Course: Methods of interdisciplinary research

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Course title Methods of interdisciplinary research
Course code KHI/3MIV
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Peška Jaroslav, doc. PhDr. PhD.
  • Nováček Karel, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction characteristics of interdisciplinary cooperation 2. Anthropology 3. Archaeobotanics 4. Archaeozoology 5. Pedology 6. Geology 7. Petroarchaeology 8. Paleometallurgy 9. Traceology 10. Chemistry 11. Non-destructive methods of archaeological research 12. Methods of absolute dating

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
  • Homework for Teaching - 100 hours per semester
  • Attendace - 24 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The contemporary archaeology can not manage without help and cooperation of other, usually nature science disciplines, whose range is nowadays sufficiently wide and it widens gradually. A part of the lecture is an establishing of an ideal composition of a multidisciplinary research team that contains, eventually presents only the most important, eventually the most used (and practically applicable) disciplines for archaeology. These disciplines can nowadays be divided to bio-archaeometric group and geo-archaeometric group, allowing the researcher not only to analyse the positively recorded immovable and movable objects or artefacts, but also to outline a relatively detailed and ample reconstruction of the natural environment of human life (environmental archaeology), with the analysis using the taking of samples, for instance sediments, their flotation, chemical analysis etc. Here belong anthropology, including paleopathology (incl. parasitology) and traces of stress and burdens on human skeletons, traces of nutritional behavior, of questions of migration, paleogenetics (aDNA) and affinity. In a similar way, it is possible to examine the osteologic material of animals (paleozoology), using once again the isotope analysis. Paleoecologic (environmental) research includes a vast area of archaeobotanics, palynology, anthracology, xylotomy, including chemical analysis (phosphate analysis and others) of sediments. From among the geo-archaeometric disciplines, archaeology uses geology, geochemistry, micromorphology, petroarchaeology, paleometallurgy, study of products of metal corrosion etc.. The non-destructive methods, such as geophysics and remote sensing, including aerial archaeology, belong inherently to the interdisciplinary research nowadays, as well as the methods of absolute dating (radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology). The subject is directly followed by the "Odborná praxe na interdisciplinárním výzkumu" (Academic practice in interdisciplinary research) subject.
Good orientation in the interdisciplinary cooperation methods. This knowledge is subsequently used in the compulsory Academic practice in interdisciplinary research.
Prerequisites
Basic orientation in archaeologic sub-disciplines and boundary disciplines and in possibilities of interdisciplinary cooperation in archaeology that is acquired in the "Úvod do studia archeologie" (Introduction to archaeology), "Teorie archeologického výzkumu" (Theories of archaeologic research) and "Výběrové přednášky z interdisciplinárních oborů" (Selected lectures on interdisciplinary studies) subjects of the bachelor study.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Seminar Work

participation on the lessons (24 hours=1 credit); individual studying of information sources and exam preparation (25 hours=1 credit); heuristics and writing an academic essay on appointed topic (50 hours=2 credits)
Recommended literature
  • Hložek, M. (2900). Encyklopedie moderních metod v archeologii. Praha.
  • Kuna a kol. (2004). Nedestruktivní archeologie. Praha.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Archeology (2016) Category: History courses 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter