Admission requirements
World Archaeology 1.1 and Material Studies obtained;
This is a seminar with a limited amount of participants (20 students), for Archaeology students exclusively;
This is not an optional course for the Archaeology BA3 programme. If you want to take this course as an extra-curricular course in your programme, you should ask permission from the Board of Examiners. You can only be admitted with permission, with proper argumentation, and only if there are spots left.
Description
This course provides a case study in Paleolithic archaeology as well as hands-on, practical experience with Palaeolithic stone tools.
You will handle handaxes and Levallois cores, Aurignacian bladelet cores and Solutrean leafpoints, Magdalenian burins among others.
After introducing the main theoretical framework for analysing stone tools, we will study the signatures of percussion techniques and ‘read’ the direction and chronology of removals from cores and flakes. Then we will study selected material.
The case study will focus on one scientific paper and discuss the wider scientific context, theoretical background, and aspects such as lithic technology, subsistence, site formation and chronology.
The course is designed for students with an interest in human origins, early prehistory, and stone tools.
Course set-up
Weekly 4-hour seminars/practicals.
Course objectives
Ability to:
Recognise and describe the morphology and technological features of stone tools (cores, flakes, blades, as well as retouched tools);
Recognise and describe lithic taphonomy (patination, edge damage);
Recognise and describe Palaeolithic and Mesolithic tool types;
Argue a chronological attribution based on technological and typological features;
Document and analyse a lithic assemblage at a basic level;
Analyse and discuss a scientific paper.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button.
Mode of instruction
Introductory seminars;
Practicals;
Assignments.
Assessment method
Portfolio (individual) (70%);
Presentation(s) (30%).
Compensation is possible in accordance with regulations (Onderwijs- en Examen Reglement / Course and Examination Regulations).
The retake consists of improving the portfolio to the ‘pass’ level and/or a new presentation.
Assessment deadlines
All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button. To view the assessment deadline(s), make sure to select the course with a code ending in T and/or R.
Deadlines for assignments are included in the course syllabus.
Reading list
The reading list will be available on Brightspace.
Registration
Registration start dates for the BA2 seminars differ from the registration dates of the regular courses.
Registration will take place with the use of Jotforms, which will be e-mailed to all BA2 students shortly.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact dr. A. (Alexander) Verpoorte.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.