Syllabus

ARCH 1860 Engineering Material Culture: An Introduction to Archaeological Science
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World Spring Semester 2010 - M,W,F 1:00-1:50, Rhode Island Hall 008 Course Website

Course Format

This course combines lecture, seminar, and laboratory formats. The primary course lecturer is Dr. Krysta Ryzewski, an archaeologist and archaeometallurgist. Dr. Brian Sheldon, an engineer, with expertise in ceramic materials, will also deliver lectures specific to materials science. The majority of the course is organized thematically by archaeological material type: ceramics, glass, metals, and stone. In addressing each material type, the techniques and research questions relevant to the particular materials’ properties, manufacture, and structure will be highlighted.
This course is designed to bring together students from various disciplines who might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact in a classroom setting. Students will be assigned to work together in semester-long research groups that will focus on the analysis of one archaeomaterial type. Research groups will work together in all laboratory exercises and on the final research project.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites required for this course. It is preferred, however, that students have already completed at least two university courses in one of the following disciplines: Archaeology, Anthropology, Ancient Studies, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Biology, Physics, Geology, Chemistry, Art History. The level of experience necessary to contribute to research group activities makes this course most suitable for mid to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.

Assessments

Weekly assignments – 40% (5 papers, 5pts each; 4 problem sets/exercises, 4pts each; 4 discussion questions, 3 pts each)
Project Benchmarks (5x, 2 pts each)– 10%
Mid-term exam - 20%
Final project - 30%

• Weekly assignments are assignments that are to be completed individually. These will vary in type according to the lecture topic. Specific assignments will be announced during class each week (though the dates of these are noted on the schedule below). These assignments will include short critical response papers (500 words), problem sets, laboratory exercises, and discussion question postings. Questions for response papers will be posted on the wiki on Monday of each week.

• Project benchmarks are assignments that are to be completed as a group. Each research group is required to meet five benchmarks along the way to the final project: project scope, literature review, project proposal, group discussion, oral presentation.

• A Mid-term exam will contain objective and essay sections. The exam is designed to gauge students’ comprehension of the introductory methods and approaches to archaeomaterials covered to date.

• Final project topics will be assigned early on in the semester to insure that groups can pay close attention to the techniques and case studies most applicable to their research throughout the course. Students will work with the instructors on developing the research topic. Final projects will include a poster and a supplementary report. The report will be 8-10 pages (not including images), and the poster will form the basis of the group’s final presentation. Each group member must also submit a 1-page evaluation of their role in the final project research process. More details about poster preparation and formatting will be posted on the class wiki.

Late Policy

Late assignments will be deducted 1 point for each hour past the due time unless arrangements are made with Dr. Ryzewski in advance of the class meeting closest to the due date.

Required Texts

There are no required textbooks for this class at the Brown Bookstore. Instead, all readings are posted on the course website.

See Schedule of Lectures and Readings

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