ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 2 Expository Class: 32 Interactive Classroom: 16 Total: 50
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: History
Areas: Archaeology
Center Faculty of Geography and History
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
1. To provide a rational and critical understanding of humanity's past through comprehensive instruction in the procedures and techniques that archaeology can use in any period, culture, and territory to obtain information about past societies. This knowledge will help students recognize and select the most appropriate techniques and procedures for solving historical problems.
2. To acquire a basic understanding of the main methods, techniques, and instruments of historical/archaeological analysis, particularly highlighting those most closely related to the professional activities to which a degree in History provides access.
3. To explain the past through the study of its archaeological, documentary, or artistic remains. The goal is to be able to do so later in different environments, such as teaching, working in public knowledge dissemination centers such as museums, archives, or public and private archaeological and tourism heritage companies.
4. To organize, sort, define, or synthesize information from archaeological, documentary, or bibliographic sources to work in any private archive, public or private administration, or as a documentalist.
TOPIC 1. Introduction to archaeological practice: legal and practical aspects
1.1. Legislative framework and the concept of heritage and archaeological zone
1.2. The practice of archaeology
1.3. Situations in which archaeological activity can be carried out
1.4. Agents involved in archaeological activity
1.5. Work environment and types of archaeological activities: field and laboratory
1.6. Definition of archaeological activities according to Galician regional legislation
1.7. Phases of archaeological work
1.8. Standards that must be followed in archaeological activity
TOPIC 2. The formation of the archaeological record
2.1. Definition of the archaeological record
2.2. Definition of an archaeological site
2.3. Elements and components of the archaeological record
2.4. Types of sites and classification criteria. The functional criterion
2.5. The Formation of the Archaeological Record: Formation Processes and Postdepositional Processes
2.6. Principles that determine and allow for understanding the processes of formation of the archaeological record
2.7. Postdepositional mechanisms that affect the archaeological record
2.8. Environmental conditions for good preservation of the archaeological record
2.9. The process of formation of a site through an example
TOPIC 3. Territorial Reconnaissance in Archaeology
3.1. Introduction to archaeological territorial reconnaissance
3.2. Surface Prospecting
3.3. Ground Clearing
3.4. Conditions for Perceptibility of the Archaeological Record
3.5. Prospecting Techniques (1): Macrospatial Scale
3.6. Prospecting Techniques (2): Geophysical, Thermal, and Chemical
3.7. Recording Information
TOPIC 4. Archaeological Excavation
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Excavation Techniques
4.3. Geology and Archaeology
4.4. Stratigraphy and Stratification
4.5. Stratigraphic Archaeology
4.6. Recording During Excavation: Introduction
4.7. Documenting the Archaeological Record
4.8. Recording and Processing Samples
4.9. Recording and Processing Materials
TOPIC 5. Chronology and Dating Methods
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Archaeological Dating Methods
5.3. Absolute Dating Methods
5.4. Calibration
5.5. Relative Dating Methods
5.6. Which Dating Method to Choose, Working with Examples
TOPIC 6. Archaeometry and Bioarchaeology
6.1. Preliminary Theoretical Considerations and research lines
6.2. Morphological Archaeometric Techniques
6.3. Compositional Archaeometric Techniques
6.4. Bioarchaeology: Archaeobotany
6.5. Bioarchaeology: Zooarchaeology
6.6. Bioarchaeology: Osteoarchaeology or Biological Anthropology
6.7. Geoarchaeology
TOPIC 7. Conservation and Dissemination of Archaeological Heritage - Other Archaeologies
7.1. Conservation of Archaeological Heritage
7.2. Public Archaeology
7.3. Experimental Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology
7.4. Forensic Archaeology
7.5. Ethics in Archaeology
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
DOMINGO, I.; BURKEY, H.; SMITH, C. 2007. Manual de campo del arqueólogo. Barcelona: Ariel Prehistoria
GARCÍA SANJUÁN, L. 2005. Introducción al reconocimiento y análisis arqueológico del territorio. Barcelona: Ariel Prehistoria
GRANT, J.; GORIN, S.; FLEMING, N. 2002. The archaeology coursebook. An introduction to study skills, topics and methods. New York:Routledge
GONZÁLEZ RUIBAL, A. y AYÁN VILA, X. 2018: Arqueología. Una introducción al estudio de la materialidad del pasado. Madrid.
