UCL - Introduction to Scientific Practice in Archaeology

[ARKE1232]

[37.5h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st & 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Eric De Waele

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods

Aims

By the end of this course, students should be able to conduct a scientific examination of archeological and art documents.

Main themes

There are four main elements to this course:
- Increase students' vocabulary in the fields of Archeology and Art History and improve their mastery of bibliographic reference systems (a process begun in ARKE 1411 in BAC 1).
- Improve students' methodological approaches to studying archeological and art objects by extending their range of working tools (a process also begun in ARKE 1411 in BAC 1).
- Give students maximum contact with real works of art and objects.
- Introduce students to the activities and achievements of the professional world of Archeology and Art History

Content and teaching methods

This course provides students with a general methodology for analysing works of art and archeological objects. This includes teaching them heuristics, criteriology, writing, illustrating and presenting. It also introduces them to specific methodologies centred primarily on the Auxiliary Sciences, including internal and external criticism, questions of authenticity, chronology, context and typology of archeological and art records. Emphasis is placed on independent thinking and critical observation.