Archaeological research in practice

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1003723BNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st and 2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Om dit vak te kunnen registreren moet je minstens 60 stp. behaald hebben in de bachelor. Als je een verkort programma volgt, kan je dit vak zo opnemen.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Ralf Vandam (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
65 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

In this programme unit, students will learn about diverse aspects of fieldwork that are current in archaeological research.

In this class we 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)

- trench and excavation techniques, including application to a number of frequent types of traces and contexts

- aspects of record-keeping (length, width, depth, photography, drawings, GIS, etc.)

- archaeological find conservation

- 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. Students will complete a five-day practical training experience 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. This fieldschool takes place in the second semester.

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).

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Powerpoint presentations and notes taken by the student
Handbook (Recommended) : The Archaeologist's Fieldwork Companion, B.A. Kipfer, Blackwell, 9781405118866, 2007

Additional info

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

D1: The student knows the regulations in Flanders regarding archaeological fieldwork

D2: The student has insights into the current prospection and excavation methods and knows in which circumstances which methods can be apply and which not.

D3: The student has an understanding of the planning, registration and analysis of an archaeological field project

D4: The student learns the practical application of the core skills of archaeological fieldwork.

disciplinespeciefieke competen

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.

Grading

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

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

Oral exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

Note: Oral exam with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 75% of the final mark.
Note: - Theoretic examination: oral (with written preparation)
A new examination is set in the second examination period

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Practical assignment with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Note: Practical assignment with a relative weight of 25 which comprises 25% of the final mark.
Field school with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 15% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The examination is twofold:

1) Participation in the fieldschool, and practice of several exercises (measurements, drawing,...) Absence in the fields school with a sufficient motivation lead to an absence code for the entire course.

2) An oral examination centered around a case study that integrates knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses.

A new examination is set in the second examination period. The results of examination aspect 2 can be transferred from the first to the second examination period.

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