course-details-portlet

ARK3002

Methods of Field Archaeology, Curating and Interpretation

Choose study year
Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2024
Duration 2 semesters
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Home examination and assignment

About

About the course

Course content

The course provides practical and theoretical skills with regard to the implementation and management of archaeological projects. This involves excavations and surveys, with the choice of research questions and methods, as well as understanding the procedures of cultural heritage priorities and regulations.

Students also get practical experience with day to day leadership, publicity, infrastructure and management of equipment and human resources; field conservation, field documentation, and collecting and cataloging objects and samples. Students gain practical experience with how archaeological field observations, artifacts, samples and documentation is archived, and are trained to analyze a wide range of landscapes through field trips.

The course includes an excursion abroad, where the students get acquainted with a variety of cultural traces that puts our own cultural heritage in perspective.

Learning outcome

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

Knowledge

The candidate

  • Has broad knowledge of various forms of archaeological field operations with associated knowledge theory, practical planning, survey forms and documentation ways
  • Has advanced knowledge of the most common forms of archaeological traces, object types and features.

Skills

The candidate

  • Has practical and theoretical skills in planning, implementation and management of archaeological field work problematizing, choice of relevant methods.
  • Has understanding in the procedures of cultural heritage priorities and regulations; publicity, infrastructure, equipment and human resources, field conservation, field documentation, collecting and cataloging of objects and samples.
  • Has practical experience of how archaeological field observations, artifacts, samples and documentation is registered and archived.
  • Has practical exercise in analyzing a wide range of cultural traces in varied landscapes through field trips and field exercises.

Learning methods and activities

The course includes field exercises, field trips and courses in recording, excavation techniques and field management. The first field course (fall) focuses on recognition and registration. The second field course (spring) is related to excavations. A minimum of 3/4 attendance on both theoretical lectures and field exercises / excursions / field leadership. Report from the registration course (fall) must be approved before the candidate can attend exam (spring).

Compulsory assignments

  • Written report from excursion (fall).
  • The students are required to attend a minimum of 75 % of the theoretical lectures and 75% of the field assignments

Further on evaluation

The candidate is tested with a written exam and a written report from the field course (spring) of which both must be passed the same semester.

Specific conditions

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

Required previous knowledge

Requires admission to the Master's programme in Archaeology. The course has restricted admission.

Course materials

The required reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
HFARK310 15 sp Autumn 2015
HFARK320 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.

Subject areas

  • Archaeology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Historical and Classical Studies