Year
Bachelor year 1.
Admission requirements
Field techniques obtained.
Description
In Field School 1 the main practical skills of archaeological fieldwork are practiced in a real archaeological excavation or survey. The course consists of a field practical of 2 weeks and the writing of a field report. During the practical you will acquire the first basic field skills and focus on how to interpret, document and report on archaeological field data.
The field school is preceded by the course Field techniques, in which all methodologies have been explained and practiced for the first time.
In the following years practical skills remain an important part of the programme, to assure that all students will obtain sufficient field skills and experience.
From Field School 1 until the Internship BA3, all necessary field skills will be registered in a portfolio which shows your personal acquired skill set and experience.
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is to acquire skills in archaeological fieldwork and the interpretation and registration of archaeological field data. This can be subdivided into:
Basic knowledge of specific archaeological excavation methods and techniques, and which method is used in which conditions;
Basic knowledge of a set of practical archaeological field skills and sampling techniques;
Ability to distinguish features created by human activity from natural formation processes;
Ability to describe archaeological data according to the applicable guidelines;
Ability to write clear and relevant daily field notes/reports;
Ability to write a well-structured academic report in which the Faculty Guidelines are applied;
Ability to apply visual material (e.g. drawings; photographs) in daily field notes and in the Field School 1 report in such a manner that it strengthens or clarifies the description and interpretation of archaeological field data.
Mode of instruction
Practical.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
56 hours of fieldwork (4 ec);
Report of 1,800 words (1 ec).
Assessment method
Compulsory attendance;
Quality of the daily reports and portfolio for the excavation (50%);
Report (50%).
Any individual grades may be compensated according to the regulations in the OER (Education and Examination Regulations). A retake is only possible for the final report, and only if all other requirements have been met.
The report needs to be handed in digitally within 2 weeks after the last field day.
Reading list
C. Renfrew & P. Bahn 2018, Archaeology: Methods, Theories and Practice. 7th edition (2018), pag. 73-130;
Relevant papers to be announced.
Registration
There is no need to register for the field school in uSis, the Archaeology Administration Office will take care of registration.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact A.J. (Arjan) Louwen MA.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.