Archaeology: scientific methods and practice I

larke1140  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

Archaeology: scientific methods and practice I
Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
5 credits
30.0 h
Q1 and Q2
Teacher(s)
Driessen Jan; Verslype Laurent;
Language
French
Main themes
The methodology of the study of an archaeological artefact or artwork (documentation, contextualization) ; description ; introduction to graphic documentation (photography, drawing). Learning and using the specialised vocabulary adequately in the fields of archeology and art history.

Introduction to heuristic and bibliographic standards. Reading and writing a scientific essay on an archaeological topic.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 Ability in using the adequate vocabulary in archeology and art history, in accomplishing a methodical research on an archaeological topic, in compiling a pertinent bibliography reported following the common standards. Ability in writing a descriptive, analytical and contextualized essay on an archaeological site or object, including typology, iconology and esthetic. Ability to illustrate a scientific report.
 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
How to use adequately the vocabulary in the archaeology and history of art ?
Where to find the useful sources and bibliography ?
How to set up a bibliographical list and how to refere to it ?
How to describe and analyze an archaeological artefact or an artwork (description, documentation, state of the art, compared study).
Writing, illustrating and presenting an resarch essay.
Teaching methods
Alternate theoretical courses and supervised practical work sessions, two excursions and visits (sites, labs and/or museums).  Individual practical exercises.

Material : syllabus, personal notes, power point files and handouts.
Evaluation methods
Evaluation steps :
a) continued assessment (5 intermediate works over the two semesters) ;
b) final written research essay and its oral public presentation in May ;
c) two written exams : one at the end of each term, on the practical work sessions and the courses delivered.

Each of those represents :
a) 30%
b) 35% (10% and 25% respectively for the oral presentation and the final written essay)
c) 35% (20%, intermediate examination in January and 15%, final exam in June).

The student who has not presented its final essay, either oral or written, may be refused at the final exam.
In case of failure at the intermediate exam in January (15%), the student presents a full exam (35 %) in June. Third session in August : full exams only.
If the global grade of the final essay is lower than 50%, a new written version must be submitted in August (35%). If the global grade of the continued assessment is lower than 50%, a single alternative work will be required in August (30%). If the student failed in both the continued assessment and the final essay, the alternative work will represent up to 65% of the grade.
Online resources
Moodle: calendar, notes, syllabus handouts ...
Bibliography
Syllabus « Introduction à la pratique scientifique en archéologie, histoire de l'art et musicologie »
Faculty or entity
ARKE


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Bachelor in History of Art and Archaeology : General