Admission requirements
Admission to the MSc-programme Material Culture Studies (only possible if the MSc is the first specialisation).
Description
This course is taught twice a year, at the beginning of blocks 1 and 3. The course starts with 4 introductory lectures on the specialisations possible within the MSc Material Culture Studies:
1) technological, microwear and residue studies by means of microscopy (van Gijn/Tsoraki)
2) ceramic petrography and technology (Braekmans and Jacobs)
3) X-ray based material science (Braekmans)
4) experimental archaeology (van Gijn/Tsoraki)
Throughout the year: practical sessions on different categories of material culture like ceramics, stone and organic materials and laboratory training.
Blocks 2 and 4: tutorials will give you the basic knowledge and skills to carry out the analytical work for their thesis topic.
1) 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 residues, using the extensive reference collection of experimentally used objects made of stone, bone, coral, shell and other raw materials.
2) Experimental archaeology is crucial for an improved 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 for Materials Sciences at Delft University.
3) 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.
4) 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 studies.
Course objectives
Familiarity with analytical laboratory techniques used for the description and technological analysis of a range of artefacts;
Increased understanding of how analytical laboratory techniques can provide detailed information about artefact biographies.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the MA time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Formal lectures;
Practical training in artefact analysis and description (round the table) and familiarising students with the interconnectivities between different chaînes opératoires;
Individual or small-group tutorials in the laboratory as a preparation for the empirical work for the students’ thesis topic;
Reading literature relevant to their specialisation.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
Lectures and practical sessions (1 ects);
Laboratory work and report (3 ects);
140 pages of literature (1 ects).
Assessment method
- The practical work related to the specialisation will have to lead to a formal laboratory report, including a critical evaluation of the methodology employed (100%).
If the report is not of sufficient quality to receive a pass, amendments will have to be made.
All exam dates (exams, re-sits, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the examination schedule.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Registration for the course is not necessary, registration for the exam is mandatory. For instructions, see the Registration in uSis page.
Contact
For more information about his course, please contact prof. dr. A.L. van Gijn.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.