Universität Wien
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060064 VU Introduction to Environmental Archaeology (2020S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 6 - Ägyptologie, Judaistik, Urgeschichte und Historische Archäologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Due to the current situation, it is not possible to predict when the next classroom teaching event will take place. Please note the following changes.

Lectures: VU meetings will continue on Monday mornings at 09:00, using the chat application on Moodle. We will have our weekly discussion and answer questions from the lecture and readings. Student introduction of 1 session topic has been dropped. Weekly lecture notes and the powerpoint with audio commentary are uploaded to Moodle.

Assignments: Students will attend the weekly chat (or use the Forum if network connections fail). Written assignments are not changed.

Office hours: Students can schedule Skype or Google 'office hours' meetings with the instructor. Email or sms Salisbury to arrange a date and time. Wednesdays at 13:00 are best.

  • Monday 02.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 09.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 16.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 23.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 30.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 20.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 27.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 04.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 11.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 18.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 25.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 08.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 15.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 22.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Monday 29.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Summary:
This course introduces the key concepts and methods used in environmental archaeology, and gives students an informed understanding of the paleoenvironment as a contextual framework for research on archaeological and anthropological questions. Environmental archaeology is the study of human-environmental interactions, and the science of reconstructing past environments and the relationships between past societies and the environments they lived in. The relationship between humans and the environment is an ongoing concern for scientists, activists, politicians, and the public. Are humans over-using the earth’s resources and damaging the environment to the point of global collapse? One of the strengths of archaeology is the ability to study how humans have changed the environment, and how environments have in turn influenecd human societies, over thousands of years. Topics will include zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, paleoclimatology, geomorphology, and theories for interpreting human environmental relationships (e.g., Historical Ecology, resiliency, panarchy, and others).

Aims:
• Learn key concepts in environmental archaeology
• Gain an inter-disciplinary understanding of human-environmental interactions in past societies
• Be familiar with the use of multi-proxy approaches in the reconstruction of past environments
• Be familiar with sampling and analytical methods for generating environmental datasets
• Be familiar with theories and conceptual approaches for interpreting environmental datasets
• Develop critical thinking and writing skills with respect to Environmental Archaeology

Methods:
Lecture, readings, group discussions, written summaries, written paper

Assessment and permitted materials

Independent reading assignments.
Active participation in group discussions, including introducing 1 topic discussion question.
Individual written assignments (under guidance by instructor, 2 article summaries chosen by student and covering 2 separate methods or concepts; 1 research topic and bibliography; 1 written research paper c. 3000 words).
Course will be entirely in English.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are expected to attend all lectures (2x unexcused absence is permitted) and do weekly readings.
Participation in discussions (including presentation of 1 discussion topic) and completion of written assignments: 40%
Written article or book summaries (2): 20%
Submission of Individual Written Assignment (ca. 3000 words, 7 pages + tables, charts, references): 40%

Examination topics

Reading list

Core literature:
Dincauze, D.F., 2000. Environmental archaeology: principles and practice. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Reitz et al., 2008. Case Studies in Environmental Archaeology. Springer, New York.

Reitz & Shackley 2012. Environmental Archaeology. Springer, New York.

Selected literature (will be provided)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 21.03.2024 00:10