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Summer Semester
Lecture and Excursion “Archaeological Site Formation”
To study human evolution, we excavate materials, human fossils, charcoal for dating, sediment DNA, cultural and faunal remains. What materials preserve through time, how and and why, that is the main question of site formation studies. This lecture and related excursions will present an overview on the subject, based on recent studies of the formation history of the archaeological and paleoanthropological record – from past behaviors and environments over to the incomplete deposition and preservation of their physical remains to the excavation, analysis and archiving of materials. The different disciplines and research field concerned with site formation will be presented and discussed as well.
Winter semester
Tutorial “Microarchaeology”
This course presents an introduction into microarchaeology and how microarchaeological tools can be employed to study human evolution. The course consists of a mix of classes with lectures, practices and topical presentations. Presentations, course work and practices are all intended to encourage active and independent engagement with the field of microarchaeology.
Seminar “Debates in Evolutionary Anthropology”
This course is focused on the critical assessment of scientific papers and research projects. We will discuss papers that propose new approaches and models in evolutionary anthropology and that initiated a lot of debate.
Potential Master thesis topics
- Ancient sediment analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
- Ancient sediment analysis of lakeshore settlements
- Methodological advancements combining sedaDNA and microarchaeology
- Micromorphological analysis of early floor construction
- Micromorphological analysis of a Mesolithic burial
- Micromorphological analysis of Middle Stone Age rockshelters
- Micro-CT analysis of micromorphology blocks
Ongoing Master thesis
Combining miromorphology and ancient protein analysis of bones embedded in resin impreganted blocks