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:

Experimental archaeology. Defining the field of study. Terminology: replication, hypothesis testing, and analogy; Experiment and scientific knowledge. Types of experiment in archaeology (classification of archaeological experiments). The role of experiment in archaeological research; Prehistoric archaeology. Experimental investigation of prehistoric materials and technologies; Ancient archaeology. Experimental investigation of ancient materials and technologies (architecture, fabrics, salt extraction, boats, food); The chaîne operatoire experiment. Case study: Neolithic pottery; Pyrotechnology. Firing techniques and installations; The didactic and educational potential of the long-term archaeological experiment.

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% - paper presentation from the seminar themes

Recommended reading:

Miller Heather L., Archaeological Approaches to Tehnology, Toronto Academic Press, Toronto, 2007,
Jeffra Caroline D., Experimental approches to archaeological ceramics: unifying disparate methodologies with the chaȋne opératoire, Archaeological and Anthropological Science, Springer, 2015, 141-149.
Ferguson Jeffrey R., Designing Eperimental Research in Archaeology: Examining Technology Through Production and Use, University Press Colorado, Boulder, 2010,