Prospectus

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Technology-based laboratory studies

Course
2014-2015

Compulsory attendance

Yes, this course is obligatory for MSc-students in Material Culture Studies.

Admission requirements

Admission to the MSc-programme Material Culture Studies or the ®MA-programme Human Origins.

Description

The course consists of two parts:

  • block 2: general introduction to the technology of different categories of material culture (bone, antler, flint, stone/manuports, ceramics, and organic materials) (practical assignments with “around the table” introductions by the instructors).

  • block 3: focus on individual practical research and tutorials, with separate options for Material Culture Studies and Human Origins students:

Human Origins students will study a lithic assemblage with dr. Soressi. Students will be provided with basic tools to describe a lithic assemblage. By characterising the methods and techniques used to knap each artefact, by evaluating the role and nature of each artefact within the assemblage, as well as by describing each artefact preservation, each student should be able – by the end of the course – to assign an assemblage to a period or a techno-complex, and to evaluate its degree of integrity. These skills will be useful in the context of commercial archaeology as well as for RMA-students.

MSc Material Culture Studies students will carry out the practical work for their thesis within one of the four following specialisations:

  • technological, microwear and residue studies by means of microscopy (van Gijn);

  • ceramic petrography and technology (Braekmans and Jacobs);

  • rontgen-based materials science (Braekmans);

  • experimental archaeology (van Gijn).

Tutorials will provide the basic knowledge and skills to carry out the analytical work for a thesis topic:

  • The microscopic study of objects reveals traces of manufacturing, use and treatment of objects that are not visible with the naked eye. Students will learn to use stereomicroscopes, incident light microscopy and transmitted light microscopes to distinguish these traces and residue, using the extensive reference collection of experimentally used objects made of stone, bone, coral, shell and other raw materials.

  • The ceramic petrography course introduces students to the methodology and application of thin section petrography of archaeological pottery. By using principles of optical mineralogy and petrology, archaeological ceramic petrography focuses on provenance issues as well as on the reconstruction of ancient artisanal technology.

  • Analysis of material objects by X-ray equipment provides high resolution chemical composition data which can disclose macroscopically hidden information. This technique can be applied to various inorganic materials for characterisation and provenance applications.

  • Experimental archaeology is crucial for a better understanding of object biographies. By carrying out experiments in a scientific context, various hypotheses about the production, treatment and use of materials can be tested. Use can be made of the experimental centre at Huize Horsterwold (a reconstruction of a Stone Age house), the Laboratory for Material Culture Studies in Leiden and facilities of Material Sciences at Delft University.

Please note: since MSc-students in Material Culture Studies will have to make their choice of specialisation early on in block 1 in order to finish their laboratory work in time, Van Gijn and Braekmans will give four introductory courses (4 × 2 hours) on the four specialisations specified above. Non-MSc-students are highly encouraged to attend these lectures to broaden their analytical background.

Course objectives

  • Using and understanding some of the analytical tools used for the description and technological analysis of a range of artefacts;

  • To familiarize students with analytical laboratory techniques to obtain detailed information about artefact biographies.

Ects distribution

The course load will be distributed as follows:

Timetable

Course schedule details can be found in the MA time schedule.

Mode of instruction

  • Formal lectures on the specialisations (block 1);

  • Practical assignments (block 2);

  • Tutorials (block 3).

Assessment method

  • The general technological sessions of block 2 will be assessed by means of an assignment (25% of the grade);

  • The lab and practical work of block 3 will lead to a formal laboratory report (75% of the final grade).

Assessment deadline

All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the examination schedule.

Reading list

To be announced.

Human Origins students must be acquainted with the following text:
Inizan et al., Technology and Terminology of Knapped Stone (1999)

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 mw. prof. dr. A.L. van Gijn.