Environmental Archaeology and its methods

The course is offered as an elective course within the programme H2MAS, Master in Archaeological Sciences.

Admission to the course requires a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology or the equivalent of 180 higher education credits of which 90 credits within the disciplines of Archaeology or Classical Studies and Ancient History

The course provides an in-depth knowledge in environmental archaeology to develop critical knowledge of principles, and practical knowledge of main laboratory methods. The course will teach methods in documentation as well as sampling and analyzing the environmental records in order to address archaeological problems. Laboratory teaching will be accomplished of multiscale analyses environmental records, including description of soil/plant material and determination of physic and chemical properties to the study of microfossils under the microscope.

The course consists of two modules:

1. Principles and practices, 5 credits

The module introduces key principles of environmental archaeology and provides an overview of field and laboratory practices.

2. Environmental archaeological laboratory methods,10 credits

This module provides in-dept learning of key laboratory methods for the analysis of soil and plant materials. Students will acquire practical skills in sorting and recording environmental samples, physical and chemical analyses of samples, and microscopy techniques for the study macro- and microscopic remains. The students will develop a project by conducting analysis of materials and writing a report. The course coordinator will provide a list of topics and materials for students to choose from and work on.

Knowledge and understanding

-describe current methods in environmental archeology

-show acquaintance with the nature of environmental records and discuss the conditions of preservation of the plant remain and soil samples

-define and summarize the analytical methods and their applications in archaeology

Competence and skills

-sorting and recording plant remain and soil samples

-independently interpret and present the results of the environmental archaeological laboratory work

-discuss archaeological approaches to different scientific methods on plant material and soil samples

Judgement and approach

-critically relate to scientific methods and applications to the source material

-evaluate environmental archaeology methods and results in different archaeological explanatory models

-identify research problems in archaeology and other disciplines that can be solved using an environmental archaeological approach

Teaching takes place in the form of mandatory lectures, laboratory practical sessions and group works.

The course is assessed through individual writing assignments, mandatory project work, and oral presentations in group activities. Absence during these moments will require additional complementary assignments. If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The course has a 6-point grading scale:
A Excellent, B Very Good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, F Fail

At the end of the course, students are given the opportunity to complete a course evaluation. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.