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Crafting the Greek World. Theory and practice

Vak
2024-2025

Admission requirements

None.

Description

This course provides an overview of some key material categories recovered during excavations in Greece (of different periods) and/or present in relevant museum collections. The durable materials such as ceramics and stone stand out in their preservation and reach for study, but when organic in nature, objects and materials are often less well preserved upon excavation (if at all), especially when excavated a long time ago.
The taught classes will make you familiar with the nature and properties of these materials and will provide you with an understanding of the different production processes through which objects and (built) features were produced with these materials.

You will learn to recognise the single materials in objects or composite items of a wide range of scales, and be able to describe important technological features of organic and composite objects and their production processes. The range of materials will be contextualized in their temporal and spatial context. You will also become familiar with various theoretical aspects concerning activity areas, workshops, and how production processes affected people’s surroundings and vice versa.

Course objectives

  • To provide insight into the various research questions that can be asked regarding the meaning of material culture for past societies of the Aegean and East Mediterranean regions and their surroundings;

  • To make students familiar with the types of physical and social processes inherent to both movable and immovable material culture of the regions specified;

  • To make the students familiar with the various theoretical concepts that are important in material culture studies in relation to production processes;

  • To illustrate the applicability of the theoretical and methodological approaches to wider contexts;

  • To be able to analyse and discuss data, through carrying out small research tasks in given contexts, to present them orally to the class;

  • To work both in small groups and individually on the projects laid out;

  • To understand how the obtained skill sets are useful for future research work as part of any job context.

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

  • Interactive lectures;

  • Group practicals and work groups;

  • Weekly readings;

  • (Group) presentations.

Assessment method

  • Individual and group work practicals and presentations (65%);

  • Compulsory class attendance (lectures and practical sessions) and participation based on class readings and discussion topics (35%).

There will be one final result and the average of the parts will be taken as a pass. The final grade will be based on the weighted average of both components. Class attendance and participation are a vital aspect of this course. There will be no resit.

Assessment deadlines:
The dates of exams and retakes can be found in MyTimetable. The deadlines of papers, essays and assignments are communicated through Brightspace.

Reading list

Reading lists will be shared via Brightspace in advance of each class.

Registration

Enrolment for all components of your study programme through MyStudymap is mandatory. This applies to both compulsory elements and elective credits. If you are not enrolled, you may not participate.

General information about registration can be found on the Course and exam enrolment page.

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please contact the exchange coordinator for information on how to apply.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact Prof.dr. A.N. (Ann) Brysbaert.

Remarks