1st semester:

Landscape Archaeology (on land and under the sea), Digital Applications
 
 
2nd semester:
 
Materials and Artefacts
 
 

COMPULSORY COURSES

1st semester:

 
ARCH 650: Settlement and Landscape Archaeology
 
The aim of this seminar course is to offer students a cohesive and complete theoretical, methodological and practical background of settlement- and landscape archaeology as a means of studying built space and the natural environment at a higher resolution in order to identify, quantify and comprehend past human activity. With the use of case studies, in situ visits and drills, students will become familiar with (a) state-of-the-art methods and approaches for examining archaeological landscapes and (b) the technical equipment (e.g. robotic total station, Differential GPS, handheld computers) for recording and documenting archaeological features in the field.
 
ARCH 653: Introduction to GIS Geographical Information Systems in Archaeology

The aim of this course is to provide theoretical knowledge and the fundamental principles in the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Archaeology. The course will provide theoretical information regarding the different types of digital data (raster and vector format), the analysis and editing of them, the digitization of Historical, Topographical or Geological maps and their georeferencing, the analysis of Digital Terrain Models (e.g. derivatives of it, viewshed analysis, least cost surface, etc.) and the creation of digital thematic maps. The examples that will be provided will be drawn from previous investigations that address various archaeological and historical questions.

The course aims to give a theoretical background to students wishing to pursue research in the fields of Landscape Archaeology and applications related to analyses of the environment and space in History and Archaeology (e.g. Predictive Modelling, Risk assessment, linking information from historical sources with spatial data, communication networks, etc.). With the completion of the laboratory section of this course, students will get a hands-on experience of the ArcGIS environment, the digitization of maps, the import of their own historical/archaeological datasets and the creation of thematic archaeological maps

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ARCH 654: Maritime Cultural Landscape
 
The purpose of the course is to convey to the students the concept of maritime landscape and its components so that they are able to plan a comprehensive fieldwork project in the coastal zone.

Upon completion of the seminar, students are expected to a) have a grasp of the contemporary research regarding the theoretical discussion and the methodological approaches of the concept of maritime cultural landscape, b) be in a position to date and analyse sites of coastal settlements and harbour installations, taking into consideration the coastal changes and the dynamics of human presence in the coastal zone, and c) be able to assess the role of certain elements of the seascape (weather conditions and coastal topography, landmarks and orientation) in the development of pre-industrial shipping. The theoretical discussions are always complemented with examples of completed projects so that the students become familiar with the archaeological record and the latest developments in the domain.

2nd semester:

 
ARCH 655: Shipwreck Archaeology
 
Shipwrecks are entities of special value in the archaeological record because of their distinctive synchronic nature and the direct evidence they provide for trade and contacts in antiquity. The seminar will discuss the main types of archaeological finds discovered on shipwrecks (assemblages of cargo, ship-related material [hull and gear], the personal possessions of those on board), the available methods and techniques for in situ preservation, and the excavation and conservation of recovered, waterlogged material. Particular emphasis will be given to surveying and mapping techniques, which enable more accurate results, and the development of research tools for documenting site formation processes (cultural and natural). Students will be offered the opportunity to implement in the field much of the knowledge they acquire in the classroom, through their participation in the University of Cyprus excavation project on the Mazotos shipwreck, and a practical seminar at the Department of Antiquities Conservation Laboratory.
 
ARCH 659: The Interdisciplinary Study of Ancient Materials
 
Today it is widely accepted that the most comprehensive archaeological studies are those which combine traditional methods of typological and stylistic classification with analytical techniques deriving from the natural and digital sciences. The aim of this course is to introduce students to a variety of analytical techniques used for the characterization of ancient materials. The focus will be on the physical, chemical and microscopic analysis of the main groups of inorganic materials namely stone, ceramics, glass, plasters, and metals. The students will also be instructed on how the analytical data procured can then be used to answer questions regarding ancient technology, economy, organization of production and trade.
 
ARCH 661: Study of Pottery and Small Finds
 
This seminar-course focuses on methodologies employed to recognize, record, and quantify ceramics from both excavated and survey contexts. Special attention will be given to (a) basic principles applied for the classification of ceramics by ware type and identifying chronological ware-groups, (b) methods to read (interpret) pottery functions, (c) models used to record and quantify ceramic assemblages (with the use of related Software), (d) practical-classes for both hand- drawing and 3D-scanning and reconstruction of pottery sherds (with the aid of a 3D scanner). Students will also have the opportunity to get involved in the quantification of already dated assemblages and/or participate in the study of ceramic finds.
3rd semester:
 

ARCH 615: Practical Training in Field Archaeology

 
 The purpose of this course is the on-site training in generic and specific practical archaeological skills, supplemented by formal lectures. The students expose themselves to the particular conditions of teamwork in the field and develop communication and collaboration skills. They also experience the challenges and rewards of discovering material remains of the past, while at the same time they get the grasp of the research related to archaeological fieldwork. In total, they complete at least 20 days of practical training in the field (180 hours). They should also write an essay on a related subject, under the supervision of the course instructor. Upon completion of the seminar, they are expected to have comprehended the nature, potential, and purpose of archaeological fieldwork.

 

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ELECTIVE COURSES

 

ARCH 651: Mediterranean Island Landscapes

The primary purpose of the course is (a) to become acquainted with the cultural distinctiveness of the Mediterranean islands, especially the mega islands of Cyprus, Crete, Sicily and Sardinia, but also smaller ones, like the Cyclades in the Aegean Archipelago; (b) to define their cultural choices and their socio-economic resilience through comparisons with each other and with the nearest continents; (c) to investigate how the island populations exploited the landscape and the natural resources; and (d) to ask why some developed early complex societies (e.g. Crete) while others chose to avoid political complexity (e.g. Sardinia).

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ARCH 652: Introduction to Building Archaeology
Building Archaeology ('Archéologie du bâti', 'Bauforschung') constitutes a branch of the discipline dealing with the scholarly and scientific analysis of standing historical structures by non-destructive means. Its methodology entails the close 'reading' of extant masonry surfaces, the production, and study of accurate illustrative documentation, the scientific investigation of mortars, pigments, metal, wood and other materials. Written historical records will be studied with a view to reconstructing the history of particular edifices within their immediate architectural and cultural surroundings. Τhe course aims to familiarize students with the basic methods employed in this kind of 'above-ground' archaeology, through the survey of current theoretical approaches and introduction to photographic and graphic documentation.

 

 
 

ARCH 663: Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management (CHM)
The course aims to familiarize students with the concept of cultural heritage, its importance and the dangers that threaten it, as well as the reasons why it is imperative to manage it and what this entails. The students are introduced to the national and international legal instruments that govern Cultural Heritage Management (CHM) as well as to the most important local and international organizations engaged in it. The theoretical framework, ethics, methods and techniques involved in ensuring the protection, conservation and highlighting of cultural resources are examined, and good and bad practices in the field are discussed. By the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the potential contribution of CHM to the promotion of scientific knowledge, sustainable development, the improvement of the quality of life of human societies, the cultivation of respect for all human beings and their achievements, and peace-building