6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 2 with catalog number 1020911BER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
The course wants to build up knowledge and give an insight in the meaning of archaeology and material culture in the Middle Ages with references to the Modern Period.
Material culture is a broad topic: it concerns the entire material world of human beings in the Middle Ages, while we will be looking into how humans functioned as social beings on the basis of the material they used in the world they lived in.
After a general introduction on the definition of time and space for the Middle Ages and the Modern Period and by discussing the problems of complementarity between written and material sources, we also discuss several aspects of that material world by means of a thematic approach.
In lecture 1 we discuss the world of the Middle Ages and the question of whether the Middle Ages are "different". We will also discuss the Medieval European area and chronology, and we will also study medieval archaeology.
In the lectures following this introduction, we will discuss various relevant topics:
- The transition from the Roman to the Early Medieval period from the perspective of migration.
- Christianisation, as seen froms archaeology, art and material culture; the archaeology of pre-Christian religion
- How did humans deal with death throughout the Middle Ages?
- The archaeology of the rural world
- The archaeology of high status ans nobility
- The archaeology of the town and material culture in the town - i.e. urban archaeology
- Artisanal production, consumption and the mediation of status and identity through material culture
The sites and examples are from the Low Countries in an in-depth European context. The idea is for everyone to gain insight in the prevailing debates, but also to acquire adequate basic knowledge of the "medieval archaeology" as such.
The lessons may complemented with a day excursion and/or with guest lectures.
The "SELF"- part of this course consists of an essay (between 1000 and 1500 words excl. bibliography) based on extra reading about an important artefact or site that was not extensively discussed during the lectures, contextualizing it with the topics and trends discussed in this course.
The lessons are completed with literature. Each student is expected to partake in the critical discussion of at least one assigned publication, in connection with a specific lecture.
The lectures can include both 'face to face lessons' as distance lectures (i.e. lectures via recordings or via recordings or via synchronous online contact moments) in the case of a new covid'19 outbreak.
Powerpoint presentations complemented with notes to be taken by the student (lecture)
- documents, links and discussion forums on the interactive learning platform Canvas which will be added and complemented throughout the semester
It is possible that the fieldtrips will result in moderate extra costs for the students that are not covered by the university (transport)
The student can situate the important topics and research themes in medieval archaeology of Belgium in a European context.
The student can explain how research in historical archaeology happens in a context where material culture can be combined with written sources.
The student can explain the dynamics and evolution of material culture from the end of the Late Roman period to the start of the Industrial Revolution.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 30% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- 70%: Oral examination (with written preparation) with open questions about one of the themes or visual assesments of artefacts and sites discussed during the courses. The student knows the content, based on the given powerpoints. Connections between different themes and a thorough understanding result in higher marks.
- 30% ZELF: The "SELF" - part of this course consists of an essay (between 1000 and 1500 words excl. bibliography) based on extra reading about an important artefact or site that was not extensively discussed during the lectures, contextualizing it with the topics and trends discussed in this course.
- The second examination period is a new exam
Not delivering the essay or not participating to an excavation (SELF) leads to Absent as general examination result.
the results of essay or excavation could be transferred to the next examperiod and/or year, if sufficient in itself
The assement of the competentces for this course happens according a gradual score model between very bad and very good, on a scale of 1 to 20.
In the case of covid'19 in 21-22 the possibility exists to re-organise the face-to-face exam as digital oral assesments.
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.
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)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Frans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Nederlands-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Engels (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Frans-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Duits (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Engels-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Applied Language Studies: Duits-Spaans (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (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)