Prospectus

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Landscape Dynamics 2

Course
2023-2024

Admission requirements

None.

Description

The interactions of people with their surroundings generate different landscapes. This course offers an introduction to the study of the environmental and cultural factors that have influenced human behaviour and settlement patterns in the past, thus shaping the lives of peoples as well as the landscape and its evolution over time.

The course provides a description of the methods and approaches that archaeologists employ to study past landscape dynamics, with a thematic focus on specific landscape types and theoretical approaches. In addition, this course explores factors affecting the preservation and detection of traces in the field, on which archaeologists base their analysis of past human landscapes. We will also discuss why landscapes are studied by archaeologists and how this can be executed.

You will delve into the pros and cons of different ways of approaching data to study past landscape dynamics by combining the study of first-hand literature with the practical experience of working with different (digital) datasets in case studies.

Course set-up

Weekly lectures, weekly tutorials and a written exam.

Course objectives

  • To introduce the discipline of landscape archaeology;

  • To gain knowledge of different theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of past settlement patterns and site location preferences;

  • To understand the relationship between the physical environment, the cultural context and human activities in the past and present.

Upon completion of this course students will have acquired:

  • Deeper knowledge of a range of methods and approaches for the spatial analysis of environmental and archaeological data to study the landscape;

  • Ability in critically assessing research publications and reports;

Students will also build the following transferable skills:

  • Research;

  • Oral communication;

  • Written communication.

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

  • Lectures;

  • Tutorials on case studies, with in-class assignments;

  • Extensive autonomous study of literature.

You will take part in tutorial sessions, coordinated by Teaching Assistants (TAs). During these tutorials, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversations about various research topics.

Assessment method

  • Written exam (100%).

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.

Individual deadlines for assignments can be found on Brightspace.

Reading list

The reading list will be made available on Brightspace before the start of the course. Per class there will be one to three chapters or papers to read.

Registration

The Administration Office will register all Archaeology BA1 students in uSis for their lectures, tutorials and exams in semester 1 and semester 2.

However for exams, confirmation through MyStudymap is mandatory.
No confirmation = no participation!

If you are not a BA1 student, but want to take this course, please contact the Administration Office.

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

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.

All information (costs, registration, entry requirements, etc.) for those who are interested in taking this course as a Contractstudent is on the Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpage (in Dutch).

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact dr. R. (Richard) Jansen or dr. A.T. (Letty) ten Harkel.

Remarks

None.