SA510 SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
| Course Code: | 8140510 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Settlement Archaeology |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. ÇİĞDEM ATAKUMAN |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The goal of this course is to teach students the basic principles of spatial analysis in archaeology, focusing particularly on the underlying rationale, as well as the theoretical and methodological implications of frequently applied techniques. This course will offer a theory-based approach to spatial analysis, discussing the various theories and methodologies used to study landscapes and spatial human behaviour in the past through readings, group discussion and reflections. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to formulate research questions about the spatial aspect of archaeological data, draft a spatially-aware research design, and critically assess the application of spatial analysis and the interpretation of its outputs.
Course Content
This course introduces the basic concepts, assumptions and methods of data collection, however the primary focus is on spatial analysis at regional, local and intra-site scales and within social and ecological contexts. Throughout the course, we will survey various methods of data identification, collection and analysis which are used to interpret artifact distributions at various geographical frames from intra-site to regional scales. In doing so, we will pay particular attention to theories that inform the development and use of different interpretations.
Course Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, students are expected to understand the following:
- Gain an overview of the breadth of possibilities for spatial analysis in archaeology
- Build an understanding of the theoretical and methodological requirements and implications of particular spatial methodologies
- Learn to transform research hypotheses into viable theoretical and methodological frameworks in the application of spatial analysis in archaeological research
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | To gain expertise in archaeological method and theory and develop ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment, | ✔ | |||
| 2 | To become skillful in accessing and evaluating archaeological data regardless of chronological and geographical boundaries while specializing in a specific period and region, | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To be able to look at the past as a whole grasping the interdisciplinary nature of archaeology and its relationship to other disciplines, | ✔ | |||
| 4 | To be able to express what he/she learned both orally and in writing, | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To have excellent command of both traditional and modern research methods, | ✔ | |||
| 6 | To have the infrastructure to follow up-to-date publications and other research in the area of interest, | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To be aware of professional ethics and to have the ability to adopt them, | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To possess technical skills that are necessary in fieldwork, | ✔ | |||
| 9 | To be aware of social, environmental, and economic impact of his/her professional activities, | ✔ | |||
| 10 | To be able to conduct work in a team and to be able to lead a team when required. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution