Aegean settlements, settlement pattern and land use 2800-AKAEGEAN
This advanced course in Greek archaeology examines habitation sites and land use in the Aegean world during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Geographically, it focuses primarily on Thessaly, the Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete. Emphasis is placed on 1) the material remains of habitation and land use, and 2) the methods used to investigate them.
Each class explores a specific topic – e.g. Neolithic tell sites, agropastoral landscapes, water management, urbanism, Minoan palaces, Mycenaean palaces, patterns of movement – through a particular methodological lens. Students will thus engage with tools, technologies and methods such as satellite remote sensing, space syntax, geophysics, archaeobotany, geographical information systems, architectural analysis and surface survey, among others.
The course follows a guided reading format. Each week, students are required to read two to three articles provided in advance by the instructor, following guidelines given during the previous class. In class, the articles are discussed, and their main conclusions and methodologies are assessed in their context. Through this format, students will develop the ability to engage with scientific articles and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of various methodologies within the framework of Aegean archaeology.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
K_W01: Knowledge – the graduate knows and understands, to an advanced degree, the methods and theories of modern Aegean archaeology
K_W02: Knowledge – the graduate knows and understands, to an advanced degree, specific issues related to the study of patterns of habitation and land use in the Aegean world
K_W04: Knowledge – the graduate knows and understands advanced general knowledge of the material evidence related to settlements and land use in the Aegean world
K_W05: Knowledge – the graduate knows and understands, to an advanced degree, selected science methods that were used in the analysis of archaeological sources related to patterns of habitation and land use in the Aegean world
K_U05: Skills – the graduate is able to communicate in English using specialized concepts and terminology used in archaeology
K_U06: Skills – the graduate is able to participate in scientific debate on archaeological topics – present, evaluate and discuss different opinions and positions
K_K01: Social competencies – the graduate is ready to critically evaluate their knowledge of archaeology, the content of archaeological research and the materal history of Aegean societies
K_K02: Social competencies – the graduate is ready to recognize the role of knowledge and the need to seek expert opinion to solve theoretical and practical problems in archaeology.
Assessment criteria
Attendance is a prerequisite for credit. Students are allowed two unexcused absences per semester. Those with insufficient attendance will not be graded.
Active participation in class discussions is expected. To prepare for each class, students must read two to three articles assigned in advance. These readings will form the basis for both in-class discussion and written assignments.
Assessment will be based on:
- five written assignments (10% each, 50% in total): Over the course of the semester, students will submit five short essays (1000 words each, with a tolerance of ± 10%), based on the weekly readings. These essays should explore a methodological or theoretical issue raised in the readings, demonstrating students’ understanding and their ability to construct a scientific argument. Students are free to chooose the five weeks in which they submit their essays, depending on their interests. Essays must be submitted before the start of the relevant class. Late submissions will not be accepted, and missed essays will receive a grade of 0/10%. Specific expectations or potential lines of inquiry will be discussed orally during the previous class.
- final exam (50%): The final assessment will take the form of an oral exam, lasting 20 minutes (preceded by 20 minutes of preparation). Students will answer two or three questions drawn randomly from a list provided in advance. The exam will assess students’ ability to synthesise course material and reflect critically on methodological and theoretical issues discussed in class.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: