Mining Archaeology and Archaeometallurgy
Code: 106882Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | OP | 3 |
| Archaeology | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Joan Oller Guzman
- Email :
- joan.oller@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this module.
Objectives
This module aims to provide a general overview of the emergence and consolidation of extractive activities among human communities, and their transformation and use. From a chronological perspective, it will begin with the emergence of the first mining and metallurgical activities and will extend up to the fall of the Roman Empire and Late Antiquity. It will address aspects related to human communities' interests in certain materials and products, how they were obtained through extractive activities, and how they were transformed into various everyday products. In this regard, technical aspects related to extraction activities will be addressed, as well as those of transformation, with a special emphasis on metallurgical activities. The evolution of mining and quarrying activities will be analysed, primarily from the protohistory to Late Antiquity. Likewise, the different products obtained and their uses (metals, quality stone, jewellery, etc.) will be analysed. All these topics will be approached from a theoretical perspective, but also with a large number of specific case studies to illustrate these more theoretical concepts.
Learning outcomes
- CM26 (Defend innovative proposals in the technical-methodological realms of archaeology, its knowledge processes and of applied archaeology.) Defend innovative proposals in the technical-methodological realms of archaeology, its knowledge processes and of applied archaeology.
- CM27 (Assess the environmental, economic and social impact of the design and application of archaeological research projects and heritage enhancement programmes, characterising the potential audience.) Assess the environmental, economic and social impact of the design and application of archaeological research projects and heritage enhancement programmes, characterising the potential audience.
- KM38 (Identify the necessary phases of field work, the ideal contexts for its application, and the organisation of post-excavation operations in archaeological field work.) Identify the necessary phases of field work, the ideal contexts for its application, and the organisation of post-excavation operations in archaeological field work.
- SM37 (Analyse the potential of an archaeological site for research and for its valuation and socialisation as heritage based on bibliographic records, field activities such as machine tracking and the application of remote sensing, prospecting and excavation methods, and the study of its materials.) Analyse the potential of an archaeological site for research and for its valuation and socialisation as heritage based on bibliographic records, field activities such as machine tracking and the application of remote sensing, prospecting and excavation methods, and the study of its materials.
- SM39 (Apply the most common techno-typological classification methods and techniques to archaeological artefacts.) Apply the most common techno-typological classification methods and techniques to archaeological artefacts.
Contents
The course content will be divided into the following blocks:
1. Historiographical introduction
2. Basic concepts and technical aspects.
3. The Mesopotamian world I: from the first metals to Sumerian craftsmanship.
4. The Mesopotamian world II: from the Middle Bronze Age to the advent of Iron.
5. Pharaonic Egypt: from the earliest extractive activities to the apogee of the New Kingdom.
6. The Greek world: gold, silver and marble for the poleis.
7. Rome and its empire: the exploitation of extractive resources on a global scale.
8. Late Antiquity and the new extractive models.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutoring | 20 | 0.8 | SM37 |
| Theoretical classes | 37.6 | 1.504 | CM27, KM38 |
| Classroom practices and seminars | 10 | 0.4 | KM38, SM39 |
| Personal work | 82.4 | 3.296 | CM26, KM38, SM37 |
The teaching methodology will consist of a combination of lectures, presentation of reviews and/or papers, reading of specialised literature, occasional laboratory practicals and the holding of seminars.
Note: 15 minutes of one class, within the timetable set by the institution/programme, will be reserved for students to complete the teaching performance and module evaluation surveys.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research work and oral presentation | 30% | 0 | 0 | CM26, KM38, SM37, SM39 |
| Exam | 40% | 0 | 0 | KM38, SM39 |
| Seminar | 30% | 0 | 0 | CM26, CM27, SM37 |
Assessment will be based on three activities:
- A seminar on one of the topics covered in the module, with an associated assessment (30%).
- Preparation of a coursework on one of the topics covered in the module, with an oral presentation (30%).
