing. Primary conservation. Restoration and storage of archaeological artefacts 13. The Archaeology of Subsistence and Environment EU Law on Cultural Heritage. Status of Archaeological Research. Preliminary 14. Documentation and Post-excavation Reports. Ethics in Archaeology

Teaching methods:

Lecture, conversation, exemplification.

Learning outcomes:

retrieval of written sources on the historical past; establishing historical facts on the basis of historical sources and outside of these; the concrete production of new historical knowledge on the basis of deeper insights within the study of an epoch and/or of a medium complexity historical subject.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Written paper – interpretative essay – 60%; continuous assessment – 40%.

Recommended reading:

Bintliff, J. (Ed.) (2006): A Companion to Archaeology, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
Carver, M. (2009): Archaeological Investigation, Routledge, London and New York.
Grant, J., Gorin, S., Fleming, N. (2008): The Archaeology. Coursebook (Third Edition), Routledge, London and New York.
Green, K. (1995): Archaeology. An introduction (Third Edition), Routledge, London and New York.
Hester, T. R., Shafer, H. J., Feder, K. L. (2009): Field methods in archaeology, Walnut Creek, Left Coast Press.