Students
ECJS884 – Archaeological Fieldwork
2014 – S2 External
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Dr. Kyle Keimer
Contact via kyle.keimer@mq.edu.au
W6A 538
By appointment
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MA in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies or ECJS) or PGDipArts in (Ancient History or ECJS) or PGCertArts in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Students participate in a Mediterranean or Near-Eastern archaeological project of their choice relevant to the field of ECJS. Participation is for a minimum of three weeks. Students are required to satisfactorily complete the credit course at the site and submit an essay of 3000 words. Students are individually responsible for meeting the tuition and residential charges and otherwise for planning and paying for travel and accommodation. Advice on obtaining concessions and grants in aid may be obtained through the Department. Before enrolment, students must consult with the unit coordinator, Dr Stephen Llewelyn, and complete a form outlining the proposed project.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
General Assessment Information
Submission of Assignments: The literature review, square report, and synthetic essay will be emailed to the convenor at: kyle.keimer@mq.edu.au by their respective due dates. As not everyone is participating in the excavation for the same duration, the terms "prior to excavation" and "1 week after excavation" will be assessed on an individual basis. The Daily Journal Assignment will be handed in to the convenor for grading. If you are an external student not located in the Sydney area it is highly recommended that you submit your journal to the convenor before leaving Tel Azekah, otherwise it will need to be mailed by the due date to: Kyle Keimer, Dept. of Ancient History, W6A 538, Macquarie University, NSW 2109.
Assignments will be assessed on their level of completion, coherence, grammar, and comprehension. A fuller set of guidelines for the synthetic essay will be provided at a later time.
Assessment tasks / assignments are compulsory and must be submitted on time. Extensions for assignments can only be granted for medical reasons or on compassionate grounds. Without documentation (medical or counselling certificates) or prior staff approval, a penalty of 2% a day, including weekends, will be applied. If required, applications for extensions should be made to me before the assignment's due date. No assignments will be accepted after assignments have been corrected and feedback has been provided.
Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.
For Special Consideration Policy see under Policies and Procedures.
Note on Assessment Students must attend the excavation of their choice for the full period of their participation. This period of time will be determined in consultation with your MQ excavation supervisor at the time of enrollment. Failure to complete the full period of participation may result in disqualification from the unit unless there are satisfactory medical or compassionate grounds. Additionally, to complete the unit satisfactorily you will need to undertake all assessment tasks and achieve an overall mark worth 50% or above.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | 40% | End of Excavation |
| Literature Review | 5% | Prior to Excavation |
| Daily Journal | 10% | 22/8/14 |
| Square Report | 10% | 1 Week after leaving dig |
| Presentation | 5% | TBA; post-excavation |
| Synthetic Essay | 30% | 19/9/14 |
Participation
Due: End of Excavation
Weighting: 40%
Much of what you will learn will come through hands-on experience in the field on a day-to-day basis. As your classroom is eight hours of excavation, five days a week, your participation in those excavations, including your attitude and self-application to the work, is the largest component of your grade for this unit. Coming to the field every day is expected, as is working throughout the day, including pottery washing. Participation in the daily activities of the excavation with willingness is factored into your participation grade. This does not include optional lectures and tours, however, these are highly recommended. Additionally, there are many types of participation on an archaeological dig that will fit all levels of physical fitness and personal capabilities.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
Literature Review
Due: Prior to Excavation
Weighting: 5%
Read, evaluate, summarize, and critique the following four articles:
- Na’aman, N., 1979: Sennacherib’s Campaign to Judah and the Date of the LMLK Stamps, Vetus Testamentum 29: 61–86
- Na’aman, N., 1986: Hezekiah’s Fortified Cities and the LMLK Stamps. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 261: 5–21
- Lipschits, O., Sergi, O., and Koch, I., 2010: Royal Judahite Jar Handles: Reconsidering the Chronology of the lmlk Stamp Impressions, Tel Aviv 37: 3–32
- Lipschits, O., Sergi, O., and Koch, I., 2011: Judahite Stamped and Incised Jar Handles: A Tool for Studying the History of Late Monarchic Judah, Tel Aviv 38: 5–41
Your literature review should be 1000 words in length.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Daily Journal
Due: 22/8/14
Weighting: 10%
Part of archaeology is recording everything that is excavated. You will keep a daily journal that catalogs the events of the day (in the field), the specific finds, your questions and interpretations of the materials you are excavating, and the process you undergo in excavating any specific feature. The idea behind this assessment is to get you to be aware of what you are excavating, learning how to plan future excavations, ensuring that you are preserving an appropriate amount of detail during excavation (since, after all, archaeology is destructive. You can't re-excavate something that's already been excavated), and in general, to get you thinking analytically and in three-dimensions (your notes should include the specific three-dimensional context of any given item uncovered during excavation).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
Square Report
Due: 1 Week after leaving dig
Weighting: 10%
You will write an archaeological report on the excavation square in which you work. Your square supervisor will train you in record keeping throughout the course of your time on the excavation and then you will write-up the finds from your square. Your square supervisor and the unit convenor will assist in teaching you how to write technical archaeological reports.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
Presentation
Due: TBA; post-excavation
Weighting: 5%
You will present either as a group or as an individual a brief presentation on your experience at Tel Azekah. This presentation will be done at an arranged time once all students have returned to Australia.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Synthetic Essay
Due: 19/9/14
Weighting: 30%
You will write one 2000 word essay on an arranged topic stemming from your participation in the excavations at Tel Azekah. Confer with the unit convenor to determine topics.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Delivery and Resources
This unit is offered internally and externally and is conducted in Israel. Travel to Israel is mandatory, as is participation as detailed under "assessments". The unit convenor will be present on the archaeological excavations for guidance. Information packets on what to bring to Israel and how to manage in-country will be disseminated by the unit convenor at the provision of those materials by the Tel Aviv University excavation staff. Specific items necessary for completion of ECJS884 include: notebook for daily journaling.
Optional items: laptop (word processing program) for composing essays and reports; camera for photographic preservation and referencing in reports.
Required Reading:
1. See "Literature Review" under Assessments
2. Lipschits, Oded; Yuval Gadot; Manfred Oeming, "Tel Azekah 113 Years After: Preliminary Evaluation of the Renewed Excavations at the Site." Near Eastern Archaeology 75:4 (2012). Pp. 196–206. (Available via jstor.org)
Suggested Reading:
Bliss, Frederick Jones and Macalister, R.A. Stewart. Excavations in Palestine: During the Years 1898-1900, 2 Vols. London: Palestine Exploration Fund, 1902.
Stern, Ephraim. "Azekah" in The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (5 vols.), ed. Ephraim Stern. Pp.123-124. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1993-2008.
If you choose to participate in the weekend tours to surrounding sites, it will serve you well to read the appropriate articles in NEAEHL for those sites as well.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Literature Review
- Presentation
- Synthetic Essay
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Literature Review
- Daily Journal
- Square Report
- Synthetic Essay
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Literature Review
- Daily Journal
- Square Report
- Synthetic Essay
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know the history of Judah/Judea from the Middle Bronze Age (1800 BC) to the Hellenistic Period (332-63 BC), including key rulers (Canaanite, Israelite, Judahite, and Ptolemaic), dates, archaeological sites, and socio-cultural developments.
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Participation
- Literature Review
- Daily Journal
- Square Report
- Presentation
- Synthetic Essay
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Participation
- Daily Journal
- Square Report
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Know archaeological methods and theories, including the the ability to identify developments in those two fields over the past century, and how they are applied in the study and reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern history.
- Analyze archaeological materials--ceramics, inscriptions, architecture, metal, bone, and ivory objects--at an advanced level in order to evaluate textual sources, modern archaeological interpretation, and various ancient geopolitical and socioeconomic contexts.
- Synthesize acquired knowledge and understanding to produce critical analytical essays.
Assessment tasks
- Participation
- Daily Journal
- Square Report
- Synthetic Essay