Greek Archaeology

Teacher(s)

Vanden Broeck-Parant Jean;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Prerequisites

/

Main themes

The course discusses problematic issues and specific problems of interpretation in relation with the use of archaeological sources for the reconstruction of social and political relations of the Iron Age Greek world (continental Greece, islands, Asia Minor, Magna Graecia) and the input art has on this reconstruction.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Advanced course for archaeologists specialising in Greek Mediterranean archaeology. The aim is to develop a critical sense and analytical methods of material culture. Application of theoretical and anthropological concepts in archaeological interpretation.

Content

The course will address various archaeological questions of the Greek Iron Age, with a focus on the ways in which material culture can shed light on the social relations and institutions of the period. The major phenomena witnessed during the Iron Age (in particular the advent of the polis and of regional and panhellenic sanctuaries, as well as migrations) will be investigated in the light of current methodologies and approaches. A large portion will be devoted to the exploration of scientific debates and arguments regarding the interpretation of the archaeological remains, including the ways in which the latter compare to the literary evidence. The period will be considered diachronically, with a particular focus on the continuities, interruptions and transformations in the practices (funerary, cultual) and material culture (style and technique). Both the common features and the discrepancies between the various regions of the Greek world will be addressed.

Teaching methods

The course will unfold in two ways: 1) lectures with visual support in the form of PowerPoints, which will be uploaded regularly on Moodle after the classes, and 2) one or more interactive parts at every session, in which the students will take an active part (discussions, debates, group exercises). The interactive parts will on occasion need a preparation by the students prior to the class, and will include discussions on the progress of their work.
Speakers from the UCLouvain or from external institutions may occasionally give presentations.

Evaluation methods

The assessment will be based in equal parts (30%) on a written essay, an oral presentation of this essay, and an oral exam in session, with 10% devoted to participation in the class (presence and engagement in the discussions).
The written essay will be presented as an individual scientific dissertation on a specific topic chosen in consultation with the teacher, of 6.000 words maximum (without the bibliography). It can be written in French or in English. The assessment of this essay will be based on the scientific quality of the work, its methodological approach and its originality.
The oral presentation in the classroom – in English or in French – will present the stakes and the results of the written essay and will be followed by a discussion. The clarity and the didactic qualities of the presentation, as well as the mastering of the topic, will serve as bases for the assessment.
The oral exam will assess what the student will have learned from the lectures (including the speakers’ and the students’ presentations), as well as their reasining capacities regarding questions that have been – or have not been – addressed in class.

Bibliography

Bibliographie en ligne sur Moodle.

Faculty or entity

EHAC