HARRIS, E. C. 1991. Principios de estratigrafía arqueológica. Barcelona:Crítica
MACINTOSH, J. 1987. Guía práctica de arqueología. Madrid:Hermann Blume
RENFREW, C.; BAHN, P. 1998. Arqueología. Teoría, métodos y práctica. Madrid:Akal
ROMERO MASIÁ, A.; ARIAS VILAS, F. 1995. Diccionario de termos de Arqueoloxía e Prehistoria. Vigo: Ir Indo
QUEROL, M. A. 2010. Manual de Gestión del Patrimonio Cultural. Madrid: Akal
Legislación:
LEY 16/1985, de 25 de junio, del Patrimonio Histórico Español (BOE de 29 de junio de 1985)
LEY 8/1995, de 30 de octubre, del Patrimonio Cultural de Galicia (DOG, 08/11/1995; BOE, 01/12/1995)
LEY 5/2016, de 4 de mayo, del Patrimonio Cultural de Galicia (DOG, 16/05/2016; BOE, 18/06/2016)
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY IN EACH TOPIC
Tema 1
GUTIÉRREZ LLORET, S. 1997. Arqueología. Introducción a la historia material de las sociedades del pasado. Alicante
Tema 2
BUTZER, K. 1989. Arqueología. Una ecología del hombre. Barcelona:Bellaterra
SCHIFFER, M.B. 1987. Formation processes of the archaeological record. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press
FRANCOVICH, R.; MANACORDA, D. (eds) 2001. Diccionario de Arqueología, Barcelona
NIETO, F. J. 1984. Introducción a la arqueología acuática.Barcelona
Tema 3
AMADO REINO, X. 1997. La aplicación del GPS a la Arqueología. Trabajos de Prehistoria 54 (1), p. 155-165
BAENA, J.; BLASCO, C.; QUESADA, F. (eds.). 1997. Los S.I.G. y el análisis espacial en Arqueología. Madrid: Servicio de Publicaciones de la UAM
BURILLO, F., IBÁÑEZ, J.; ALEGRE, E. 2004. Prospección u concepto de asentamiento. El caso de la cuidad celtibérica Segeda I. Arqueología Espacial 24: 165-184
Tema 4
CARANDINI, A. 1997. Historias en la tierra. Manual de excavación arqueológica. Barcelona: Crítica
LAPLACE, G. 1971. De l’application des coordonées cartésiennes à la fouille stratigraphique. Munibe XXIII (2/3), p. 223-236
Tema 5
INIZAN, M. L.; REDURON, M.; ROCHE, H.; TIXIER, J. 1995. Préhistoire de la Pierre Taillée. T. 4. Technologie de la pierre taillée. CREP, Meudon
ORTON, C.; TIERS, P.; VINCE, A. 1997. La cerámica en Arqueología. Crítica:Barcelona
Tema 6
BRICKLEY, M. – MCKINLEY, J.I. (ed.) (2004) Guidelines to the standards for recording human remains: BABAO, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Southampton. Institute of Field Archaeologists, University of Reading
BROTHWELL, D.R., (1987). Desenterrando huesos. La excavación, tratamiento y estudio de restos del esqueleto humano Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
BUXÓ, R.; PIQUÉ, R. 2008. Arqueobotánica. Los usos de las plantas en la Península Ibérica. Barcelona: Ariel Prehistoria
CHAIX, L; MÉNIEL, P. 2005. Manual de Arqueozoología. Barcelona
MARTÍNEZ CORTIZAS, A.; MOARES DOMÍNGUEZ, C. 1995. Edafología y Arqueología. Estudio de yacimientos arqueológicos al aire libre en Galicia. Santiago de Compostela: Xunta de Galicia
Tema 7
BALLART, J. (2000): El patrimonio histórico y arqueológico: valor y uso. Barcelona.
BASIC AND GENERAL COMPETENCIES
CG1 - Know and analyze the diachronic structure of history
CG2 - Use, organize, and interpret historical sources
CG3 - Know and have the ability to use information gathering tools, such as bibliographic catalogs, archival inventories, and electronic references
CG4 - Know and use methods and techniques from other humanities
CB1 - Students must have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in an area of study that is based on general secondary education and is typically at a level that, while supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the forefront of their field of study
CB2 - Students must be able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are typically demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study
CB3 - Students must have the ability to gather and Interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues.
