6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1019846BNW for working students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
In this programme unit, students will learn about diverse aspects of fieldwork and scientific analyses that are current in archaeological research. An initial series of lectures (ten classes) will discuss:
- the organisation of archaeology in Belgium, with reference to the
Malta Treaty and relevant legislation,
- the most common survey methods (including the consultation of existing
collections and inventories, geophysical methods and field walking)
- aspects of record-keeping (length, width, depth, photography, drawings,
3D, GIS, etc.)
- trench and excavation techniques, including application to a number of
frequent types of traces and contexts
- archaeological depots and
- the passive preservation of archaeological remains on the ground (in
collaboration with Ename Heritage Center.
Naturally the course also includes some field experience. There will be
one day’s field work for a collective survey campaign (field walking),
including the use of different types of auger. Students will also complete
a five-day practical training experience, guided by lecturers, on an
archaeological excavation, when they will carry out a number of fieldwork
exercises including excavation and recording. This takes place on an existing archaeological site.
Lectures and the day’s survey exercise are scheduled for the first
semester. The practical training takes place in the second semester.
A second series of lectures (six classes) will introduce you to the
possibilities and limitations of scientific research in archaeology, both
in the field and when studying the archaeological archive. The course will
consider geology, geography, paedology, paleobotanical research (including palynology and anthracology), archaeozoology, physical anthropology,
DNA research, isotope investigation, dating methods, etc. There will also
be a literature assignment that will be discussed collectively. If possible
a guest speaker will be invited, or there will be a guided visit to a
scientific laboratory.
It is possible that the fieldtrips will result in moderate extra costs for the students that are not covered by the university (transport and eventually stays).
The five-day fieldwork training takes place at a current excavation and
includes practical exercises in fieldwork, recording and interpretation.
Students are responsible for transport, accommodation and work clothing.
In principle this training takes place during the spring vacation.
- PowerPoint presentations and notes taken by the student
- B.A. Kipfer 2007. The Archaeologist's Fieldwork Companion. Blackwell.
- Martin Carver 2011. Making Archaeology Happen. Left Coast Press..
- documents, links and discussion forums on the interactive learning
Platform CANVAS which are added throughout the term and
can be supplemented
- For the natural science unit we use the textbook Natuurwetenschappen
en Archeologie: Methode eninterpretatie" by A. Ervynck et al. (Acco, 2009).
The visual material is provided via CANVAS.
Additional study material: bibliography provided by lecturer.
The student understands the chaine operatoire of an archaeological project , aimed at the analysis of the archeological formationprocesses of sites, from research question to sampling on site.
The student understands the most used survey techniques and apply them on a basic level.
The student understands the planning, registration and analysis of archaeological fieldwork.
The student knows and understands the most common scientific datasets that provide knowledge of formationprocesses and activities on site (including environment and chronology).
The student understands the practise of the core-skills of archaeological fieldwork.
In case of Covid in 20-21, the assesment can be transfformed form face to face assesment into digital face to face assesment in an open book context
The course aims to teach a number of techniques and practices
that the archaeologist must master for fieldwork (detection, evaluation, investigation) and to show the contribution of the sciences in the detection, recording, preservation and analysis of archaeological remains and
their context.
This should form the basis for the further development of fieldwork
skills and practical experience. (profession)
Students will be able to make responsible choices in an archaeological
project during the fieldwork and scientific processing, and will be able
to justify their approach. They should be able to evaluate the potential
contribution of scientific disciplines and discuss them sensibly.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 30% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The examination is threefold:
1) Participation in the fieldschool, and practice of several exercises (measurements, drawing,...)
Absence in the fiels school with a sufficient motivation lead to an absence code for the entire course.
2) Desktop of your own street/house
3) An oral examination centered around a case study that integrates knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses. The content that is examined is spread equally over the given courses, and include assessment of archaeological sites and prospection (remote and on the field), analysis of the site before the excavation, planning of the excavation, registration, knowledge of the scientific methods and datasets on site. The assessment of the student follows a gradual scoring model
A new examination is set in the second examination period. The results of examination aspects 1 and 2 can be transferred from the first to the second examination period.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-English (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Spanish-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Italian-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Arts in Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)