Advanced Archaeological Theory

Human history is shaped by materials, and our future will be too. Without a thorough understanding of the material powers that make us, we are not well-equipped to create a more sustainable future. An archaeologists’ perspective is crucial to this understanding.

The impact of materials on the shaping of human societies is easy to recognise in the prehistoric record. In fact, we have named entire epochs after them: Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age. Once written sources start to appear, the materials fade into the background. But that does not make materials any less important.

Materials are the fundamental building blocks of societies, and it is for this reason that our relations with materials matter; both in the past and in the present.

Conferences and Workshops at ARCHON

Workshops and conferences play a vital role in academic discourse, offering platforms to exchange knowledge, present findings and build professional networks. As the Research Master’s programme is intended as a first step towards an academic career, participating in academic events is a component of both the first and the second year.

By the end of 'Conferences and Workshops (ARCHON) Year 1' and 'Conferences and Workshops (ARCHON) Year 2', students are expected to meet at least six of the following learning objectives:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of current debates, methods, and approaches in archaeology as presented during academic events.
2. Critically evaluate ongoing research in relation to context, applicability, and disciplinary background.
3. Identify how conference themes and individual presentations align with or challenge their own research interests.
4. Formulate and articulate structured, insightful questions during academic discussions.
5. Engage confidently in scholarly dialogue with national and international researchers.
6. Expand their academic and professional network through active participation.
7. Reflect critically on their learning experience in written form, drawing connections between event content and personal research.
8. Develop skills in organizing academic activities by participating in or initiating workshops.
9. Demonstrate the ability to integrate insights gained from events into their broader research trajectory and thesis development.

Teaching Assistance

The RMA is a first step in an academic career. Besides research skills, academic positions require teaching skills as well.

In this course, you provide active assistance in the undergraduate World Archaeology course for first-year archaeology students, and in this way you gain your first teaching experience. The tutorial is characterised by blended learning: feedback is given partly during the tutorial and partly online.

Explore and better understand which skills academic scientists use every day, many of which are acquired primarily through practical experience rather than formal training. that are typically acquired through actual experience in an academic and research career. In this course, we will discuss several of these skills, with a focus on oral communication, academic argumentation and integrity, the importance of research teams and groups, and navigating the academic and research landscape. We will establish a safe and stimulating environment to practice skills that are at the core of academic research.

You will enjoy exercising your curiosity and creativity. You will prepare for the challenges of communicating science, practicing science in a team, building professional relationships, and making strategic decisions in a research career. The course will help you learn to find your way through the structures, cultures and (often unwritten) conventions of academic life.

Where do archaeological theories come from?

In this course, students investigate where archaeological theories come from and how they are used:

• The philosophies of science and epistemologies in which they are anchored (basics);

• The archaeological orientations and branches in which they are used (the past 50 years);

• Their strengths and weaknesses (critical debate);

• The way they are operationalized in archaeological research (examples).

RMA thesis

The RMA thesis is the final masterpiece that shows that you can write, plan and execute an innovative academic research project that may serve as a basis for ongoing PhD- research. The research is based on data derived from material culture, fieldwork, laboratory research, or historic sources and additional academic literature. It is researched and written over the course of two years and should be related to your focus area.