Prospectus

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Archaeological Science Specialisation Course: Archaeozoology

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

  • Admission to the MSc Archaeology programme Archaeological Sciences or admission to the RMSc Archaeology programme;

  • BA2 Bioarchaeology and Zoology courses or equivalent level in analytical skills (to be determined by the examinator).

Description

Archaeozoology is a wide discipline in terms of the diversity of animal remains that can be studied, the wide range of methods that can be applied to generate data, and the research questions that can be addressed.

This is a practical course where you will apply and expand the knowledge and skills gained in archaeozoology during the 2nd and 3rd years of the Bachelor Archaeology programme.
This course will complete the training at a more specialised level in order to investigate a broad spectrum of faunal remains from archaeological sites and assemblages.
New research methods will be addressed alongside more advanced aspects of the methods taught during the foundation courses of the bachelor.

Practicals and seminars (42 hours) will take place in block 2. You will receive collective and individual coaching during the course.

Course set-up

The practicals and seminars will take place in block 2 with the following structure (almost) every day:

  • 1 hour seminar or lecture;

  • 2 hours of practicals.

Course objectives

  • To deepen the knowledge on research methods and techniques and their application possibilities within archaeozoology;

  • Knowledge of the diversity and evolution of the different animal groups in the Quaternary;

  • Ability to determine and differentiate different groups of faunal remains;

  • Ability to use laboratory equipment, reference collections and scientific literature to identify faunal (sub)fossils;

  • Ability to sample, register, analyse and present archaeozoological data;

  • Ability to interpret a wide spectrum of faunal assemblages, reconstruct past faunal communities, palaeo-environment and draw conclusions about human/hominin activities;

  • Ability to participate in archaeozoological discussions and debates.

Timetable

Course schedule details can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button.

Mode of instruction

Individual and collective coaching and feedback based on:

  • Seminar-based introductory lectures;

  • Practical work;

  • Student-directed questions.

Course load

The total workload for this module is 140 hours (5 ec), broken down in the following way:

  • 7 x 2 hours of seminars/lectures (0,5 ec);

  • 35 x 2 hours of laboratory guided sessions (practicals) (2,5 ec);

  • 28 x 2 hours of individual work (reading, preparation, essay writing) (2 ec).

Assessment method

  • Laboratory scientific report (ca. 3,000 words (2 ec) based on/including the analyses from the practical assignments (100%).

A retake consists of the improvement of the report within 6 weeks after submission of the first version, but only if the attendance requirements have been met.

Assessment deadlines

All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button. To view the assessment deadline(s), make sure to select the course with a code ending in T and/or R.

All analyses and the report must be completed in block 2.
The report and final submission of assignments are to be handed in 2 weeks after the end of the course.

Reading list

To be provided by the examinator.

Registration

Registration in uSis is mandatory. You can register for this course until 5 days before the first class.

Registration in uSis automatically leads to enrollment in the corresponding Brightspace module. Therefore you do not need to enroll in Brightspace, but make sure to register for this course in uSis.

You are required to register for all lectures and tutorials well in time. The Administration Office registers all students for their exams, you are not required to do this in uSis.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact dr. L. (Laura) Llorente Rodriguez.

Remarks

Compulsory attendance.