1 Syllabus Boston University Menorca Archaeological Field School
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Syllabus Boston University Menorca Archaeological Field School Summer 2009 Co-directors: Profs. Amalia Pérez-Juez, Ricardo Elia and James Wiseman Teaching Assistants: Kevin Mullen, Marta Ostovich, and Karyn Necciai Mediterranean Archaeological Field School General Overview The BU Menorca Archaeological Field School in Mediterranean Archaeology offers training in the essential aspects of contemporary interdisciplinary archaeology. Centered on the archaeological site of Torre d’en Galmès on the island of Menorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands, the field school provides students with hands-on experience in excavation and lab techniques, recording, archaeological drawing, photography, water-sieving, artifact processing, paleoethnobotany, conservation, and heritage management. In addition to participating in the field school’s rigorous program of archaeological fieldwork, students will have the opportunity to explore the island of Menorca, its museums and monuments, as well as its different natural parks and beaches. The program’s field trips and other excursions allow students to immerse themselves in the natural and cultural heritage of one of the Mediterranean’s most fascinating islands. The Menorca Archaeological Field School is an intense academic experience that requires students to participate in all program activities, read assigned texts, and complete group and individual projects. Field School Activities Field school students receive academic credit for two courses: Archaeological Field Methods (CAS-AR503) and Studies in European Archaeology: The Cultural History of Menorca (CAS-AR511). Each course carries 4 BU credits for a total of 8 BU credits. The attached schedule and list of lectures does not pertain to a specific course but to the entire field school program. For specific course requirements, see below. 1 Students in the field school participate in four types of activities: fieldwork, laboratory work, lectures, and field trips. Fieldwork consists of hands-on excavation activities at the site of Torre d’en Galmès. Normally, excavation will take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. These sessions will focus on excavation, archaeological photography, the use of total station and other surveying methods, mapping, documentation, sampling, drawing, interpretation, and stratigraphy. Laboratory work is two/three days a week from 2:30 – 5:30 pm and includes the processing of excavated materials. Students receive training in washing ceramics, cataloguing, data entry, pottery identification, illustration, and other types of lab methods. Students will also have an opportunity to learn other field and lab methods, such as soil flotation, phytolith analysis, and experimental archaeology. Lectures take place twice a week in the afternoons/evenings and focus on theoretical aspects or information that students need in order to understand the rest of the activities. Lectures are intended to elaborate on the required readings, trips, and fieldwork. Students will have to prepare for these lectures. Field trips will consist of visits to local archaeological, historical, and natural sites. They will introduce students to the wide range of cultural and historical resources on Menorca and will provide further insight into Mediterranean archaeology. All visits, museums, trips and academic activities are included in the fee, so there is no need to expect any extra fee for this class. Expectations and Grading This program covers two Boston University classes, or 8 BU credits: Archaeological Field Methods (CAS-AR503) and Studies in European Archaeology: The Cultural History of Menorca (CAS-AR511). Because this is a field program, both courses are taught simultaneously and overlap to a certain degree. Participation in daily activities is essential for both courses as is the completion of assigned work. All students receive a packet of articles at the beginning of the program and will be assigned readings throughout the program. Archaeological Field Methods covers the overall archaeological field and laboratory experience. Students will be graded on the basis of their participation and ability to comprehend and perform basic field and lab methods (50%). In addition students will keep an archaeological journal, which will be reviewed by project staff every two weeks (25%) and complete a group heritage management project (25%). Studies in European Archaeology: The Cultural History of Menorca covers the basic archaeological history of the island, focusing on the cultural periods that are 2 represented at the site and described in the required readings and lectures as well as information presented during excursions to archaeological sites and museums. In addition the course presents