Postgraduate Course: Archaeomaterials Analysis (PGHC11596)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course offers practical and academic skills training for the archaeometric analysis of inorganic artifacts from across archaeological and historical contexts. It covers, at an advanced level, a range of scientific approaches to studying glass, metals, ceramics, pigments and lithics from archaeological contexts, including use-wear analysis, optical microscopy, mineralogical and geochemical analyses. The course provides a detailed background in a range of core archaeomaterials research methods and how these are applied to real-world archaeological questions. The course provides a sound background for conducting further materials research projects in archaeology and the museums sector. |
| Course description |
This course explores, at an advanced level, archaeometric approaches to the analysis of inorganic artifacts. Students will develop a solid background in concepts and theories regarding the scientific study of inorganic objects, including glass, metals, pigments, ceramics, and lithics. Key themes that will be investigated include the reconstruction of artifact production methods, ways in which artifacts were used, identifying source materials used, distinguishing between mineralogical and geochemical signatures in artifact raw materials, and identifying the provenance of raw materials. Weekly lectures cover different artifact groups, discussing common methods utilised to address these themes.
Course materials will be taught through lectures followed by seminars in which students participate in group discussions. Separate PGT seminars start in week 4 and will cover additional readings and allow students to practice their presentation skills. There will be three on-campus practicals offering students hands-on training in the analysis of artifacts (1. Macro-trace and use-wear analysis, 3. Optical microscopy/thin-section analysis, 3. GeoSciences laboratories visit). The course will offer a solid practical and theoretical grounding in archaeomaterials research, furthering students' core archaeological skillset.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must have progressed to PGT. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Archaeology courses at Grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course ** |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 9 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 16,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework:
1000 review essay (30%)
Science poster (c. 1000 words + 500 word appendix) (50%)
Non-written skills:
PowerPoint presentation (8 slides) (20%) |
| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser during their published office hours for this course or by appointment. The review essay will be due mid-semester, and feedback delivered before the deadline of the poster. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Conduct independent reading, participate in group discussions and small-group autonomous learning
- Plan and develop critical review and a science poster of a case-study in the field of archaeomaterials analysis
- Interpret and reflect critically on archaeometric approaches regarding the study of inorganic artifacts
- Have basic skills in the analysis of minerals under the microscope
- Have basic skills in the analysis of micro-traces of production and use of lithics and ceramics
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Reading List
Bishop, Ronald L., Robert L. Rands, and George R. Holley (1982). "Ceramic compositional analysis in archaeological perspective." Advances in archaeological method and theory. Academic Press, 1982. 275-330.
Duckworth, C. N. (2019). "Latest advancements in the application of analytical science to ancient and historical glass production." UISPP Journal 2.2: 99-110.
Hein, Anno, and Vassilis Kilikoglou (2020) "Ceramic raw materials: how to recognize them and locate the supply basins: chemistry." Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 12.8: 180.
Henderson, Julian (2013). The science and archaeology of materials: an investigation of inorganic materials. Routledge, 2013
Hunt, Alice. (2016) The Oxford Handbook of Archaeological Ceramic Analysis, Oxford Handbooks (online edn, Oxford Academic, 10 Jan. 2017), https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199681532.001.0001
Pearce, Mark (2016). "Archaeology and archaeometallurgy: Some unresolved areas in the interpretation of analytical data." STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research 2.1 (2016): 46-53.
Pollard, A. Mark, Ruth Ann Armitage, and Cheryl A. Makarewicz, eds. (2023). Handbook of archaeological sciences. John Wiley & Sons. Section 7: Scientific Studies of Inorganic Resources in Archaeology -- Overview of Current Status and Prospects
Quinn, Patrick Sean (2013). "Ceramic petrography: the interpretation of archaeological pottery & related artefacts in thin section." Ceramic Petrography: 1-260.
Rice, Prudence M. (2015). Pottery analysis: a sourcebook. Chicago: University of Chicago press.
Siddall, Ruth (2018). "Mineral pigments in archaeology: their analysis and the range of available materials." Minerals 8.5: 1-35.
Van Gijn, Annelou (2008). "Toolkits and technological choices at the Middle Neolithic site of Schipluiden, The Netherlands." Prehistoric technology 40: 217-25.
Van Gijn, AnneLou (2014). "Science and interpretation in microwear studies." Journal of Archaeological science 48: 166-169. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Gather and critically assess relevant information
Develop a reasoned argument, support it with relevant evidence, and communicate it appropriately and persuasively
Fine tune an understanding of the methods and skills involved in academic research
Develop a solid grounding in archaeomaterials analyses |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Beatrijs De Groot
Tel:
Email: Beatrijs.de.Groot@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Claire Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: cbrown20@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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