I855 – Introduction to Digital Archaeology

Module
Introduction to Digital Archaeology
Introduction to Digital Archaeology
Module number
I855
Version: 1
Faculty
Informatics/Mathematics
Level
Master
Duration
1 Semester
Semester
Winter semester
Module supervisor

PD Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marco Block-Berlitz
marco.block-berlitz(at)htw-dresden.de

Lecturer(s)

Dr. phil. Hendrik Rohland
hendrik.rohland(at)htw-dresden.de

Course language(s)

English
in "Introduction to Digital Archaeology"

ECTS credits

5.00 credits

Workload

150 hours

Courses

4.00 SCH (2.00 SCH Lecture | 2.00 SCH Seminar)

Self-study time

90.00 hours

Pre-examination(s)
None
Examination(s)

Alternative examination - Documentary work
Module examination | Weighting: 100% | tested in English language
in "Introduction to Digital Archaeology"

Form of teaching

During lectures students will be provided with basic information on the topics of the course and introductions to further reading.

In the seminar part, the participants will work on a given topic on their own, presenting their progress to their fellow students and prepare a paper.

Media type

In-Presence lecture and Seminar using Presentation, Literature, and digital material on students own devices

Instruction content/structure

The lecture is designed to provide the particiants with a broad knowledge of the fields and topics of computer and geoscience applications in archaeology. It is less concerned with the peculiarities of single technologies, as these will be covered in specialised modules, but more with the theoretical aspects, how quantification and computerization changes and shapes the ways in which knowledge is generated and disseminated in archaeology. In the seminar in connection with the lecture, students will be guided to research a topic on their own and present and discuss the results in a scientific way.

  • History of computer applications in archaeology.
  • Theorethical and epistemological considerations of quantification in archaeology
  • Selected topics of digital archaeology and their impact on archaeological research
    • Data structures and databases
    • Handling and analysis of spatial data
    • Remote sensing
    • Artifical intelligence
    • Implications of 3D technology for archaeological workflows
    • Open data and open science
    • Recent developments in the field
Qualification objectives

After the lecture, students will ...

  • have a basic understandig a range of computer applications in archaeology.
  • be aware of the theoretical background and the main debates that accompany the quantification and computerization of archaeological research.
  • be acquainted with useful resources for the acquisition and publishing of research data.
  • be acquainted with useful resources for further self-study of established methods and technologies.
  • have acquired in-depth knowledge of a selected topic by self-study.
  • have enhanced their skills in scientific research, writing and presentation.
Social and personal skills

During the course, students will...

  • ... practice their oral presentation skills.
  • ... practice to appraise different views and opinions on a given topic.
  • ... practice to provide constructive feedback.
  • ... learn to use criticism as a resource for improvement.
Special admission requirements
Recommended prerequisites
Continuation options

I865 Research Data Management in Archaeology

I858 Project Seminar Digital Archaeology

Literature

Evans, T. L. and Daly, P. T. (2006) ‘Archaeological Theory and Digital Pasts.’ In Evans, T. L. and Daly, P. T. (eds) Digital archaeology: bridging method and theory. London; New York: Routledge.

Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology: Proceedings. https://proceedings.caaconference.org/

Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies: Proceedings. https://archiv.chnt.at/proceedings/

Notes
No information