Introductory description

This module will provide students with the opportunities to work on unpublished archaeological material from the Hellenistic period, which will provide an embodied learning experience that provides a complement to our second-year core module The Hellenistic World. It will run alongside a larger collaborative field-based research project entitled the "Knossos Legacy Archaeology Project" (KLASP) which involves the University of Warwick (C. Trainor), Tulane University (E. Oddo) and University College Dublin (J. Day). The wider research project will also cover material from the prehistoric Minoan period (the Knossos Arsenal). Warwick students will be offered the opportunity to gain experience working with this type of material that we do not currently cover on our degree structure. This experience will provide a complement to our current module offerings by enabling students to work in a small group setting with a Warwick lecturer and field-leading material culture specialist.

During this module, Warwick students will be expected to attend thematic lectures on topics such as the history of Crete, archaeological illustration, artefact typologies, as well as including a specialist archaeological tour of the world-famous Palace of Knossos. The vast majority of the module will involve Warwick students gaining valuable experience through working with raw archaeological material, and will be presented with the challenges of recording, cataloguing, and interpreting archaeological features and artefact assemblages.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module will take place at the Stratigraphic Museum at the Knossos Study Centre of the British School at Athens. Located at the Villa Ariadne, Knossos, Crete and will be hosted by the British School at Athens.

The basis of this project will be based around the recording, cataloging and study of archaeological material from the site of Knossos. Students will work under close supervisions of expert archaeologists and will be trained in how to identify, record and interpret archaeological artefacts and architecture. Work days will take place on Mondays-Saturdays. In addition to the fieldwork, students will attend several lectures/workshops and field trips on afternoons (within the workday)
Lecture Topics and Field trips include:

• Lecture: Introduction to Crete.
• Lecture: Introduction to Knossos.
• Workshop: Recording and Cataloguing Artefacts.
• Lecture: Minoan Pottery.
• Lecture: Historical Pottery.
• Workshop: Archaeological Illustration.
• Field trip: Tour of the Palace at Knossos.
• Field trip: Trip to the Archaeological Museum of Herakleion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Evaluate archaeological evidence (sites, monuments, artefacts) from first-hand observation.
• Record and present photographs or illustrations in a meaningful fashion to complement written work.
• Communicate effectively about archaeological remains and their interpretation, orally and in writing.
• Experience with handling, ordering, recording and processing archaeological finds.
• Experience with handling, ordering, recording and Awareness of issues and current methodologies relating to the conservation, storage and accessibility of material cultural.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Interdisciplinary

This module has been designed to provide students from the University of Warwick with the unique opportunity for embodied-learning through working on unpublished archaeological material from the site of Knossos, on the island of Crete.
This module is imbedded within a collaborative research project between the University of Warwick (C. Trainor), Tulane University (E. Oddo) and University College Dublin (J. Day), and will provide students with the opportunities to work on both historical period material (the remains of an important and unpublished Hellenistic pottery kiln), as well as material from the prehistoric Minoan period (the Knossos Arsenal), which we do not current cover within our degree structure.
This experience will provide a complement to our current module offerings by enabling students to work in a small-group setting with a Warwick lecturer and field-leading material culture specialist.
A series of other field-leading specialists will be brought in to provide thematic lectures on topics such as the History of Crete, Archaeological Drawing, Artefact Typologies, as well as including a specialist archaeological tour of the world-famous Palace of Knossos.
Students will gain experience working with raw archaeological material, and will be presented with the challenges of recording, cataloguing, and interpreting archaeological features and finds. This will involve the close reading of material and relevant bibliographies, as well as working with databases and database ontologies, photography, mapping and archaeological illustration.

International

The module is imbedded within a collaborative research project between the University of Warwick (C. Trainor), Tulane University (E. Oddo) and University College Dublin (J. Day). Student will benefit from the expertise of academics from each of the three institutions and will learn alongside students from the two other universities.

Subject specific skills

Appreciation of methodological issues in studying the material culture of ancient Greece, with a particular focus on either coins, epigraphy, or pottery.

Awareness of chronological change in the material culture of Ancient Greece.

Ability to present structured chain of argument drawing together evidence into cohesive whole

Ability to select & apply appropriate problem-solving methodologies

Ability to conduct independent research & analysis

Ability to evaluate intellectual progress

IT skills - word processing/database experience

Familiarity with methodologies relating to database ontologies

Experience thinking about abstract material and placing this within a three-dimensional context, as well as within spatial and chronological contexts.

Use of subject-specific reference works, and how these relate to processing raw data.

Understanding geological reference works such as the Munsell Soil Colour Charts.

Transferable skills

• critical thinking
• problem solving
• active lifelong learning
• communicating clearly and effectively both in discussions and in writing
• information literacy, including finding, evaluating and using previous research
• professionalism
• working effectively with others in groups and tasks
• project and time management
• using a range of tools and resources effectively in the preparation of course work
• developing strong analytical skills by using appropriate methods to analyse raw research data