3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1024016BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics
Educational team
Yannick Devos (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
10 contact hours Lecture
16 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
28 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Geoarchaeology, the study of people and their environment using methods and concepts from earth sciences and archaeology, is an essential component in current archaeological research.
The Introduction to Geoarchaeology course therefore familiarizes you with the main methods and concepts from earth sciences and their applications in archaeology.
After a general introduction where the main milestones in the development of geoarchaeology and the different sub-disciplines are discussed, a number of lessons follow, focusing on:
- the recognition of the main soil forming processes,

- correctly describing a soil profile,

- reading soil maps,
- the recognition of different types of archaeological soil features and the formation history,

The second part of the course consists of a series of practical exercises where you get familiarized with the use of a petrographical microscope for micromorphology. You will also have the opportunity to study thin sections from an archaeological site.

Course material
Digital course material (Recommended) : powerpoint presentaties aangevuld met notities van de student
Digital course material (Recommended) : documenten en literatuur (Canvas)
Handbook (Required) : Guidelines for Analysis and Description of Soil and Regolith Thin Sections (2nd Edition), Stoops G., 2nd edition, Wiley, 9780891189756, 2021
Handbook (Required) : Veldhandleiding voor het beschrijven van bodems bij archeologisch onderzoek in Vlaanderen, Mikkelsen J., Ampe C., Cools N., Devos Y., Dondeyne S., Oorts K., Pieters M., Langohr R., 2565-7003, 2022
Handbook (Required) : Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology, Nicosia C., Stoops G., Wiley Blackwell, 9781118941072, 2017
Additional info

One of the lessons, depending on the possibilities, may include a field visit to an archaeological site.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

- The student has a sound knowledge of the main methods and techniques used within geoarchaeology.
- The student correctly describes soils and sediments and interprets analysis results.
- The student becomes familiar with the use of a polarising microscope for micromorphological research.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 25% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 75 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Paper with a relative weight of 25 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Assessment consists of the following assignment categories:
- Oral exam determines 75% of the final grade
- SELF Paper determines 25% of the final grade

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Profile Profile Archaeological Science (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Geography: Default track (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)