Compulsory attendance
Yes.
Admission requirements
Propedeuse (first year) Archaeology obtained.
Description
This course provides a general overview of the development of Mayan culture. It provides an analysis of the most characteristic archaeological sites, artistic expressions and defining aspects of economy, society and religion. Further expansion on Maya studies is possible through lectures on Mayan language and literature (by prof. dr. W.F.H. Adelaar, Faculty of Humanities).
This course alternates annually with the Andean Archaeology course.
Course objectives
The ability to chronologically and geographically place principal sites and related artifacts (style, iconography and writing);
A basic knowledge of the Maya writing system, calendar and mathematics;
Knowledge of the major social and cultural developments in the field of: socio-politics, settlement pattern, trade and exchange, war, economy and religion;
The ability to understand the continuous cultural tradition of colonial societies leading up to contemporary Indigenous cultures, and related to this the possible use of auxiliary disciplines of archaeology for improving understanding of the pre-Hispanic Maya societies i.e. explaining archaeological phenomena on the basis of contemporary societies and early colonial sources;
The ability to critically assess literature, arguing once own position, maintain a discussion on the basis of the assigned literature;
The ability to carry out a modest independent research (e.g. deciphering an inscription and interpretation in context), establishing a research strategy in a team setting, and learning to work in teams under the guidance of a primus inter pares;
The ability to convincingly present research results orally and in writing.
Ects distribution
The course load will be distributed as follows:
21 hours of lectures;
200 pages of literature;
Assignments.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the bachelor 3 time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Interactive lectures with assignments and reports.
Assessment method
Written final exam;
Blackboard assignments;
Plenary presentation.
Assesment deadline
All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the examination schedule.
Reading list
E. Boot, L. van Broekhoven & M. Berger, Maya 2012. Amsterdam: KIT Publishers (2010);
S.D. Houston & T. Inomata, The Classic Maya. Cambridge University Press (2009).
Registration
Register for this course via uSis.
Instructions for registration can be found in the uSis manual.
Exchange and Study Abroad students: please see the Prospective Students website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
For more information about this course, please contact mw. dr. L.N.K. van Broekhoven.