6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1019846BNW for working students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics
Educational team
Ralf Vandam (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
65 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In this programme unit, students will learn about diverse aspects of fieldwork that are current in archaeological research.

In this class we will discuss:

- the organisation of archaeology in Belgium, with reference to the Malta Treaty and relevant legislation

- the most common survey methods (including desktop analysis)

- trench and excavation techniques, including application to a number of frequent types of traces and contexts

- aspects of record-keeping (photography, drawings, GIS, etc.)

- archaeological find conservation

- archaeological depots and  the passive preservation of archaeological remains on the ground in collaboration with Ename Heritage Center.

Naturally the course also includes some field experience. Students will complete a five-day practical training experience on an archaeological excavation, when they will carry out a number of fieldwork exercises including excavation and recording.  This takes place on an existing archaeological site. This fieldschool takes place in the second semester.

It is possible that the fieldtrips will result in moderate extra costs for the students that are not covered by the university (transport and eventually stays).

 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Powerpointpresentaties en nota's te nemen door de student
Handbook (Recommended) : The Archaeologist's Fieldwork Companion, B.A. Kipfer, Blackwel, 9781405118866 , 2023
Additional info

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Learning Outcomes

General competencies

D1: The student knows the regulations in Flanders regarding archaeological fieldwork

D2: The student has insights into the current prospection and excavation methods and knows in which circumstances which methods can be apply and which not.

D3: The student has an understanding of the planning, registration and analysis of an archaeological field project

D4: The student learns the practical application of the core skills of archaeological fieldwork.

disciplinespeciefieke competen

The course aims to teach a number of techniques and practices
that the archaeologist must master for fieldwork (detection, evaluation, investigation) and to show the contribution of the sciences in the detection, recording, preservation and analysis of archaeological remains and
their context.
    This should form the basis for the further development of fieldwork
skills and practical experience. (profession)
Students will be able to make responsible choices in an archaeological project during the fieldwork and scientific processing, and will be able to justify their approach. The students should be able to evaluate the potential contribution of scientific disciplines and discuss them sensibly.
 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 25% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

    Note: Binnen de categorie Examen Mondeling dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:
    Mondeling examen met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 75% van het totale eindcijfer.
    Theoretisch examen: mondeling (met schriftelijke voorbereiding)
    De tweede zittijd is een nieuw examen

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Stage with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

    Note: Binnen de categorie Praktijkopdrachten dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:
    Stage met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 25% van het totale eindcijfer.

Additional info regarding evaluation
The examination is twofold:
1) Participation in the field school, and practice of several exercises (measurements, drawing,...) will be assessed based on effort and progress. Additionally, students are expected to submit a report after the field school, which will contribute to the overall evaluation. Absence from the mandatory field school without justification or notification will result in an Absent code for the entire course.
2) An oral examination centered around a case study that integrates knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses.
A new examination is set in the second examination period, during which the attendance of the field school and the result of part 1 from the first examination period are carried over.
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Minor Minor Human Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: minor Social Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Profile Profile Art Studies and Archaeology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Art Studies and Archaeology: Profile Profile Archaeological Science (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Arts in Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Arts in Art Studies and Archaeology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)