Universität Wien
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090116 UE Antiquity in the Lab: Natural Sciences in Classical Archaeology (2024S)

UE aus Wissenschaftliche Praktiken

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Ort der beiden Märztermine: Abgusssammlung d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse/Philippovichgasse, 1190 Wien
Der Termin am 30.4. findet in der Sammlung des Geozentrum's UZA 2 statt!

  • Tuesday 05.03. 09:00 - 10:30 Ort in u:find Details
  • Tuesday 19.03. 09:00 - 10:30 Ort in u:find Details
  • Tuesday 16.04. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Tuesday 30.04. 09:00 - 12:00 Ort in u:find Details
  • Tuesday 14.05. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Tuesday 28.05. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Tuesday 04.06. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Tuesday 18.06. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The increased use of scientific methods has marked a significant development in archaeology in recent years. This interdisciplinary approach integrates techniques from the natural sciences, including chemistry, physics, biology, and geology, to extract more information from archaeological finds and features. Through the systematic application of "archaeological science" - for example in the form of 14C dating, aDNA, and isotope analyses - in the context of scientific work, a more precise chronological classification of archaeological objects, ancestral relationships, environmental conditions, and much more can be made for archaeological material.
This "Third Science Revolution" in archaeology represents a phase that is transforming the traditional methods of archaeological research through the increased use of modern technologies and interdisciplinary approaches and is part of current scientific discourse.

Aims
The course aims to provide an initial introduction to the research field of scientific methods in Classical Archaeology. The focus is on acquiring a basic knowledge of state-of-the-art methods.
Based on a presentation of different and applied methods in this interdisciplinary field of research, basic knowledge in dealing with subject-relevant scientific methods for archaeological questions should be acquired: These include both basic theoretical knowledge and practical experience in this field of research.
The exercise is divided into three parts:
- Theoretical basic concepts and presentation of subject-relevant scientific methods
- Independent and joint development of the content of current research
- Practical introduction to the use of selected methods

Contents
The content of the course includes the basics of scientific methods in archaeology as well as an in-depth study of selected chapters (based on the interests of the course participants). In addition, a differentiated approach to the methods and the resulting findings will be taught.
The scientific significance and information content of this research will be emphasized. Practical experience in dealing with the methods and topics presented in the course of the exercise is an important part of the course.

Methods
The methods include topic-related reading, independent work on individual topics, and guided practical work with finds.

Assessment and permitted materials

The performance assessment is based on the evaluation of three partial performances:
- Journal Club: short oral presentation and group work on a topic-related scientific article/book chapter (30%)
- Presentation of a selected case study of a scientific method - presentation topics will be announced in the first unit of the course (30%)
- Independent (reflective) written essay on the selected case study (40%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

In addition to regular and active attendance (a total of three absences is permitted), the following partial achievements will be taken into account:
- Short presentation of a scientific article/book chapter in the course of a journal club (30%, requirements will be presented in the course)
- Presentation of a short paper on a case study (30%, requirements will be presented in the course)
- Submission of the written essay of the selected case study (40%, requirements will be presented in the course)

Examination topics

The UE is inherent to the examination. The examination material covers all topics covered in the theoretical and practical parts of the course. The course materials are made available on Moodle.

Reading list

A first selection of introductory works:

S. Berry, Antike im Labor. Kleopatra, Ötzi und die modernen Naturwissenschaften (Darmstadt 2012).
T. E. Hall – W. Allibone, The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology. A joint symposium of the Royal Society and the British Academy. Organized by a committee under the chairmanship of T. E. Allibone (London 1970).
A. Hauptmann – V. Pingel (Hrsg.) Archäometrie: Methoden und Anwendungsbeispiele naturwissenschaftlicher Verfahren in der Archäologie (Stuttgart 2008).
C. Heitz, Wider die Krise? Archäologie nach der Postmoderne, Theorie | Archäologie | Reflexion 1, 2023, 167–218.
S. Judson, Perspectives: Archaeology and the Natural Sciences, American Scientist 49,3, 1961, 410–414.
K. Kristiansen, Towards a New Paradigm? The Third Science Revolution and its Possible Consequences in Archaeology, CSA 22,1, 2014, 11–34.
I. Liritzis (Hrsg.), Natural Sciences in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (Basel 2022).
B. Öğüt – B. Irvine – R. Braun – C. Jauß, Betwixt the Chairs. Some Thoughts and Case Studies Reflecting on Experiences of Cooperation between Archaeology and the Natural Sciences, in: A. Abar (Hrsg.), What does this have to do with archaeology? Essays on the occasion of the 65th birthday of Reinhard Bernbeck (Leiden 2023) 135–142.

Further literature will be announced on Moodle during the course.

Association in the course directory

Anrechenbar im Fachbereich der Klassischen Archäologie:
im BA: M12, M13;
im MA: PM3;

Last modified: Mo 22.04.2024 12:45