Advances in analytical methods for archaeological ceramics 2800-EN-ME0-SPEC-ADV
. Ceramics in contemporary archaeological discourse
II. Standardization of macroscopic description, archaeological drawing, and its digitization
Including the operation of a Laser Aided Profiler.
III. Introduction to the petrography of archaeological ceramics
IV. The production and distribution of ceramics: chaîne opératoire
• Clay procurement and preparation of the ceramic paste.
• Vessel forming.
• Kilns and production centers.
• Distribution and consumption.
V. The importance of ceramics in archaeological dating
• Contextual dating.
• The construction of chrono-typologies.
• The role of typology in the context of the development of AI tools.
• Dating methods: OSL and TL.
VI. Archaeometric methods in the ceramicist’s toolkit: XRF and XRD
• Provenance and technological studies.
• Data analysis and processing.
• Statistical tests and visualization of results.
VII. Ceramics in a stratigraphic context
• Relative and absolute dating.
• Residuality and fragmentation.
• Ceramics as indicators of community identity and site function.
VIII. Ceramics in surface survey
• Documentation and interpretation of surface finds.
• Ceramic distribution and settlement transformations.
• The impact of post-depositional processes.
IX. Ceramics as a mass material
• Database construction.
• Quantification methods.
• Modelling ceramic data: big data.
X. Ceramics, culinary traditions, and dietary change
• Vessel function and form.
• Ceramics in relation to archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data.
• Residue analysis.
XI. Ceramics and the economic structure of a site
• Interpretation of the structure of ceramic assemblages.
XII. Long-distance trade and the significance of imported ceramics
Assessment
• Attendance and active participation in classes: 40%.
• Preparation of a macroscopic and petrographic description, together with a drawing, of a selected vessel: 30%.
• Discussion over the selected article: 30%.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
The student:
• knows the terminology and concepts used in the study of archaeological ceramics (K_W02);
• has basic knowledge of the role and significance of ceramics in contemporary archaeological discourse (K_W03);
• has an organized general knowledge of contemporary theories in ceramic studies (K_W04);
• has basic knowledge of the connections between ceramic studies and other scientific disciplines in the natural and exact sciences, such as petrography, geochemistry, and materials-science statistics (K_W06);
• knows, understands, and can correctly apply various methods for analysing, documenting, and interpreting ceramic material (K_W09);
• has basic knowledge of methods for documenting ceramic material (K_W10).
Learning outcomes
Knowledge (K_W02, K_W03, K_W04, K_W06, K_W09, K_W10):
The student:
• knows the basic terminology of ceramic studies and methodology;
• has basic knowledge of the role of ceramics in archaeological discourse;
• knows the theoretical foundations of petrographic and archaeometric analyses;
• understands the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary ceramic research;
• knows methods for describing, documenting, and analysing ceramic material.
Skills (K_U03, K_U04, K_U10, K_U12):
The student:
• can select and apply appropriate methods for documenting and analysing ceramics;
• possesses research skills enabling the analysis and interpretation of ceramic assemblages;
• can use ceramics to reconstruct the chronology and function of a context;
• can independently identify and categorize ceramic fabrics;
• can describe the technological stages of production and construct a typology.
Social competencies (K_K03, K_K04, K_K06):
The student:
• understands the significance of ceramic material for research into the human past;
• can identify research problems associated with the analysis of large ceramic assemblages and select appropriate methods for processing them;
• is aware of the interpretative complexity of ceramics as an archaeological source;
• recognizes the role of ceramics in socio-economic and cultural analyses.