Please note: This course description is provisional and still subject to changes.
Admission requirements
None
Description
Landscapes are shaped by people interacting with their surroundings. This course explores how environmental and cultural factors have influenced human behavior and settlement patterns over time, leaving lasting marks on both societies and the landscapes they inhabited.
We will look at the methods and theories archaeologists use to study past landscapes, focusing on different -scapes and the processes that affect how archaeological traces are preserved and discovered. We will also discuss why archaeologists study landscapes and what these studies can reveal.
Through a mix of readings and hands-on work with digital datasets, you will examine different approaches to reconstructing/understanding past landscapes. By working with case studies, you will gain an understanding of the challenges and possibilities in studying how landscapes have evolved.
Course set-up
Weekly lectures, weekly tutorials, a midterm exercise, and a final 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.
To explore a selected set of landscape themes.
Upon completion of this course, you will acquire:
Knowledge of methods and approaches for the spatial analysis of environmental and archaeological data to study landscapes;
Ability to identify and critically assess research publications and reports.
You will also build the following transferable skills:
Research;
Oral communication;
Written communication;
Digital skills.
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 exercises;
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
Assignment (30%)
Final exam (70%)
Both assessments need to be completed to pass the course.
Assessment terms/deadline
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 1–3 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.
When registration opens, this page will be updated with a link to the registration 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. T. (Tuna) Kalaycı or Dr W. (Wei) Chu.