Course: Methods of Interdisciplinary research

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Course title Methods of Interdisciplinary research
Course code KHI/7MIV
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Peřinová Markéta
  • Nováček Karel, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction - characteristics of interdisciplinary cooperation. 2. Anthropology. 3. Archaeobotanics. 4. Archaeozoology. 5. Pedology. 6. Geology. 7. Petroarchaeology. 8. Paleometalurgy. 9. Traseology. 10. Chemistry. 11. Non-destructive methods of archaeological research. 12.-13. Methods of absolute dating.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
  • Attendace - 26 hours per semester
  • Preparation for the Exam - 30 hours per semester
  • Semestral Work - 60 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
Contemporary archaeology cannot work without help and cooperation of other, mostly natural sciences. Part of the lecture will be model of ideal composition of research team with involvement, resp. introduction of the most important/used fields of study for archaeology. It is possible to divide them into bio- and geoarchaeological groups, to enable us to analyse positively captured immovable and movable objects or artefacts, but also quite detailed and extensive reconstruction of natural environment of people (environmental archaeology) with analysis through collection of samples, e.g. sediments, its washing, chemical analysis etc. It includes anthropology, with paleopathology (and parasitology) and manifestation of stress and load on human bones, nutrition habits, migration, paleogenetics (aDNA) and relation. Similarly animal osteological material (paleozoolgy) again together with isotop archaeology. Paleoecological (environmental) research covers vast area of archaebotanics, palynology, antrakology, xytology, including chemical analysis of sediments. From geoarchaeological fields archaeology uses geology, geochemistry, micromorphology, petroarchaeology, paleometalurgy etc. Interdisciplinary research also includes non-destructive methods as geophysics and distance research as air prospects and also methods of absolute dating (radiocarbon, dendrochronology). This course is directly followed by Special practice on Interdisciplinary research.
Good knowledge of modern methods of interdisciplinary research and ways of its application.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of auxiliary and marginal disciplines and options of interdisciplinary cooperation in archaeology based on BA courses Introduction to archaeology studies, Theories of archaeological research and Selection Lectures from Interdisciplinary disciplines. Course is followed by Special practice on Interdisciplinary research.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Seminar Work

Recommended literature
  • Hložek M. (2008). Encyklopedie moderních metod v archeologii. Praha.
  • Renfrew, C. ? Bahn, P. (1996). Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. London-New York.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester