Metodology of archaeology 2800-ZOMETO
Stressing the need of theoretical and methodological dispute in archaeology, the lecture shall present basic notions and concepts of the scientific methodology in general and in respect to archaeological research, its procedures and methods proposed by the historically formed paradigms, as applied on subsequent levels of the archaeological databases; the place of archaeology among the humanities and its connections to the exact sciences shall be discussed, and its cultural and social functions, with the part in protection and management of the cultural heritage.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student has an extended knowledge on/ability to:
- subjectmatter and methods of archeology, with its theoretical frames (according to various historically formed paradigms), and in respect to general methodology of sciences, in a scale enabling own methodological reflection;
- specific terminology/"language" of archaeological descriptions, interpretations and compilations, in relation to these of the humanities, as well as in respect to narrower archaeological subdisciplines;
- archaeological potential to create discourses on historical (sensu largo) processes, social organizations and cognitive aspects of the societies ranging from pre- and protohistory (with none or limited use of written sources) to the modern times;
- main paradigms of archaeology (from the evolutionist one to various postprocessual trends), with the last developments and concepts stressed, cognitive tools an research procedures formed therein (from a description to widely understood interpretation);
- variety of theoretic and metodological approaches, with the possible ideological background, as socially and culturally conditioning the archaeological research, and the ability to critically discuss them.
Assessment criteria
Evaluation method and criteria: exam (in writing), rendering the level of memorization of basic concepts and terminology; ability to construct (an exemplary) hypothesis, test implications for a theory (ca 20 questions, demanding a coherent answer – no “choice test”).
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: