ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 51 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 9 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Areas: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Center Faculty of Geography and History
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
Similar to present environments, any past environment (i.e. palaeoenvironment) has to be considered as a dynamic system of emergent complexity, product of the interactions between Earth’s subsystems (lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere), playing human transformations an increasing role in environmental change. This complexity demands an interdisciplinary approach. Thus, this subject tries to introduce to the students the key concepts on how palaoenvironmental studies are done, the available techniques in different disciplines, and to show the complex relationship between human activities and environmental transformations.
The specific objective are:
- Introduce the theoretical concepts on environmental change and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, using a systemic approach
- Introduce the main techniques of absolute dating and methods to establish chronologies in environmental archives
- Present the methodological aspects related to sampling and sample conservation, as well as briefly describe some of the analytical techniques that can be used in archaeological contexts
- Provide a synthesis of the nature and evolution –at different time scales- of the Earth’s climate system
- Introduce the Earth Sciences disciplines that can be of application to the archaeological record: sedimentology, geomorphology, pedology, geochemistry
- Introduce the biological disciplines related to the environmental and archaeological records
- Introduce the applications of the Physical Anthropology to study past societies
Theoretical contents
- Introduction to palaeoenvironmental reserach: palaeoenvironment, environmental archives, environmental proxies, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, palaeoenvironment and archaeology
- Chronology: introduction to absolute dating techniques, radiocarbon dating, calibration, dendrochronology, thermoluminescence
- Introduction to sampling and sample analysis: sampling, sample conservation, sample preparation, frequently used analytical techniques
- Earth Sciences and Archaeology: sedimentology, geomorphology, pedology, and geochemistry applied to archaeological contexts
- Palaeoclimatology: the climate system, climate changes
- Palaeobotany: Palinology, anthracology, carpology, phytoliths
- Physical Anthropology: the human body, palaeodiet, diseases, genetics, mobility
- Human activity and landscape transformation: the study case of NW Spain ¿a cultural landscape?
Field work
- Visit to Pedra do Castro: localization, description and sampling of soil and sediment sequences with potential for environmental reconstruction
BUTZER, K.W. 1982. Archaeology as human ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
BUXÓ, R. y PIQUÉ, R. 2008. Arqueobotánica. Los usos de los plantas en la Península Ibérica. Barcelona: Ariel Prehistoria.
BUXÓ, R., Arqueología de las plantas. La explotación económica de las semillas y los frutos en el marco mediterráneo de la Península Ibérica, Barcelona, 1997.
CAMPILLO, D. 2001. Introducción a la paleopatología. Barcelona: Bellaterra arqueología
CHAIX, L y MÉNIEL, P. (2005). Manual de Arqueozoología. Barcelona
CRIADO BOADO, F.; MARTÍNEZ CORTIZAS, A. 2005. O modelo de formación dun xacemento arqueolóxico. F. Criado Boado & E. Cabrejas Domínguez (coords.). Obras públicas e patrimonio. Estudo arqueolóxico do Corredor do Morrazo. TAPA 41, p. 89-95. Santiago de Compostela: CSIC.
DAVIS, S. J. M. 1987. La arqueología de los animales. Barcelona: Ediciones Bellaterra.
DINCAUZE, D. 2006. Environmental Archaeology. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.
HARRIS, E.C. 1979. Principles of archaeological stratigraphy. Academic Press, London, UK.
HOLLIDAY, V. 2004. Soils in Archaeological Research. Oxford University Press. New York, USA.
MARTÍN SEIJO, M.; RICO REY, A.; TEIRA BRIÓN, A. PICÓN PLATAS, I.; GARCÍA GONZÁLEZ, I.; ABAD VIDAL, E. 2010. Guía de Arqueobotánica. Arqueoloxía/Guías Metodolóxicas. Xunta de Galicia
MARTÍNEZ CORTIZAS, A. 2000. La reconstrucción de paleoambientes cuaternarios: ideas, ejemplos y una síntesis de la evolución del Holoceno en el NW de la Península Ibérica. Estudos do Quaternário 3, 31-41.
MARTÍNEZ CORTIZAS, A. y MOARES DOMÍNGUEZ, C. 1995. Edafología y Arqueología. Estudio de yacimientos arqueológicos al aire libre en Galicia. Santiago de Compostela: Xunta de Galicia.
SCHAETZL R., ANDERSON, S. 2005. Soils. Genesis and Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
SCHIFFER, M.B. 1987. Formation processes of the archaeological record. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Specific competences
CE-1. Elaboration of a PhD report. It implies the knowledge and use, by the students, of the rules to elaborate a PhD report, in the humanities, that is, a correct expression of language, a proper structure and presentation of arguments, the correct use of footnotes to acknowledge scientific contributions, avoiding plagiarism.
CE-2. Preparation and writing of history reports
CE-3. Management of collections and museums
CE-4. Assessment in director plans (“planes directores”), special plans (“planes especiales”), archaeological work, etc.
CE-5. Cultural management
Transversal competences
CT-1. Use of literature and searching tools, including the use of internet resources, analyzing advantages and promoting a critical evaluation of web contents.
CT-2. Optimization of time, organization of available resources, prioritization, alternative solutions, identification of errors in decision making.
CT-3. Promotion of group working, cooperative environments, multidisciplinarity and highly competitive environments
Theoretical lectures will be given to provide the students with basic knowledge, complemented with practical work, seminars and field trips –if feasible. In the lectures audiovisual resources will be used to support oral exposition.
Continuous evaluation:
- Follow up of the work of the students in the classrooms, lab, field trips, seminars and tutoring time.
- Presentation of work, results, reports, etc.
Evaluation of learning:
- Written or oral exams, which may include tests, assays, reasoning questions, theme or short questions, solution of practical cases.
Qualification system: final mark between 0 and 10, base on present legislation (Real Decreto 1125/2003 de 5 de septiembre; BOE 18 de septiembre).
Autonomous study (individual or in group) 30 hours
Recommended lectures 12 horas
Preparation of presentations, debates, etc. 4 horas
Other tasks assigned by the teacher. 4 horas
It is recommended to the students to make use of tutorial time to solve any question related to the subject. Students will have to attend and actively participate in the lectures and tasks assigned. Use of scientific literature is strongly recommended.
Antonio Manuel Martinez Cortizas
Coordinador/a- Department
- Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
- Area
- Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
- Phone
- 881813379
- antonio.martinez.cortizas [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
| Thursday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 02 - Cartography |
| 09:00-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 15 |
| 01.19.2021 09:00-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Ancient History Seminar |
| 06.23.2021 09:00-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Ancient History Seminar |