Aims

At the end of this course, the student will be initiated to the methods used for archaeological field work and will understand the prospecting processes on archaeological excavation sites, from the preparation of the sites to the recording of facts.
At the end of the compulsory internship, the student will have gained experience in these undertakings

Main themes

To discover the importance of on site operations in archaeology.
To learn the archaeological preparation processes in the organization of an excavation site.
To differentiate between different methods of prospecting.
To differentiate between different excavation methods.
To set up the recording of files on the excavation sites.
To gain practical field experience.

Content and teaching methods

Contents
The course is an initiation to archaeological methods used in field work. It will successively consider the processes of archaeology, the organization of research, the preliminary investigations, the methods of prospecting, the methods of excavation, the recording of facts, and the interpretation of results. In the methods of prospecting, we will focus specifically on aerial, micro-regional, ground, and geophysical techniques. Archaeological field work is based on the choice of an excavation method and on the setting up of a system of topographic references. Excavation techniques are mainly clarified with reference to particular cases : pre-historical excavation, architectural excavation, excavation on perishable structures, excavation of cemeteries and churches, excavation in submerged environments, urban archaeology.
The course is completed by a compulsory on site internship.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Oral examination.
Detailed outline of the course.
Supervision by research staff for the internship.

Other credits in programs