course-details-portlet

ARK1002

Cultural History and Material Culture

Choose study year
Credits 22.5
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Spring 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Home examination

About

About the course

Course content

The course has an emphasis on Norway and the Nordic countries. It is based on material culture as a point of departure for understanding cultural history, and starts with an introduction to contemporary archaeology and the material culture of the present. Then the course moves backwards in time, through historical archaeology and towards the stone age and the pioneer settlement of the Scandinavian area. Hands-on courses on archaeological materials and field trips to various parts of Central Norway is included in the course, through which materials and artefacts, landscape, cultural heritage and the long lines in history are examined.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has passed the course is expected to have the following learning outcomes according defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The candidate

  • Has broad knowledge of Nordic cultural history seen from a European perspective, from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and early historical age and has an overview of the source material from these periods
  • Has complementary knowledge of archaeological relics, processes, morphology and raw materials, material types and conservation
  • Has a broad overview of methods of analysis of archaeological objects

Skills

The candidate

  • Can describe and discuss current topics in Nordic cultural history from the Stone Age to the present age, and see the Nordic cultural area in a wider context
  • Can recognize, date and analyze archaeological relics, as well as distinguish between natural and man-made objects.

Learning methods and activities

The course instruction is provided in the form of lectures, seminars, material course, field work/excursions and exercises. The course assessment consists of a written exam and a home assignment, which are weighted respectively 30/70.

Mandatory activities: Prior to sitting for the exams, the students must attend a minimum of 3/4 of the teaching. 2 written assignments must be completed in order to take the exams.

Compulsory assignments

  • 2 written exercises
  • 75% attendance

Further on evaluation

Both the written exam and homework must be passed in the same semester. A grade is given on the individual parts before an overall grade is set. For the course to be passed, both exam parts must be graded passed. In case of failure, both parts must be taken again.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Archaeology (BARK)

Required previous knowledge

Requires admission to the B.A. in Archaeology or Cultural Heritage. Requires a pass grade in ARK1001 or equivalent approved course.

Course materials

A reading list containing information about textbooks and aids is published each semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
ARK1112 7.5 sp Autumn 2015
ARK1113 7.5 sp Autumn 2015
ARK1114 7.5 sp Autumn 2015
ARK1115 15 sp Autumn 2015
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.