Admission requirements
- Admission to the MSc Archaeology programme Archaeological Science, or admission to the RMSc Archaeology;
Description
Archaeo-and palaeobotanical research requires knowledge of collecting, extracting, determining and curating Pleistocene and/or Holocene plant fossils and, in addition, presentation of fossil botanical data and data analysis.
All these aspects will be addressed in detail based on the study of fossiliferous sediments from a Quaternary site that contains archaeology (either lithic artefacts, cut-marked bone of both). The site for study will depend on what is available at the time.
This is an advanced exercise which will lead to the production of data, if handled correctly, that can be published in a refereed, international journal.
Course objectives
An advanced knowledge of and insight into the research methods and techniques and their application possibilities within palaeobotany and archaeobotany (pollen and spores, and/or plant macrofossils);
An advanced knowledge of and insight into the relevance of these techniques to archaeology;
Ability to recognise plant macrofossils/pollen and spores from Quaternary deposits that also contain Palaeolithic archaeology;
Ability to determine and distinguish characteristic morphological features leading to accurate identification using extensive reference collections;
Ability to present and analyse palaeobotanical data (e.g. learning to use Tilia software);
Ability to conduct archaeobotanical research in a multidisciplinary approach that adds value to archaeological investigations;
Ability to write a research report based on the practical work completed in the course.
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
Practical.
Assessment method
Report (60%);
Practical attendance (40%).
A retake consists of the improvement of the report within six weeks after the submission of the first version, but only if the attendance requirements have been met.
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.
The report will be submitted two weeks after the end of the practical work.
Reading list
To be handed out during class, and will be relevant to the site investigated.
Registration
For lectures, tutorials, and exams, enrolment through MyStudymap is mandatory.
You are also required to confirm your exam in MyStudymap. No confirmation = no participation!
General information about registration can be found on the Course and Exam Enrolment page.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact dr. M.H. (Mike) Field.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.