Course aims:

Correct definition and presentation of the main concepts used in historical studies, of the major stages and processes in human history, of the current state of historiography, and of the main methods of archaeological research.
Applying the methods of criticism to the study of published historical sources (material evidences) in order to restore historical facts as accurately as possible
Identifying existing limits in the analysis of information about the historical past, determining the causes of these limits, and proposing alternative hypotheses regarding the archaeological evidences.

Course Entry Requirements:

N/A

Course contents:

Case studies on non-destructive prospecting. Working methodology, main constraints, advantages of using non-invasive methods. Soil electrical resistivity. Magnetometry. Georadar and 3D scanner; Case studies in zooarchaeological analyses on faunal lots. Establishing NMI. Main taxonomies. Subsistence strategies, slaughter ages; Case studies on archaeobotanical analyses. Flotation of plant macroremains. Archaeological contexts, sampling methods. Diet reconstruction; Case studies on archaeometric research. Main methods used: XRF, XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDS; Photogrammetric techniques for recording archaeological contexts. Working methodology. Case studies.

Teaching methods:

Power Point presentation

Learning outcomes:

The acquisition of the basic knowledge in archaeology and the ability to operate with the specific concepts of this field

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

100% - oral examination

Recommended reading:

Balme J., Paterson, A., Archaeology in Practice. A Student Guide to Archaeological Analyses, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2006,
M. Carver, Archaeological Investigation, Routledge Publishing, London, 2009,
Grant, J., Gorin, S., Fleming, N., The Archaeology. Coursebook, Routledge Publishing, London, 2008,
Hester, T. R., Shafer, H. J., Feder, K. L., Field methods in archaeology, Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek,, 2009,