AE2035 H20 Arkeologi som hållbarhetsvetenskap

AE 2035 Archaeology as Sustainability Science (Fall 2020)

 

Welcome to this exciting course! My name is Christian Isendahl, and I will be your teacher. Short about me: I am Professor of Archaeology at the Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg. I got my Ph.D. in archaeology at Uppsala University in 2002, am interested in issues of long-term sustainability and resilience, and apply a historical ecological lens to study urbanism, farming systems, water management, and socio-political organization in the past, particularly in the Global South, and most notably in the Maya Lowlands, the Andes, the Amazon, and Cuba. I have a very strong interest in exploring archaeology’s potential to provide practical insights addressing contemporary challenges, and hope you will too!

 

This is the first time we organize Archaeology as Sustainability Science and I hope you look as much forward to taking this course as I do coordinating it!

 

The first course event will be an introductory Zoom-meeting on Thursday September 3 at 13.00-16.00 (Swedish time). The meeting is not compulsory, but this is a good opportunity to get an overview of course content and meet me and your course colleagues. The link to all course seminars during the semester is:

https://gu-se.zoom.us/j/66695993064

 

Again, welcome!

 

Christian

 

Ps. Please take a look at the information below, which might answer some of your questions at this time.

 

The course offers a critical comprehensive introduction to how archaeological data, analysis, interpretation, and perspectives to time and process contribute to a deeper understanding of ecological, economic, and social sustainability and sustainable development. A number of themes, including urban planning, agriculture, and food and water security, highlight archaeology’s contribution to sustainability research. These themes are examined within different theoretical and methodological frameworks, with an emphasis on anthropocentric and interdisciplinary historical ecology. Reviewing a series of selected case studies from both the Global South and North, the course’s global perspective provides significant insight on the field’s analytical and explanatory opportunities and challenges.

 

The course consists of three successive course modules, each lasting about 6 weeks:

1. Theory and method (5 HEC)
2. Case studies (5 HEC)
3. Individual assignment (5 HEC)

 

The course syllabus is entirely online-based; access to a computer with internet connection is therefore required to be able to follow the course. Course modules 1 and 2 each consists of writing assignments in the form of study questions that you address individually, based on attentive reading of assigned course literature, in written PMs (detailed instructions will be distributed with each assignment). You upload your PMs to Canvas. Course module 3’s individual assignment is a longer essay (but no longer than 5,000 words) on a relevant topic that you will determine in consultation with me.

 

A webinar (via Zoom) concludes each course module. These webinars offer an opportunity to discuss critical issues raised as the course progresses. In addition, depending on the interest among you, towards the end of the course I plan to organize one or two “master class” webinars with leading scholars in the field.

 

Course modules are examined on the basis of an evaluation of assignments according to the scale Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), and Fail (U). To pass a course module all assignments must have been graded at least G. To accomplish VG for a course module, the majority of assignments must have been graded VG. To pass the course all course modules must have been graded at least G. To accomplish VG for the entire course, the majority of course modules must have been graded VG. Opportunities to resubmit will be arranged if an assignment fails.

 

The course language is English. Hence, all course materials and literature are in English. This is a quite reading-intensive course. UPDATE (20200824): you will find the full literature list under 'Moduler' in the left hand margin.

 

You will find detailed materials (e.g. assignments and other instructions) related to the course modules under the Modules folder to the left. All material is not there from the start of the course, but I will fill it up as we go along. This Canvas page will be the hub of the course, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me through email (christian.isendahl@gu.se).