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Urbanism

Course Requirements

All are expected to do weekly readings regularly and comprehensively, and contribute rigorously to seminar discussions. Each will be occasionally asked to volunteer for 15-20 minute presentations in class on selected articles, topics or a specific body of archaeological material. In the first half of the semester, the written tasks will involve a series of brief response papers in relation to our theoretical discussions during the seminars. In the second half, students will focus on their research project. There will be no exams. Grading will be based on class participation (25%), class presentations (15%), response papers (20%), research project (40%).

Research project

All will choose a research topic in collaboration with the instructor and turn it into a project. The project should involve an analytical and critical discussion of a relevant theoretical-historiographic problem and its consequences on a body of archaeological evidence. The topic should be relevant to our seminar discussions on the rise of the state in the Near East (comparative case studies are always welcome). One of the main objectives in the research project is the bridge the apparent gap between theoretical discussions in archaeology and the material evidence. Topics will be decided upon in such a way that they complement each other. The research project’s presentations will include a 15-20 min class presentation of the project, a 4-5 page draft (to be submitted on the day of the presentation) and a 12-20 page final paper. Grading of the research project is not solely based on the final paper but on how the project develops.

All assignments will be posted on the wiki.