Admission requirements
Field Techniques and Landscape Dynamics 1 obtained. Attended the Active Bystander training.
Description
In this course you will be trained in the first basic fieldwork skills and focus on how to interpret, document and report archaeological field data in a real archaeological environment. The course consists of a few introductory lectures, reading in on the project, a (field) practical of 80 hours on location and the writing of daily reports (with an emphasis on strategy, analysis and interpretation). Among other things, the following fieldwork skills will pass in revue during the field practical on location:
Creating, documenting and interpreting profile sections;
Creating, documenting and interpreting archaeological levels;
Excavating, documenting and interpreting archaeological features;
Conducting a small coring research and rework the data obtained in a landscape reconstruction;
Recognising and registering various archaeological find categories in the field;
Reporting archaeological observations in a daily report;
And most important of all: working together under challenging circumstances.
The Field School is preceded by the courses Landscape Dynamics 1 and Field techniques. In these respective courses the site formation processes and methodologies necessary to be able to work in an archaeological field project have already been explained but these will be further elaborated upon during the Field School . In addition, documentation methods practiced in Field Techniques will all return during the Field School, but this time in a real and professional archaeological setting. After completing the Field School, students who gained an interest in archaeological fieldwork can further develop and train their skills in the ‘Internship BA2: World Archaeology’ and ‘Internship BA3’.
Course objectives
The main objectives of the course are to understand site formation processes, to acquire practical skills in archaeological fieldwork and the interpretation and registration of archaeological field data. These can be further subdivided into:
Basic knowledge of specific archaeological excavation methods and techniques, and which method is used in which conditions;
Basic knowledge of a set of practical archaeological field skills and sampling techniques;
Ability to distinguish features created by human activity from natural formation processes;
Ability to describe archaeological data according to the applicable guidelines;
Ability to write clear and relevant daily field notes/reports (in which the Faculty guidelines are applied), supported by visual material (e.g. drawings; photographs) in such a manner that it strengthens or clarifies the description and interpretation of archaeological field data;
Ability to work together under challenging circumstances.
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
During introductory lectures students will be familiarised with the wider archaeological setting of the research and the societal relevance of the project. The lectures will also provide basic information on how to prepare for an archaeological field project and some more background to some of the skills that are going to be practiced.
Students will also be provided with literature (if available in English) about neighbouring sites or the archaeological region as whole to better understand the archaeological relevance of their endeavours in the field.
The most important part of the course consists of a practical and excursion on location for which there is a compulsory attendance. During the practical there will be both plenary and personal instructions. Throughout the entire practical there will be plenty of opportunity for questions.
It is allowed to miss one day of practical due to sickness or personal circumstances. If more than one day is missed, the course cannot be completed successfully and a retake in the next year will have to take place.
Assessment method
Compulsory attendance for the practical;
Grading of the daily reports (100% of the final grade).
Evaluation of the daily reports will focus on how observations made in the field have been translated into a sound and comprehensive archaeological analysis. An elaborate instruction on how to write a daily report will be provided in Brightspace.
If more than one day of the practical is missed, it is necessary to catch up with the missed assignments within the same year (transport and accommodation on own account) or the next year. When (already) complied with the compulsory attendance for the practical, a retake is only possible for the daily reports, and only in case of a grade of 5.0 or lower.
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
C. Renfrew & P. Bahn 2020, Archaeology: Methods, Theories and Practice. 8th edition (2020), pag. 74-129;
Relevant papers to be announced.
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. A.J. (Arjan) Louwen.
Remarks
For health and safety reasons a Tetanus vaccination is highly recommended.
Valid health- and liability insurances are required.
Some personal expenses are involved for equipment, accomodation, food and transport.
Equipment (mandatory)
Safety shoes (S3): available from ca. € 30,-
Loupe (covered in Field School fee)
Ruler (covered in Field School fee)
Trowel (covered in Field School fee)
Safety vest (covered in Field School fee)
Accommodation, food, catering and transport on site (optional)
The Field School takes place in the municipality of Oss, a long distance away from Leiden. The Faculty of Archaeology therefore facilitates accommodation, catering and transport on site. Students who want to make use of these facilities are asked to pay a compensation of €150,-* This fee covers for:
Equipment (loupe; ruler; trowel; safety vest)
6-8 nights accommodation
Breakfast and lunch (daily)
Catered dinner (daily)
Transport from the group accommodation to the Field School location and during excursions
Students who choose to arrange for their own accommodation and transport only have to pay a fee for the equipment and excursions (€40-50,-)
Travel expenses to- and from Oss (dependent on personal situation)
Students are required to travel to Oss and back home on their own expense.
This course is in the same period and with the same groups as Exploratory Data Analysis in Archaeology and Material Studies 1.
Practical sessions with compulsory attendance.