Excavation methods and archaeological site management: excavation course [LARTB314]

Learning outcomes

Introduction to field archaeology through practice.

Objectives

The excavation course, which complements the LARTB213 course "Excavation methods and site management", aims to offer a first field experience to future archaeologists and heritage professionals. It aims to introduce students to the field practice of subsoil archaeology through participation in an excavation site in real conditions, and to open up to methodological and scientific reflection as well as to teamwork

Content

The student is invited to participate in a fortnight of excavations on a site organised by UNamur during the month of July (school site) or to propose another site/place of internship to the professor, in which case an internship agreement is signed between the parties. The internship should preferably be carried out directly in the summer following block 2 so that the date of submission of the final mark, after correction of the report, does not lead to a postponement of the session at the end of block 3. In addition to the excavation of archaeological remains, students will participate in the stratigraphic, photographic, graphic or photogrammetric and topographic recording (use of a total station) as well as the collection and packaging of archaeological material. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the questioning of archaeological structures, their chronology and their interpretation. The internship is followed by the writing of a report which will include, like a real excavation report, an introduction to the site and its contextualisation, an overview of the scientific issues at stake and the excavation methods, as well as a description of the excavated structures and the material that came from them, their chronological attribution and interpretation, a conclusion and a bibliography. The report should preferably be illustrated by photos, plans or any other useful document. Contact: fanny.martin@unamur.be