This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Modern and Contemporary Archaeology

Code: 106872 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Archaeology OB 3

Contact

Name:
Oscar Jane Checa
Email:
oscar.jane@uab.cat

Teachers

Josep Maria Vila Carabasa

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

To be curious and have an open mind about the heritage of our surroundings and the more or less recent past.


Objectives and Contextualisation

This course is an introduction to the archaeology of the early modern and contemporary world through the theory and practice of everything related to our more or less recent past, consistently using different archaeological methodologies. At the same time, it provides tools to enhance this work with resources typical of the modern and contemporary periods, such as archives, oral sources, and other elements that can complement archaeological research and survey.

Regarding knowledge:

  • Introduce students to the possibilities offered by the modern and contemporary periods for the application of archaeological techniques.

  • Raise students’ awareness of the importance of archaeology as a science to complement knowledge of the modern and contemporary periods.

  • Develop students’ critical thinking regarding what modern and contemporary archaeology is and can be.

  • Understand the materials from the modern and contemporary periods that may be found in an archaeological intervention.

Regarding skills and abilities:

  • Provide tools to develop the ability to identify archaeological elements from the modern and contemporary periods.

  • Become familiar with and understand some of the areas from these periods where archaeology is applicable.

Regarding future perspectives:

  • Broaden perspectives on the possibilities of archaeology in the modern and contemporary world.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM28 (Competence) Recognise the ethical and deontological requirements of the professional practice of archaeology so it can be done in a socially inclusive manner that is compatible with democratic values.
  2. KM41 (Knowledge) Identify the necessary phases of field work, the ideal contexts for its application, and the organisation of post-excavation work in modern and contemporary archaeology and in forensic procedures.
  3. KM42 (Knowledge) Contribute to the construction of inclusive, critical and plural perspectives on recent history from archaeology.
  4. SM40 (Skill) Infer specific hypotheses about modern and contemporary situations, contexts and societies from material remains obtained from prospecting and/or excavation, while demonstrating the ability to historically interpret archaeological contexts and materials and in the context of multiproxy studies.
  5. SM41 (Skill) Apply the most common techno-typological classification methods and techniques to modern and contemporary archaeological artefacts.

Content

THEORY

  1. Approaching the archaeology of the early modern and contemporary world.

  2. Sources and tools. Material culture and archives for a common purpose.

  3. An archaeology of conflict: wars, post-war periods, spaces, scenarios, and intervention cases.

  4. Industrial archaeology and production spaces.

  5. Economy and territory, transformations and landscape evolution.

  6. The uses of early modern and contemporary archaeology.

FIELD PRACTICE
Carrying out a field activity and the corresponding report.

EDUCATIONAL VISITS
Preparation of visit reports/sheets.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theoretical classes led by the teaching staff; classroom practice exercises. 25 1 CM28, KM41, KM42, SM40, CM28
Work field 18 0.72 KM41, SM40, SM41, KM41
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials to provide guidance on the completion of assignments and the course as a whole 10 0.4 CM28, KM41, CM28
Type: Autonomous      
Personal study. Completion of assignments for assessment 35 1.4 CM28, KM41, SM40, CM28

Guided: theoretical and practical classes.

Supervised: planning and resolution of practical exercises; completion of fieldwork activities.

Autonomous: reading and interpreting archaeological studies on territory, settlement, or agricultural spaces; developing analytical and synthesis skills; communicating orally and in writing; completing theoretical and practical exercises.

Note: 15 minutes of one class will be set aside, within the calendar established by the center/program, for students to complete surveys evaluating the teaching performance and the course/module.

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.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
An individual written assignment 20% 10 0.4 CM28, KM41, SM40, SM41
Assignment on lectures 10% 2 0.08 KM42, SM40
Group work 20% 30 1.2 CM28, KM41, KM42, SM40, SM41
Sheet on fieldtrip 20% 10 0.4 CM28, KM41, SM40
Theory Assessment 30% 10 0.4 CM28, KM42, SM41

Assessment consists of:

  • Two works: one individual and one group project, both related to the field trip.

  • A worksheet related to the training visits carried out.

  • A short test based on the assigned readings.

  • An evaluation of theory.

The minimum final grade required to pass the course is 5, which will be calculated as a weighted average of all assessment components. If the final grade is equal to or below 3, it will not be eligible for reassessment, and the course will be failed automatically. To be eligible for reassessment, students must have submitted at least 2/3 of the assessment tasks; otherwise, the final grade will be marked as "Not assessable". The reassessment will consist of a comprehensive test covering all course content (fieldwork, practicals, readings, etc.).

In the event of any irregularity that may significantly alter the grade of an assessment or test, the grade will be 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. If multiple irregularities are detected in the same course, the final grade will be 0.

