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Field School 1

Vak
2022-2023

Admission requirements

Field techniques and Landscape Dynamics 1 obtained.

Description

During Field School 1, the main practical skills of archaeological fieldwork are practised in a real archaeological environment.
The course consists of a (field) practical of 80 hours and the writing of a field portfolio with daily reports (with an emphasis on strategy, analysis and interpretation).

During the practical you will acquire the first basic field skills and focus on how to interpret, document and report archaeological field data. This will be reported in your personal daily reports, that focus on analytic and reporting skills relating to observations made in the field.

The field school is preceded by the course Field techniques, in which all methodologies have been explained and a selection of methods have been practised already.
In the following years, the training of practical skills remains an important part of the archaeology curriculum, to assure that all students will obtain sufficient field skills and experience.
During Field School 1, Field School 2, Internship BA3, and even throughout the Master programme Applied Archaeology, all necessary field skills will be registered in a portfolio which shows your personal acquired skill set and experience.

Course set-up

Field School 1 involves highly intensive training in the field, focused on instruction and practice relating to basic professional field techniques.
Acquired skills and experiences will be registered in a personal portfolio.

Course objectives

The main objective of the course is to understand site formation processes, to acquire skills in archaeological fieldwork, and the interpretation and registration of archaeological field data. This can be subdivided into:

  • Basic knowledge of specific archaeological excavation methods and techniques, and which method is used in which conditions;

  • Basic knowledge of a set of practical archaeological field skills and sampling techniques;

  • Ability to distinguish features created by human activity from natural formation processes;

  • Ability to describe archaeological data according to the applicable guidelines;

  • Ability to write clear and relevant daily field notes/reports (in which the Faculty guidelines are applied), supported by visual material (e.g. drawings; photographs) in such a manner that it strengthens or clarifies the description and interpretation of archaeological field data;

  • Ability to explain the methods involved in archaeological fieldwork to a layman audience.

Timetable

See Brightspace.

Mode of instruction

Practical.

Assessment method

  • Compulsory attendance;

  • Fieldwork portfolio with daily reports (100%).

The portfolio guidelines, Faculty guidelines and evaluation rubric can be found in the Brightspace module.
Evaluation of the daily reports will focus on how observations made in the field have been translated into a sound and comprehensive archaeological analysis.
A retake is only possible for the final fieldwork portfolio, and only in case of a grade of 5.0 or lower.

Assessment deadlines

The fieldwork portfolio must be submitted digitally within 2 weeks after the last field day.

Reading list

  • C. Renfrew & P. Bahn 2018, Archaeology: Methods, Theories and Practice. 7th edition (2018), pag. 73-130;

  • Relevant papers to be announced.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudymap is mandatory.

General information about registration can be found on the Course and Exam Enrolment page.

BA1 (first-year) Archaeology students will be enrolled by the Administration Office. If you are not a BA1 student, but want to take this course, please contact the Administration Office.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact A.J. (Arjan) Louwen MA or dr. M.S. (Maaike) de Waal.

Remarks

  • Compulsory attendance;

  • Some personal expenses are involved (a.o. safety shoes, transport).