Admission requirements
Admission to one of the MSc or MA programmes of the Faculty of Archaeology (this course is open to all MA and MSc students).
Description
Objects are intimately connected with the social and ideational aspects of society. The course will start with some introductory lectures on central concepts in material culture theory, focusing on raw material procurement, production techniques, use and discard.
For each stage in the artefact’s trajectory, current theoretical concepts and analytical approaches will be discussed. The second half of the course deals with a current theme in material culture studies on which the literature, presentations and discussion will be focused. In 2015-2016 this will be ‘craft’.
Course objectives
Insight into the various research questions that can be asked regarding the meaning of material culture for past societies;
Knowledge of the various theoretical concepts that are important in material culture studies and ability to discuss them in a critical manner;
Basic knowledge of the analytical techniques available to operationalise these concepts, especially regarding the reconstruction of the life history of artefacts;
Ability to apply the concepts to a case study related to the central theme of the course, craft, and present this in class.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the MA time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Introductory lectures;
Seminar.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
…
Assessment method
Presentation (30%);
Paper (70%).
All exam dates (exams, re-sits, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the examination schedule.
Reading list
A. Jones, “Archaeometry and Materiality. Materials-based Analysis in Theory and Practice” (2004), in: Archaeometry 46(3), 327-338;
D. Stout, “Skill and Cognition in Stone Tool Production; An Ethnographic Case Study from Irian Jaja” (2002), in: Current Anthropology, 43, 693-722;
Articles on craft (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.
Exchange and Study Abroad students: please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Registration ‘Contractonderwijs’
All information (costs, registration, entry requirements etc.) for those who are interested in taking this course as a Contractstudent is on the Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpage (in Dutch).
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact prof. dr. A.L. van Gijn.