Compulsory attendance
Yes.
Admission requirements
Admission to the RMA-programme.
Description
Organised around ongoing research of the Near Eastern staff, this course will present the student with recently excavated evidence (architecture, material culture, etc.) from a small site of the early 7th millennium BC in Syria. The course will take the student into the practicalities of research, including data collection, methodology, interpretation of the available archaeological record, and the preparation of a publication.
For 2nd-year RMA-students, Teaching assistance (in cooperation with staff members) is included in this course, involving: discussion points, ability to set up a seminar, knowledge of editing assignments (providing feedback), experience in coaching students, assessment of papers according to prescribed protocol.
The overall teaching and coaching skills during the assistance period will be evaluated by the track leader.
Course objectives
Detailed knowledge of the period, region, research problems, relevant literature, current debates and approaches concerning the theme of research;
Ability to critically assess current research and literature and to voice one’s well-argumented opinion;
Ability to process archaeological data and to apply relevant theoretical models;
Ability to present original research in a scientific manner.
Ects distribution
The course load will be distributed as follows:
28 hours of tutorial (2 ects);
4,500-word essay (3 ects);
280 pages of literature (2 ects);
10,5 days of research (3 ects).
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the MA time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Lectures;
Reading of relevant books/articles;
Individual assignments;
Discussion on the basis of these assignments;
Preparation of joint report.
Assessment method
Active participation in class discussions;
Reading of assigned literature;
Quality of written assignments.
Assessment deadline
The essays are due 2 weeks after the last meeting.
Reading list
The reading list will be given to each student prior to the beginning of the course.
Registration
Register for this course via uSis.
Instructions for registration can be found in the uSis manual.
Contact information
For more information about this course, please contact prof. dr P.M.M.G. Akkermans: p.m.m.g.akkermans@arch.leidenuniv.nl.