CB4 - Students must be able to convey information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
CB5 - Students must have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
CROSS-CUTTING COMPETENCES
CT1 - Apply analytical, critical, logical, and creative thinking, demonstrating innovative skills.
CT2 - Work independently with responsibility and initiative.
CT3 - Work collaboratively in a team with corporate responsibility.
CT4 - Communicate information and ideas clearly and effectively in public.
SPECIFIC COMPETENCES
CE3 - Understand and interpret history as a discipline under construction.
CE4 - Understand and analyze the themes and issues that are the subject of historiographical debate.
CE5 - Critical awareness of the relationship between the social, economic, and institutional dimensions of the past.
CE6 - Knowledge of the main key aspects of the past. Explanatory texts about past societies (class, ethnicity, gender)
CE7 - Understand, interpret, and produce historiographical texts or original documents in their own language
CE8 - Analyze and interpret the archaeological record
Teaching will be conducted entirely in the classroom, with a theoretical and practical focus.
The content of the syllabus will be explained in the theoretical classes. The explanation will be supported by tables , images, plans, drawings, photographs to facilitate understanding and memorization, and, to the extent possible, materiality. Specific bibliography for each topic will be provided to delve deeper into the aspects covered and other related topics. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the topics presented, training them in formulating hypotheses, analyzing information, and developing their critical thinking skills.
Interactive classes will focus on practical learning of specific aspects of the syllabus. Techniques derived from prospecting and excavation, laboratory techniques (classification techniques and analysis of archaeological material), and procedures derived from critical analysis will be used. A field trip will also be conducted, consisting of a visit to a site, museum, or research center, allowing for direct contact with archaeological issues and their conservation as heritage. Field trip will only be conducted if it is funded and the circumstances of the centers visited allow it.
The assessment will be based on:
- A final written exam to verify the knowledge acquired by the students, to be held on the official date. This test will account for 60% of the final mark.
- The practicals carried out in the interactive classrooms, the participation and the delivery of the associated work will be valued with 40% of the final mark.
A minimum of 45% in each of the parts will be required to pass the subject.
-In the July exam, students will take a theory test and will present the practicals indicated by the teacher, in case they do not pass them previously.
-As the USC regulations state, classroom attendance is a student's right and duty. It is also essential for the correct understanding and assimilation of the subject. Therefore, absences must be duly justified. More than 4 unexcused absences may result in the loss of the right to take the exam. Attendance at the field trip is of particular importance.
- In case of official dispensation, students will be evaluated on the basis of the exam (60% of the mark), a work on the site and the museum chosen for the field practice (compulsory to substitute the field trip), and the equivalent work in the interactive classrooms (40% of the mark). The work must be agreed with the teacher at the beginning of the term.
Full-group activities (theoretical presentation): 30 hours.
Small-group activities (practical): 16 hours.
Very-small-group tutorials: 2 hours.
Assessment: 2 hours.
Subtotal: 50 hours.
Personal work:
-Study: 40 hours.
-Project writing: 30 hours.
-Preparation of small-group activities: 30 hours.
Subtotal: 100 hours.
TOTAL: 150 hours.
Students are encouraged to actively participate in theoretical and interactive classes. They are also encouraged to take advantage of tutoring to address any questions that may arise during their coursework.
In the case of academic fraud, as defined in Article 42 of the USC Coexistence Law of March 2023 (artículo 42 de la Lei de Convivencia de la USC de marzo de 2023), the sanctions provided for in Article 11 will apply if plagiarism occurs in academic work or exams, or if unauthorized use of Artificial Intelligence tools occurs.
Mario Cesar Vila
- Department
- History
- Area
- Archaeology
- mario.cesar [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOSU (Organic Law Of University System) Associate University Professor
Jose Carlos Sanchez Pardo
Coordinador/a- Department
- History
- Area
- Archaeology
- Phone
- 881812561
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Olalla Lopez Costas
- Department
- History
- Area
- Archaeology
- olalla.lopez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
Clara Veiga Rilo
- Department
- History
- Area
- Archaeology
- clara.veiga.rilo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 08 |
| Tuesday | |||
| 11:00-13:00 | G5022201/CLE_02 | Spanish, Galician | Classroom 11 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 11:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 08 |
| Friday | |||
| 11:00-13:00 | G5022201/CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 11 |