S/PS Beyond the Trowel: Theoretical Approaches in Archaeology
Instructors: Dr. Mari YamasakiShortname: 07.012.24_040
Course No.: 07.012.24_040
Course Type: Seminar
Requirements / organisational issues
Requirements / organisational issues:The students are expected to read the literature that will be assigned to them in advance as well as to actively participate in the class discussion.
IMPORTANT: THE COURSE WILL BE IN ENGLISH
Recommended reading list
Bentley, R. Alexander, Christopher Chippendale & Herbert D.G. Maschner (eds). 2008. Handbook of archaeological theories. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.Gardner, Andrew, Mark Lane & Ulrike Sommer (eds). 2013. The Oxford Handbook of archaeological theory.
Johnson, Matthew. 2020. Archaeological theory: An introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Praetzellis, Adrian. 2016. Archaeological theory in a nutshell. London: Routledge.
Renfrew, Colin & Paul G. Bahn. 2005. Archaeology: Key concepts. London & New York: Routledge.
Renfrew, Colin & Paul G. Bahn. 2016. Archaeology: Theories, methods, and practice. London: Thames & Hudson. 7th edition.
Urban, Patricia & Edward Schortman. 2012. Archaeological theory in practice. Routledge.
Website: www.critique-of-ar.net
Use this as a bibliographical resource and to delve deeper into specific topics.
Contents
Description:In archaeological research, theoretical frameworks serve as lenses through which datasets and sites are interpreted. Each framework offers unique perspectives on specific data as well as broader contexts, enhancing our understanding of human history. This course introduces the key contemporary trends in archaeological theory and provides foundational knowledge about how interpretative frameworks have evolved within the discipline.
We will discuss processual and post-processual approaches, as well as New Materialisms and Flat Ontological perspectives, exploring how they can, at times, complement one another and at other times present contrasting views. Most importantly, we will be examining a variety of theoretical models and their application to actual fieldwork and research.
Students are encouraged throughout the course to engage in discussions about the readings and critically analyse recent archaeological case studies that utilise a variety of theoretical frameworks.
The course has a dual purpose: to equip students with essential knowledge of archaeological theory and the practical application of frameworks, and to serve as a ‘laboratory of thought’ where students become familiar with different ways to use theoretical models as ‘tools to think with’ across diverse archaeological topics.
Dates
| Date (Day of the week) | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10/29/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 11/05/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 11/12/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 11/19/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 11/26/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 12/03/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 12/10/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 12/17/2025 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 01/07/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 01/14/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 01/21/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 01/28/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 02/04/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
| 02/11/2026 (Wednesday) | 14:15 - 15:45 | 00 309 9133 - Aareon-Gebäude |