an introduction to archaeological heritage management with a focus on Menorcan archaeology. Students will be graded on the basis of participation in class projects, discussions, etc. (60%) and on a final examination (40%) at the end of the program. The Menorca Field School is a highly intensive program that requires students to invest a significant amount of time both at the site and in the laboratory. Students have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience while enjoying the picturesque landscape of Menorca. Students will have adequate free time to explore the island and take advantage of its many sights, including its world-renowned beaches. Daily schedule Mondays and Wednesdays 7:30 – 8:00 am Breakfast 8:00 – 1:00 pm Leave and work at the site Lunch at the site 2:30 – 5:00 pm Labwork or washing/flotation Return to the hotel by 5:30 Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 8:00 – 1:00 pm Work at the site Lunch at the hotel Lecture and/or field trip in the afternoon Saturdays, Sundays Weekends are generally free to travel or stay on the island. There are two weekends where there are planned excursions; please refer to the schedule when making travel arrangements. General Meal Times Breakfast: Monday through Friday at 7:30 am at Apartamentos Royal Lunch: Apartamentos Royal at 1:15 pm or at the site Dinner: Apartamentos Royal at 8:30 pm Note: If you do not want to eat with the group, you MUST tell the staff beforehand. Fieldtrips and visits All fieldtrips and visits are mandatory. Our class excursions are shown in the syllabus although we might have some additional ones (optional). 3 VERY IMPORTANT: We encourage students to travel during the weekend (there are inexpensive flights to Madrid and Barcelona daily). However, it is necessary to inform the on-site directors of your travel plans. SCHEDULE OF LECTURES, READINGS, AND FIELDTRIPS 1. Tuesday, May 26 Morning: Lecture: Introduction to Talayotic Archaeology in a Mediterranean context during the 1st millennium BC (A. Pérez-Juez) and visit to the Museum. Afternoon: Tour of the site and Monte Toro. 2. Wednesday, May 27 Morning: Excavation begins Afternoon: Lecture: Field Methods and Documentation (K. Mullen). 3. Thursday, May 28 Excavation (morning). Evening: fieldtrip to Talayotic house near the airport. 4. Friday, May 29 Fieldwork (morning) Lecture: Introduction to Archaeological Heritage Management (R. Elia). Fieldtrip to Torralba d’en Salord in the evening 5. Saturday, May 30 Free Day. Go and explore Mahón and its beautiful harbor! If you need to buy anything, do it in the morning. Stores are closed Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday. Supermarkets (for food) are open on Saturdays but closed on Sundays. 6. Sunday, May 31 Field trip to Naveta des Tudons, Navetas de Rafal Rubí and Talatí de Dalt. 7. Monday, June 1 Fieldwork (morning and afternoon). 8. Tuesday, June 2 Fieldwork (morning). Lecture: Roman Spain: Menorca in Hispania (M. Ostovich). Fieldtrip 9. Wednesday, June 3 Fieldwork (morning and afternoon). We will start flotation. Lecture on site: Archeobotany (M. Ostovich). 4 10. Thursday, June 4 Fieldwork. Lecture: Medieval Spain – the Muslim Period in Menorca (A. Pérez- Juez). Fieldtrip to a barranco to understand Muslim agriculture. 11. Friday, June 5 All day: Archaeological heritage management: principles and practice; cultural tourism and biosphere reserves. Why We Care: Values and significance relating to cultural sites and objects. World Heritage and Biospheres. Site Management: Principles and Practice. Cultural Tourism (Elia, Perez-Juez, and M. Ostovich) 12. Saturday, June 6 Free day 13. Sunday, June 7 Free day. Professor Wiseman arrives. (European Elections.) 14. Monday, June 8 Fieldwork (morning). Visit to heritage management project site (afternoon). 15. Tuesday, June 9 Fieldwork. Lecture: Colonization, Trade and War; Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks and Romans in the Western Mediterranean (J. Wiseman). 16. Wednesday, June 10 Fieldwork (morning and afternoon) 17. Thursday, June 11 Fieldwork. Lecture: Spain and the Romans: Aspects of Empire (Prof. Wiseman). 18. Friday, June 12 Fieldwork. Fieldtrip to Sanisera. 19. Saturday, June 13 Free day 20. Sunday, June 14 Free day 21. Monday, June 15 Fieldwork (morning and afternoon). 22. Tuesday, June 16 Fieldwork. Lecture: Late Antiquity in the West (Prof. Wiseman); field trip to Torelló. 5 23. Wednesday, June 17 Fieldwork. Professor Wiseman leaves. Afternoon Lecture: Looting of archaeological heritage (Elia). Return to heritage project site: Binisafullet. 24. Thursday, June 18 Fieldwork. Fieldtrip to geological sites: Favaritx, Cala Morell. 25. Friday, June 19 Experimental Archaeology Workshop. 26. Saturday, June 20 Free day. 27. Sunday, June 21 Free time to work on your projects. Afternoon: Fieldtrip to Fort Marlborough. 28. Monday, June 22