Bi2424 Field research methods

Faculty of Science
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Sandra Sázelová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marek Daňko (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Martin Ivanov, Dr. (lecturer)
Mgr. Mikoláš Jurda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tomáš Mořkovský (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Novák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Sandra Sázelová, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Sandra Sázelová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 18. 2. to Fri 17. 5. Mon 11:00–12:50 Bp1,01007
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal is to theoretically prepare the students for active participation in the anthropological field research. The student will be introduced to the field survey in terms of legislative and ethic framework, planning and practical realization together with the golden standard documenting and analytical methods including the interpretation of the obtained results. Relation between the research context and available methods and employment of the up-to-date 3D digital methods will be emphasized.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students should be able to: understand the legislative framework necessary in the field research and depositing of osteological remains and archaeological findings;
participate in the field research organisation and realization understand the specifics of the field research in different stages of human history from the Paleolithic to present;
comprehend the principles of a direct and indirect dating, geophysical survey, assessment of the findings and taphonomy analyses and interpret the achieved results;
perform standard documentation of the uncovered findings in various contexts and to understand advanced methods of 3D digital documentation;
describe the laboratory processing of the findings with respect to current practice and preservation
Syllabus
  • 1. Legal and ethical aspects of field research and manipulation with human and animal skeletal remains and archaeological findings. (Tomáš Mořkovský)
  • 2. Methods of field research of palaeolithic and mesolithic (history of methodical approaches, specifics and problems, artefacts/ecofacts/naturfacts, archaeological locality, methods of surface area research, multilayer sites in loess/cave and under overhang, basic documentation of finds and finding situations). (Petr Šída)
  • 3. Methods of field research from the neolithic to the modern period (history of methodological approaches, specifics, modern approaches, geophysical measurement/imaging). (Robin Pěnička, Tomáš Mořkovský)
  • 4. Evaluation of finding data (planographic documentation, density of findings and their spatial distribution in the site, GIS). (Martin Novák)
  • 5. Basic documentation of osteological findings in the field. (Robin Pěnička, Tomáš Mořkovský)
  • 6. Advanced field documentation of osteological findings (photogrammetry, aeronautical archeology and documentation, 3D documentation of the finding situation, documentation outside the visible spectrum). (Mikoláš Jurda)
  • 7. Dating of pleistocene and holocene findings (basic methods of indirect dating: stratigraphy/biostratigraphy, climatic indicators; basic methods of direct dating: isotopic dating, thermoluminescence, etc.). (Martin Ivanov)
  • 8. Taphonomy of Paleolithic and Mesolithic osteological material (fossilization, influence of basic abiotic and biotic agents on paleoanthropological and archeozoological material). (Sandra Sázelová)
  • 9. Taphonomy of skeletal findings from the Neolithic to the present, man as a significant taphonomic agent, taphonomy of funerals and unusual finding situations. (Mikoláš Jurda, Marek Daňko)
  • 10. Complex analysis of the finding situation, in situ analytical sampling and bioarcheology (virtual taphonomy, sampling). (Mikoláš Jurda, Marek Daňko)
  • 11. Preparation, documentation and archiving of osteological material. (Tomáš Mořkovský)
Literature
    required literature
  • Binford, L. R. 1964: A consideration of archaeological research design. American Antiquity 29, 425-441.
  • Lyman, R. L. 1994: Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Svoboda, J. A. 2014: Předkové. Evoluce člověka. Praha: Academia.
  • Šída, P. 2012: Metody terénního výzkumu a vyhodnocení paleolitických a mezolitických situací. Hradec Králové: Filozofická fakulta.
  • URBANOVÁ, Petra, Mikoláš JURDA, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Jan KRAJSA. Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey. Forensic Science International. CLARE,Ireland: Elsevier, 2017, vol. 281, December, p. 52-62. ISSN 0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.027. info
  • WILHELMSON, Helene a Nicoló DELL’UNTO, 2015. Virtual taphonomy: A new method integrating excavation and postprocessing in an archaeological context: Virtual Taphonomy. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 157(2), 305–321. ISSN 00029483. doi:10.1002
    recommended literature
  • Cziesla, E. 1990: Siedlungsdynamik auf Steinzeitlichen Fundplätzen. Holos, Bonn.
  • Kroll, E.M., Price, T.D. (eds.) 1991: The Interpretation of Archaeological Spatial Patterning. Plenum Press, New York – London.
  • Binford, L. R. 1981: Bones: Ancient men and modern myths. New York: Academic Press.
  • GOJDA, Martin, 2017. Archeologie a dálkový průzkum: historie, metody, prameny = Archaeology and remote sensing: history, methods, data. Vydání první. Praha: Academia. ISBN 978-80-200-2644-6.
  • URBANOVÁ, Petra, Mikoláš JURDA and Martin ČUTA. Záznam a analýza digitálních dat v antropologii. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 120 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7754-6. info
  • SCHOTSMANS, Eline MJ; MÁRQUEZ-GRANT, Nicholas; FORBES, Shari L. (ed.). Taphonomy of human remains: forensic analysis of the dead and the depositional environment. John Wiley & Sons, 2017.
  • HAGLUND, William D. a Marcella H. SORG, ed., 1997. Forensic taphonomy: the postmortem fate of human remains. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-9434-1.
  • BERG, Gregory E., 2002. Last Meals: Recovering Abdominal Contents From Skeletonized Remains. Journal of Archaeological Science. 29(12), 1349–1365. ISSN 03054403. doi:10.1006/jasc.2001.0796
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in the form of lectures accompanied by discussion with students.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with a written test. To pass the exam successfully the student must attain minimum of 75 % from possible test points, which prove good knowledge of the issues discussed during lectures and in the required reading.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
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