Social Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Discourses
Code: 44476 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4317545 Prehistoric Archaeology | OB | 0 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Rafael Mico Perez
- Email:
- rafael.mico@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
Teachers
- Pedro Vicente Castro Martínez
- Vicenç Lull Santiago
- Raquel Piqué Huerta
- Rafael Mico Perez
- Antoni Palomo Pérez
Prerequisites
No prerequisites needed.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Updated exposition of the state of the art and future prospects regarding key theoretical and methodological issues and problems, within the framework of research in Prehistoric Archeology.
The approaches developed in the subjects included in the module address different dimensions of research, from the most general (the theoretical bases of knowledge and "Archaeological discourses") to those that link theory, methods and instrumental methodologies applied to different empirical manifestations (Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology, Archaeology of settlements, Archaeology of burial practices).
Competences
- Combine findings from different programmes of specialist analysis, identifying any contradictions and drawing conclusions
- Develop original contributions within the framework of theoretical research and practical applications.
- Manage research projects in prehistoric archaeology.
- Recognise and judge the social consequences of your own work, taking diversity in gender, identity and culture into account.
- Recognise and use suitable theoretical and methodological concepts for the design, planning and execution of projects on prehistoric archaeological sites and materials.
- Recognise present-day challenges in the study of prehistoric archaeology.
- Show rigour, responsibility and quality in research and dissemination work.
- That students are able to integrate knowledge and handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
- That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
- That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse the general foundations of the main theoretical propositions, by applying these in areas of study within prehistoric archaeology.
- Analyse the general methodological foundations of prehistoric archaeology, by applying these in its areas of study.
- Apply criteria of scientific rigour when performing academic and professional tasks.
- Critically apply research techniques in prehistoric archaeology.
- Evaluate the real potential for influencing the public through cultural action.
- Identify the analytic areas of application in prehistoric archaeology.
- Identify the theoretical areas of application in prehistoric archaeology.
- Implement protocols for conducting field work and sample collection.
- Include gender perspectives, universal accessibility and multiculturalism when proposing and reflecting on work.
- Incorporate ethical considerations into cultural projects, showing respect for diversity of opinion, personality and behaviour.
- Incorporate ethical considerations into the analysis of the cultural needs of different groups.
- Innovate by bringing creativity and originality to prehistoric archaeology studies, with a clear commitment to quality.
- That students are able to integrate knowledge and handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
- That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
- That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
- Use the categories and concepts that belong to the field of study appropriately.
Content
The contents of the module are related to experiences, reflections and proposals derived from the development of interdisciplinary projects in charge of different members of the Department of Prehistory. This fact guarantees a direct interrelation between the approach of issues and problems in the current research framework, with the implementation of solutions in the context of case studies worked first-hand by the teaching team. The contents of the different subjects aim to combine the application of theoretical criteria, methodological implications and empirical particularities.
Archaeological discourses (V. Lull - 1 ECTS)
- Fundamentals of research in archaeology: archaeological objects, subjects.
- Recent trends in the proposal of archaeological discourses (symmetric archeology): the tension between narratives and knowledge.
Ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology (R. Piqué / A. Palomo - 1 ECTS)
- Concepts and definition. Theoretical and methodological bases of ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology.
- History of ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology.
- Contributions to contemporary archaeology: taphonomy, production and consumption processes, use of space, symbolism and ritual.
Theory and analysis of settlements (P. V. Castro-Martinez - 2 ECTS)
- Social Space, Archaeological Site, Settlement.
- From the Activity Areas to the Settlements: Structuring the Social Space.
- Categories of Settlements: criteria and implications.
The Archeology of funerary practices (R. Micó - 2 ECTS)
- Introduction: archaeology and the study of funerary assemblages.
- Funerary assemblages and funerary practices: definition, informative potential and analytical remarks.
- Theoretical and methodological trends in the research on funerary practices: proposals and case studies.
- The archaeology of burial practices in contemporary political struggles.
Methodology
Directed activities: lectures, public presentations, discussion seminars.
Supervised activities: tutorials and supervised learning exercises (individual or in small groups).
