Archaeology and Ancient History: Archaeological Theory and Material Culture

<p>Objects from the past may seem silent - but with the right questions, they can tell us a lot about how people lived, thought and felt. In this course, you’ll learn how archaeologists interpret material traces to understand history. </p><p>This course explores how archaeologists and researchers from other fields use theory to understand objects and environments from different time periods. You’ll learn to analyse how things are shaped, what they have been used for, and what they could have meant to the people who made and used them. You’ll also learn to connect theory with practice and discover how different perspectives can offer new ways of understanding the past. </p><p>In addition, you’ll also gain insight into how various disciplines - including archaeology, anthropology, art history, museology, philosophy and sociology - approach material culture. This makes the course broad and interdisciplinary. </p><p>The aim is to help you develop a critical understanding of how theory and method shape our interpretations of the material aspects of human life.</p><p> </p><p> </p>