Management of Archaeological Projects and Materials
Code: 106883 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | OP | 3 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria de la Paloma González Marcén
- Email:
- paloma.gonzalez@uab.cat
Teachers
- Cesar Carreras Monfort
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This course aims to introduce students to the comprehensive management of archaeological projects from the initial approach to their objectives to their public presentation (both specialized in the form of reports and aimed at a general public), including administrative procedures, their financing and organization, and the different resources for analyzing and interpreting archaeological data. The most specialized aspects of these instrumental tools will be analyzed in depth in order to obtain reliable results in the research and historical interpretation work generated by archaeological activity from specific archaeological materials. On the other hand, it will delve into how to collect and prepare documentation in the field and its treatment in the laboratory to have the most efficient and reliable samples that must be structured and practiced in classes in order to achieve their documentary value. For this reason, emphasis will also be placed on the forms of graphic recording of archaeological structures and objects.
Learning Outcomes
- CM27 (Competence) Assess the environmental, economic and social impact of the design and application of archaeological research projects and heritage enhancement programmes, characterising the potential audience.
- 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.
- KM38 (Knowledge) Identify the necessary phases of field work, the ideal contexts for its application, and the organisation of post-excavation operations in archaeological field work.
- KM39 (Knowledge) Assess the contribution of documentary and written sources (reports on archaeological projects, archaeological maps, reports on the analysis of archaeological materials, planimetry and graphic representations of archaeological sites and materials, case studies, summary publications, specialised articles) to basic and applied archaeological research and heritage management.
- SM37 (Skill) Analyse the potential of an archaeological site for research and for its valuation and socialisation as heritage based on bibliographic records, field activities such as machine tracking and the application of remote sensing, prospecting and excavation methods, and the study of its materials.
- SM38 (Skill) Draft specific proposals for the management and dissemination of archaeological knowledge and, specifically, of historical and archaeological heritage, identifying applicable legislation, interacting with the actual and potential audience, recognising the necessary public or private resources, and making basic musealisation proposals.
Content
1 – Archaeological project management: preparation of the proposal
- Contexts of archaeological projects: research and preventive archaeology
- The legal and administrative framework of archaeological projects
- Project design: objectives, methodology, team and funding
2 - The study of materials: case studies and preparation of reports
- Approach to the study of materials from the history of research
- Analysis, classification and quantification of archaeological materials
- Analysis of raw materials procurement and extractive industries
- Principles and digital tools for archaeological drawing (materials, architecture and plants)
- Territorial and demographic analyses
3 – Presentation and dissemination of the results of archaeological projects
- Audiences and aims of the dissemination of archaeology
- Typologies of public presentation of archaeology (publications, exhibitions, audiovisual productions)
- The use of digital tools for the dissemination of archaeology
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Classroom activities. Block 1 | 10 | 0.4 | CM28, KM38, CM28 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Laboratory activities. Blocks 2 and 3 | 35 | 1.4 | CM27, KM39, SM37, SM38, CM27 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Archaeological project design | 10 | 0.4 | CM27, CM28, SM37, CM27 |
| Design of archaeological dissemination proposal | 10 | 0.4 | CM27, SM38, CM27 |
| Study and reading about the subject taught in class | 14 | 0.56 | CM27, CM28, KM38, KM39, SM37, SM38, CM27 |
| Study of a set of archaeological material | 20 | 0.8 | KM38, KM39, SM37, KM38 |
The course will be based on activities both in the classroom, in the archeology teaching laboratory and in the computer room and in OpenLab, aimed at solving problems in groups and autonomously, which has as its maximum exponent the design of an archaeological project, the study of a set of materials and a diffusion test as coursework. On the other hand, some seminars will be held to present results and discuss them in common to promote a critical vision in the use of certain methodologies and their interpretation. It will also have the support of the UAB Virtual Campus.
1. Activities in the classroom
The activities that will be developed in the classroom will have as a guiding thread the master class with the support of presentations, although activities will be carried out in work groups and discussion, for later sharing.
2. Activities in the laboratory
Most of the teaching will take place in the archeology teaching laboratory of the UAB, where the materials study practices and their graphic representation will be carried out. On the other hand, practical classes will be given in the computer room with a theoretical introduction, but above all practical exercises to solve graphic or interpretation problems. Some of the sessions will be held in the OpenLab of the Faculty of Letters or there will be demonstrations and practices of digital tools aimed at the interpretation and dissemination of archaeological projects.
3. Autonomous activity
As it is a very practical subject, it is important that students use all the techniques and methods presented in the course to acquire the planned skills. Therefore, a series of tutored exercises (individual and group) have been designed for students to plan, classify, draw, contextualize and interpret sets of archaeological materials from an excavation and its subsequent excavation.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis and interpretation of archaeological materials | 50 | 25 | 1 | KM39, SM37 |
| Archaeological project design | 25 | 13 | 0.52 | CM27, CM28, KM38 |
| Proposal for dissemination of results of archaeological projects | 25 | 13 | 0.52 | SM38 |
1. Design of archaeological project according to established guidelines (25%).
- Individual work
2. Result of analysis and interpretation of archaeological materials in the form of a technical report (50%)
- Group work
3. Proposal for dissemination of archaeological project results in the form of an oral presentation (25%)
- Pair work
Bibliography
- Adkins, Lesley, & Roy Adkins. Archaeological illustration. Cambridge University Press, 1989.
- Ballester, Ana Mª Charquero, & Jordi A. López Lillo. "Registro tridimensional acumulativo de la secuencia estratigráfica. Fotogrametría y SIG en la intervención arqueológica de lo Boligni (Alacant)." Virtual Archaeology Review 3.5 (2012): 81-88.
- Banning, Edward B. The archaeologist's laboratory. The analysis of archaeological data. Springer, 2000.
- Bianchini, Marco. Manuale di rilievo e di documentazione digitale in archeologia. Arcane: Roma, 2008.
- Butters, Luis Jaime Castillo, & Héctor Barrera Yaranga. "Fotogrametría, modelamiento tridimensional y drones en arqueología. Primera parte. La ilustración arqueológica. De la representación artística al modelamiento tridimensional." Boletín de Arqueología PUCP 35 (2024): 96-121.
- Caballero Zoreda, Luis. "El dibujo arqueológico: Notas sobre el registro gráfico en arqueología." Papeles del Partal: revista de restauración monumental 3 (2006): 75-96.
- De Luis, Irene & Colin Merrony, C. Dibujo de campo y topografía para arqueólogos. Barcelona: Colección Estudios EDAR. 2010
- Garstki, Kevin. "Virtual representation: the production of 3D digital artifacts." Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 24 (2017): 726-750.
- Gracia, Francesc; Josep M.Gurt; Cèsar Carreras & Gloria Munilla (eds) Jornades d’Arqueologia i Tecnologies de la Informació i la Comunicació: Recerca, Docència i Difusió. Arqueomediterrània 21, Barcelona. 2001
- Ley 16/1985, de 25 de junio, del Patrimonio Histórico Español. Boletín Oficial del Estado 29 (1985): 20342-20352.
- Llei 9/1993, de 30 de setembre, del Patrimoni Cultural Català. Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya 1807 (1993)
- Magnani, Matthew, & Jon Clindaniel. "Artificial intelligence and archaeological illustration." Advances in Archaeological Practice 11.4 (2023): 452-460.
- Morgan, Colleen, & Holly Wright. "Pencils and pixels: drawing and digital media in archaeological field recording." Journal of Field Archaeology 43.2 (2018): 136-151.
- Opitz, Rachel. "Publishing archaeological excavations at the digital turn." Journal of Field Archaeology 43.sup1 (2018): S68-S82.
- Peña, J. Theodore. Roman pottery in the archaeological record. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
- Peregrine, Peter. Archaeological Research: A Brief Introduction. Routledge, 2016.
- Pérez Cuadrado, Soledad. Manual básico de dibujo de materiales arqueológicos. (2010).
- Pérez-Juez Gil, Amalia. Gestión del patrimonio arqueológico: el yacimiento como recurso turístico. Ariel: Barcelona. 2018.
- Querol, María Ángeles. Manual de gestión del patrimonio cultural. Ediciones Akal, 2010.
- Sivan, Renée. "The presentation of archaeological sites." The Conservation of Archaeological Sites in the Mediterranean Region. Paul Getty Museum. 1995.
Software
AUTOCAD, IDRISI
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |