Course: Introduction to Archaeology

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Course title Introduction to Archaeology
Course code KHI/1UA
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
Course content
Lectures: 1. Introduction to the issuea - the subject and object of the studies; inclusion within the historical sciences; specialization in archeology; auxiliary archaeological disciplines - characteristics, possibilities of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary cooperation. 2. Definition of archaeological terms and terminology, types of archaeological sources, their characteristics, content and grading. 3. The principles of periodization and chronology,periodizational criteria, types of periodizations. Typology - its principles, results, criticism and possibilities of current use. Comparative methods in archeology, the principles of analogy, possibilities of usage of ethnographic parallels. 4. Experimental archeology. Methodology of dating - absolute and relative chronology. Contemporary scientific and technical methods of absolute chronology (radiometry, paleomagnetism, thermoluminescence, dendrochronology, pollen-spectra method ?). 5.-8. Outline of the development of methodology and of the history of archaeological research. 9. The structure of Czech and Moravian Archaeology - types of organizations operating in the domestic archeology, current role and hierarchy of archaeological institutions, communication between institutions, the role of archaeological institutions ? perspective. 10. Visit to selected regional archaeological workplace and to its conservation laboratory. 11.-12. Methods of laboratory processing of archaeological material. Characteristics of organic and anorganic materials in archeology. Methods of preservation of individual materials (clay, pottery, stone, metal, bone, wood, textiles, leather, glass, etc.). AD seminars : First Types of information sources in archeology and archaeological library Second Basic archaeological journals and books (1 ) 3rd Basic archaeological journals and books (2 ) 4th Basic archaeological journals and literature (3 ) 5th Used forms of literature citations , finding reports and sources 6th Used forms of literature citations , finding reports and sources - practice 7th When compiling archaeological papers , lectures , studies, articles and reviews. 8th Search Methods analogies and application forms springs. 9th The possibility of using the available archaeological database system ( SAS , Archive , Demus ?) 10th Visit selected regional archaeological site and its conservation laboratory. 11 to 12 Sample and test procedures for each laboratory processing of archaeological material .

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
Learning outcomes
Introduction into the problematics. Acknowledgement with the subject of the archeological studies and with the archeological paradigm. Terminology. Development of the archeological metodology. Typology. Methods of dating. Experimental archeology. Citation forms. Formal principes of the special archeologist literature. Characteristics of organic and anorganic materials. Ways of conservation. Inventarization.
Orientation in the problematics of archeological work and in the development of the habitation since the oldest times until the early middle-ages. AD
Prerequisites
The basic overview of the methods of archeology and in the prehistorical and protohistorical development of Europe. AD

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Student performance, Didactic Test, Seminar Work

Active presence in the lectures and fulfilling of the tasks. AD
Recommended literature
  • Kuna, M. ed. (2007). Archeologie pravěkých Čech 1. Pravěký svět a jeho poznání.. Praha.
  • Podborský, V. (2006). Dějiny pravěku a rané doby dějinné. Skripta FF MU v Brně.. Brno.
  • Sklenář, K. (2005). Biografický slovník českých, moravských a slezských archeologů.. Praha.
  • více autorů. (2007). Archeologie pravěkých Čech 1-7.. Praha.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Archeology (2015) Category: History courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter