Field Research Methods in Archaeology

Code:

ARQU041

Acronym:

MIAC

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Heritage Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
ARQU	43	Study plan since 2008/2009	1	-	6	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

General goals: To provide education concerning intrusive field archaeological research methods: archaeological survey and excavation.

Specific goals: To prepare the students for the accomplishment of all practical survey, excavation and registry-related tasks.

Learning outcomes and competences

This COURSE will prepare the student for the practical, well-informed, participation in field archaeological work/programs ( survey and archaeological excavation -field research), as licensed technician directed by a professional (archaeologist). Likewise, and in short, he will be able to understand and apply  prospecting and excavation methods, supported by Archaeological field protocols. Of course, he will be able to recognize the different types of archaeological traces.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

I -Archaeological Survey 1. Objectives of archaeological survey : general approach 2. Research strategies in archaeological prospection 3. Learning to manipulate the interpretive cartography of IGE for the location and description of geographical and topographical sites 4. The preparation of archaeological survey: documentary souces 5. Methods: “ground reconaissance “ ( fieldwork) and other complementary methods : intensive and extensive survey 6. Elaboration of a record card of an archaeological site 7. Conclusions II- Archaeological excavation: 1. Objectives of the archaeological excavation: general approach 2. The formation process of materialities which we identify as the archaeological sites (strata, structures, artifacts and other "remnants" of the activities of the Past) 3. Different methods of excavation and recording. 3.1. Preparatory procedures to dig itself (topographic records, gridind marking, suare digging, etc.). 3.2. Processes of excavation and recording of structures and stratigraphies 3.3. Collection processes and artifacts of different types of samples 3.4.Methods of relative and absolute dating most widely used in archeology 4. Organization and systematization of all the documentation collected at a site being excavated 5. Conclusions

Mandatory literature

CARANDINI, ANDREA; Historias en la Tierra. Manual de excavación arqueológica, Crítica, 1997. ISBN: ISBN:84-7423-764-5
BICHO, N. FERREIRA; Manual de Arqueologia Pré-histórica, Edições 70, 2006. ISBN: ISBN: 972-44-1345-4
RENFREW, C; BAHN, P. ; Archaeology. Theories, Methods and Practice, Thames and Hudson, 1991. ISBN: ISBN: 0-500-27605-6
HARRIS, Eduard C.; Principios de Estratigrafia Arqueologica, Critica, 1991. ISBN: ISBN: 84-7423-514-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Exposition and discussion of themes using audiovisual means. Field trips and/or participation in field work will be done if possible.

Software

None

keywords

Humanities > History > Archaeology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	65,00
Trabalho escrito	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	20,00
Estudo autónomo	88,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance at a minimum of 75% of classes is mandatory.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation includes the Registration of an archaeological site ( 35%) and the critical comentary of an archaeological monography (65%)

Registration of an archaeological site: 35%; Exam: 65%

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to FLUP regulation

Classification improvement

According to FLUP regulation