URL study guide
https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/L_BAMAARC019Course Objective
Students who have successfully completed this course:- are able to oversee the academic discourse on archaeological heritage and can name the most important themes and theoretical approaches
- are able to place these themes and theoretical perspectives in their historical context
- are aware of the most important organizations and structures dealing with heritage management on a global and sometimes national scale
- can write a critical reflection on the themes and theories discussed in this course
- are able to search, find and evaluate relevant literature and other sources with respect to archaeological heritage
- are able extend their personal view on heritage to other fields within archaeology and heritage studies
- are more aware of their own moral and ethical position within important issues in archaeological heritage
- have taken an important step in the development of their professional identity as archaeologist or heritage professional
- are able to engage in critical debate with others in a respectful manner
- are able to reflect on and criticize the papers of others in a respectful way
Course Content
Heritage is hot: not only has it become part of most Archaeology programmes in higher education, but it has been picked up by national governments, NGOs, the tourism sector and numerous other stakeholders as well. The publication list is staggering and ever-increasing: a Google scholar search on publications containing the word 'heritage' in the title yields 4.810.000 results! The academic field reflecting on (archaeological) heritage is extremely large, and -compared to its relatively young existence – harbours already a considerable variety of paradigms, theoretical approaches and themes. What makes archaeological heritage particularly interesting is that it is intimately and explicitly connected with the moral and ethical position of archaeologists and other heritage professionals. In the field of heritage, the archaeologist experiences his role in society in the most direct manner possible. This course is intended to deepen your knowledge of the above-said theories and perspectives, while discussing the most (re)current themes within the discipline. You are invited to reflect on these and, by doing this, develop your own stance with respect to the central issues and debates of archaeological heritage. As such, this course offers the opportunity to play an important role in the development of your professional identity.Teaching Methods
This course consists of lectures, classroom assignments, participation in intervision groups, and writing reflection papers. Each week, a lecture will introduce you to a particular theme within the field of (archaeological) heritage. Your understanding of basic concepts, theory and themes will be tested in the second weekly session by doing a classroom assignment, which will be discussed in the second half of the session. Outside the classes, you will write a short reflection discussing your own view on that week’s theme. This essay will be discussed within your intervision group, the feedback of which you will use to enhance your week essay. The collection of these weekly essays will be an important part of his course’s assessment.Method of Assessment
- Participation course sessions (10%). It is required to attend allclasses; with a valid reason and timely notification, a maximum of twoclasses may be missed; however, the classroom assignments must besubmitted in the week of absence.
- Classroom (group) assignments (20%).
- Weekly essays (60%)
- Intervision (10%)To successfully complete this course, all assessment grades must marked5.5 or higher.
Literature
Will be announced/provided through CANVAS.Target Audience
Accessible for (R)MA-students in all Archaeology programmes, ClassicsandAncient Civilisations, Museum Studies, Heritage Studies and Art History.Language of Tuition
- English
Study type
- Master