Autonomous activities: searching of documentation, reading of publications, writing of essays, study; seminars and conferences.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lecture | 36 | 1.44 | 1, 2, 3, 16, 6, 7, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Seminars & Public presentations | 25 | 1 | 3, 11, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 14 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Reading & studying | 89 | 3.56 | 1, 2, 4, 8, 13 |
Assessment
Submission of twerm papers.
Public presentations.
Participation in seminaris.
Exams.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conferences and complementary activities | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 16, 6, 7, 13, 15 |
| Exams | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3, 16, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 14 |
| Public presentations | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2, 3, 4, 11, 8, 16, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Submission of term papers | 50 | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 8, 16, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 14, 5 |
Bibliography
ARNOLD, B. & JESKE, R. J. (2014),”The Archaeology of Death: Mortuary Archaeology in the United States and Europe 1990-2013”, Annual Review of Anthropology, 43, pp. 325-346.
AURENCHE, O. (2012), Vous avez dit ethnoarchéologue? Choix d'articles (1972-2007). Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée' Jean Pouilloux (Série Archéologique 16), LYON
BINFORD, L. R. (1972), “Mortuary practices: their study and their potential”, en BINFORD, L. R., An Archaeological Perspective. Seminar Press, Nueva York, pp. 208-243.
BINFORD, L. (1988), En busca del pasado. Crítica, Barcelona.
CASTRO MARTINEZ, P.V., ESCORIZA MATEU, T. y SANAHUJA YLL, Mª E. (2002). “Trabajo y Espacios Sociales en el Ambito Doméstico. Producción y prácticas sociales en una unidad doméstica de la Prehistoria de Mallorca”, Geocrítica-Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales, VI, 119 (10).
CASTRO MARTINEZ, P.V., ESCORIZA MATEU, T., OLTRA PUIDOMENECH, J., OTERO VIDAL, M. y SANAHUJA YLL, Mª E. (2003). “¿Qué es una ciudad? Aportaciones para su definición desde la prehistoria”, Geocrítica-Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales, VII, 146 (10).
CASTRO-MARTINEZ, PV; ESCORIZA MATEU, T (2009), “Lugares Reales y Lugares Ideales. Realidad y Construcción de Ficciones en Arqueología”, Cuadernos de Prehistoria de la Universidad de Granada, 19.
CHAPMAN, R. W., KINNES, I. & RANDSBORG, K. (eds.) (1981), The Archaeology of Death.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
CLARKE, D. L. (ed) (1977), Spatial archaeology, Academic Press, Londres.
CRUBÉZY, E., MASSET, Cl., LORANS, E., PERRIN, F. &TRANOY, L. (2000), Archéologie funéraire. Errance, París.
DAVID, N. & KRAMER, C. (2001), Ethnoarchaeology in Action. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
GALLAY, A. (2011), Pour une ethnoarchéologie théorique. Mérites et limites de l'analogie ethnographique. Errance, París.
GONZÁLEZ RUIBAL, A. (2003), La experiencia del otro. Una introducción a la Etnoarqueología. Akal Arqueología, Madrid.
HODDER, I. (1982), Symbols in action: ethnoarchaeological studies of material culture. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
LEFEBVRE, H (1962), Critique de la vie quotidienne, Arché Editeur, Paris, “Le Sens de la Marche” (Crítica de la vida cotidiana, México, FCE, 1979).
LULL, V. (2000), “Death and Society: A Marxist Approach”, Antiquity, 74, pp. 576-580.
LULL, V. (2016), “Muerte y espectáculo en arqueología”, MARQ. Arqueología y Museos, 7, pp. 11-33.
LULL, V. & PICAZO, M. (1989), “Arqueología de la Muerte y estructura social”, Archivo Español de Arqueología, 62, pp. 5-20.
PALOMO, A., PIQUE. R., TERRADAS, X. 2013. Experimentación en arqueología. Estudio y difusión del pasado. Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya, Barcelona
SAYER, D. (2010), Ethics and Burial Archaeology. Duckworth, Londres.
TRIGGER, B. G. (1967), “Settlement Archaeology-Its Goals and Promise”, American Antiquity, 32, pp. 149-160.
VILA, A. (2006), Etnoarqueología de la prehistoria: más allá de la analogía. Treballs d’Etnoarqueologia, 6, UAB-CSIC.
This list might be enlarged in the context of particular subjects.
Software
Software:public presentations, word processors, spreadsheets.