Admission requirements
None.
Description
This course offers a unique and immersive experience into the field of Islamic archaeology, concentrating on hands-on research tasks that will engage students in the direct study of Islamic history and culture through archaeological and material remains.
The course is designed for students who wish to deepen their skills and knowledge through a practical, research-driven project, focusing on the transition to the early Islamic period in Bilad al-Sham (East Mediterranean). Students conduct archaeological research, analyse archaeological data, and situate them within broader Islamic historical and cultural contexts.
Course objectives
To develop analytical skills through the interpretation of archaeological data;
To engage students in original research projects that contribute to (Islamic) archaeology and the broader field of Islamic studies;
To learn about approaches and problems specific to Islamic archaeology;
To foster a comprehensive understanding of Islamic cultural and historical contexts through material evidence.
The successful outcome is to be able to contribute, independently and in teams, to archaeological research projects, especially in working with, processing and analysing archaeological data and situating them within a broader Islamic historical and cultural context, and to communicate research findings effectively, both orally and in writing.
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
This is a task-based, practical course, mainly consisting of supervised seminar workgroups and workgroup tasks (computer, desk, and lab) on-campus in which you work on project research tasks. You will also engage with readings essential to understanding the research tasks and you will present project work. Attendance in workgroups is compulsory for the entire course.
Assessment method
Assessment consists of the following components:
- Attendance and participation in seminar workgroups and other practical time;
- Weekly progress logs/reports (40%);
- Presentation of research (10%);
- Final report, written (50%).
The final grade for the course is established by (a) sufficiently fulfilling component 1 above (attendance and participation), combined with (b) determining the weighted average of components 2, 3, and 4 above.
All the above components must be completed to pass the course, and all components must fulfil the requirements specified for them on Brightspace. Attendance and participation in all seminar workgroups and other practical time has to be sufficient.
A retake is only possible for the final report, and only if all other requirements have been met, including handing in the final report before the deadline. A retake is not possible for attendance and participation, weekly logs/reports, or the presentation.
The weekly progress logs/reports and the final report have to be submitted through Brightspace, and submitted by the deadlines. Late submissions result in deducted grades as follows: 1-24 hrs late, -1.0; 24-48 hrs late, -1.5; 48-72 hrs late, -2.0; 72-96 hrs late, -2.5 (all stated hours include weekends and holidays). Submissions more than 4 days late (including weekends and holidays) will not be accepted.
Every partial or component grade has to be 5.5 or higher. To pass the course, the weighted mean of partial grades has to be 6.0 or higher. Compensation of partial grades is only possible for the presentation of research (component 3, which has a partial grade of less than 30% of the final course grade), and only if course components were completed on time. All assessment parts must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
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
Milwright, Marcus. An Introduction to Islamic Archaeology. New Edinburgh Islamic Surveys. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010. Read Chapter 1, Introduction, in particular. Available in Leiden University Library;
Walmsley, Alan. Early Islamic Syria: An Archaeological Assessment. London: Duckworth, 2007. Read Chapter 3 and 4 (available from www.bloomsbury.com or selected chapters through Brightspace course site);
Walmsley, Alan. "Urbanism at Islamic Jerash: New Readings from Archaeology and History." In The Archaeology and History of Jerash: 110 Years of Excavation, edited by Achim Lichtenberger and Rubina Raja, 241-56. Turnhout: Brepols, 2018. Available through Brightspace course site.
Registration
Registration start dates for the BA2 seminars differ from the registration dates of the regular courses.
Registration will take place with the use of forms. These will be e-mailed by the study advisers to all BA2 students at the beginning of October.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact Dr. Ian R. Simpson.