At the time of each assessment activity, students will be informed about the review procedure and the date for grade revision.

Lack of transparency in the use of AI in these evaluatives activities will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in a grade of 0for the activity, with no option for reassessment. In severe cases,further sanctions may apply.

This course does not allow for a single-assessment evaluation system.


Bibliography

Actes de la II Trobada d’Estudiosos d’Emrampunyà: El camí ral, camins antics i altres termes. Begues, Centre d’Estudis Beguetans: 2011

ALTED VIGIL, A.; SÁNCHEZ, J.: Métodos y técnicas de investigación de Historia Moderna e Historia Contemporánea. Madrid: Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces, 2005.

Associació Catalana per a la Recerca en Arqueologia Medieval: www.acram.cat. Congressos d’Arqueologia Medieval i Moderna a Catalunya

BARKER, David & CRANSTONE, David (eds.) (2004): The Archaeology of Industrialization: Society of Post-Medieval Archaeology, Routledge, Londres.

BARRAL i ALTED X.: “Arqueologia industrial o Arqueologia del mundo contemporáneo”, dins de RIPOLL LÓPEZ, G.: Arqueología, hoy. Uned, Madrid: 1992

CASELLA, Eleanor Conlin, NEVELL, Michael i STEYNE, Hanna (eds) (Apr. 2022), The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Archaeology, Oxford Handbooks (2022); online edn, Oxford Academic, 20, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199693962.001.0001

CERDÀ, Manuel: Arqueologia Industrial. Publicacions de la Universitat de València, València, 2008

CLARA, J.: Els fortins de Franco. Rafael Dalmau Editor, Barcelona 2010

DD.AA: L’arquitectura de l’aigua, Pagès Editors, Lleida: 2004

DD.AA.: Barraquisme. La ciutat (im)possible. Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona : 2011

FERNANDA, M; SANTACANA, J: L’arqueologia del segle XXI: restes i objectes del passat industrial. Barcelona: Graó, 1998.

FERRER, Ll.: La Catalunya rural, abans i ara. Saga editorial: 2009.

GALLEGO, Laia i PASTOR, Ana (Eds.), "Obrir nous camins per a l’estudi i la intervenció sobre el passat industrial",monogràfic dins Treballs d'Arqueologia, Vol. 27, UAB, 2024: https://revistes.uab.cat/treballsarqueologia/issue/view/v27/TA-27-pdf

GARCIA i ESPUCHE, A.: La Ciutat del Born : economia i vida quotidiana a Barcelona (segles XIV a XVIII),Barcelona : Ajuntament de Barcelona : Museu d'Història de Barcelona, cop. 2009.

GONZÁLEZ RUIBAL, A.: Volver a las trincheras, Alianza Editorial, 2016.

HARRISON, R. & SCHOFIELD, J., After modernity: Archaeological approaches to the contemporary past. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.

OYON, J.L.: “Historia urbana e historia obrera: reflexiones sobre la vida obrera y su inscripción en el espacio urbano, 1900-1950”.Historia Contemporánea, 24 (2002), pp. 9-56.

PONS Raga, Ferran, Què fer amb les runes de la Matussière? La (in)visibilització del patrimoni industrial de la ribera d'Isil i Alòs (Pallars Sobirà), MNACTEC-Ajut de recerca Francesc Salvà i Campillo, Terrassa, 2021, 122p.

RAMOS, Jordi: Turó de la Rovira: arqueologia d’un conflicte. Barcelona : Societat Catalana d’Arqueologia, 2016.

RIART I ARNALOT, Oriol: Érem Feres. Diaris personals de combatents a la Guerra Civil,  Pagès editors, 2023.

ROMERO, Eladi: Itinerarios de la guerra civil española, Ed.Laertes, Barcelona: 2001.

SOLÉ,Queralt i JANÉ, Oscar(Eds.): "L’arqueologia del món modern i contemporani", Monogràfic del número 78 de la Revista Afers. Fulls de recerca i pensament. Vol. XXIX, Catarroja, 2014, p. 305-470.

TARRAUBELLA MIRABET, F.X.: Urbanisme, arquitectura i construcció a Catalunya : guia d'arxius i de fonts documentals,Barcelona: Col·legi d'Aparelladors i Arquitectes Tècnics de Barcelona; Tremp : Garsineu edicions, 1993

Turiscopia, Grup de Treball de l’Institut Català d’Antropologia: La rabassada. La utopía de l’oci burgès. Barcelona: 2011

VVAA, Revista d'arqueologia de Ponent, n. 31, UDL, 2021: https://raco.cat/index.php/RAP/issue/view/30329

VALLS, Joan: Inhòspits. Angle, Barcelona: 2011.


Software

None specific.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 11 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 12 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed