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
The dates of exams and retakes can be found in MyTimetable . The deadlines of papers, essays and assignments are communicated through 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 for their lectures, tutorials and exams in semester 1 and semester 2.
If you are not a BA1 student but have to take this course, you can register yourself via this form.
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.
All information for those who are interested in taking this course as a Contractstudent is on the Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpage (in Dutch).
Retake exams
BA1 students who want to do a retake have to register themselves through MyStudymap.
All other students, please contact the administration office for enrollment for the retake.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact dr. R. (Richard) Jansen or dr. A.T. (Letty) ten Harkel.