- Final examination (40%).
To pass the module, all three assessment activities must be completed. For an activity to count towards the average mark, it must achieve a minimum grade of 4. A student will receive a “Not Assessed” grade if they have not submitted more than 30% of the assessment activities.
At the time of each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedure and the date for marking.
Exchange students who request to sit an exam early must submit a written document from their home university to the lecturer to justify their request.
To be eligible for the resit, a student must have been assessed on 2/3 of the total. The resit will consist of repeating only the failed activities.
This module does not offer the single assessment option.
If a student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment, that assessment will be marked 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. In the event that multiple irregularities occur in the assessment exercises of the same module, the final grade for that module will be 0.
In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage. Any work that includes AI-generated passages will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and will result in the assignment being marked as 0 and being irrecoverable, or in more severe sanctions in cases of greater severity.
Bibliography
General bibliography (combined with other specific references during the classes):
Adams, A.E.; MacKenzie, W.S.; Guilford, C. (1991) Atlas of sedimentary rocks under the microscope. London.
Antolinos, J.A. et al. (2012). Minería y metalurgia antiguas: Visiones y revisiones: homenaje a Claude Domergue. Casa de Velázquez. Madrid.
Roberts, Benjamin W.; Thornton, Christopher P. (2014). Archaeometallurgy in global perspective. Methods and synthesis. Springer. New York.
Buchwald, V.F. (2005) Iron and steel in ancient times. The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Copenhague.
Dodge, H.; Ward-Perkins, B. (1992). Marble in Antiquity. Collected papers of J.B.Ward-Perkins. British School at Rome. Roma.
Domergue, Claude (2008). Les Mines antiques: la production des métaux aux époques grecque et romaine. Picard. Paris.
Gutierrez, Ana. (2009). Roman quarries in the Northeast of Hispania (Modern Catalonia). Tarragona.
Hauptmann, Andreas (2020). Archaeometallurgy: materials science aspects. Springer. Cham.
Hirst, Alfred M. (2010). Imperial mines and quarries in the Roman world: organizational aspects, 27 BC-AD 235. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
Klemm, Rosemary, Klemm, Dietrich (2013). Gold and gold mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia. Geoarchaeology of the ancient gold mining sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern deserts. Springer. Berlin.
Maxfield, V., Peacock, David P.S. (2001). The Roman imperial quarries: survey and excavation at Mons Porphyrites 1994-1998. Egypt Exploration Society. London.
Montero Ruiz, I. (coord.) (2010). Manual de arqueometalurgia. MAN. Madrid.
Montero Fenollós, J.L. (1998). La metalurgia en el Próximo Oriente antiguo (III y II milenios a.C.). Ausa. Vic.
Oller Guzmán, Joan (2024). “Emerald extraction and processing in the Egyptian Eastern Desert: recent data coming from the archaeological work in the Wadi Sikait area”. Minerals in Egypt, from Naqada to Alexandria. Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer. Bruxelles.
Peacock, David P.S.; Maxfield, Valerie (1997). Mons Claudianus: survey and excavation 1987-1993. El Cairo.
Pensabene, P. (1994). La vie del marmo. Rome.
Redon, Bérangère; Faucher, Thomas (2020). Samut Nord : l'exploitation de l'or du désert Oriental à l'époque ptolémaïque. IFAO. Cairo.
Tallet, P., Marouard, G., Laisney, D. (2024). Ouadi el-Jarf I: les installations du littoral. IFAO. Cairo.
Tylecote, R.F. (1976). A History of Metallurgy. The Metals Society.
Zarzalejos, Mar et al. (2012). Paisajes mineros antiguos en la Península Ibérica: investigaciones recientes y nuevas líneas de trabajo. Homenaje a Claude Domergue. UNED. Madrid.
Software
No specific software is required beyond basic document access and creation programmes such as Word, PowerPoint and PDF.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |