Modern and Contemporary Archaeology

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The class is theoretical-practical in nature: presentation of content accompanied by audiovisual information, clarification of doubts and tasks assigned by the teacher; presentation and discussion of texts and tasks by the students; practical classes with archaeological materials; study visits to museums and/or archaeological excavations.

Learning Outcomes

It is intended that students acquire skills and knowledge in the field of post-medieval archaeology, namely:

- recognize the main elements characterizing the historical-cultural contexts and material culture of the modern and contemporary periods are addressed, particularly in the current Portuguese space and the territories occupied by the Portuguese between the 15th and 20th centuries;

- master the concepts and working methodologies, problems and categories specific to these post-medieval archaeologies, always from a diachronic and holistic perspective;

- gain the ability to investigate, interpret and communicate these post-medieval testimonies that often appear in current archaeological interventions (especially in urban environments in preventive and heritage safeguarding projects).

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 Introduction to the post-medieval archaeology

1.1 State of research

1.2 Specificities, sources of study, terminology and main concepts.

2. Modern archaeology

2.1 Architecture and urbanism

2.1.1 Models of public and vernacular architecture

2.1.2 Construction techniques and materials

2.3 Material culture

2.4 Archaeological marks of Portuguese expansion (forts, ports, shipwrecks, cargo and trade routes)

3. Contemporary archaeology

3.1 Ruptures and continuities in the archaeological context

3.2 Building and industrial heritage: construction models and techniques

3.3 Material culture: artisanal and/or industrial production

4. Research: balance and prospects

4.1. Presentation of case studies

Head Lecturer(s)

Professor a Definir - Faculdade de Letras

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 10.0%
Synthesis work: 15.0%
Frequency: 75.0%

Bibliography

BUCHLI, V. LUCAS, G., eds. (2001) – Archaeologies of the contemporary past. London: Routledge.

CROSSLEY, D. (1990) – Post-medieval Archaeology in Britain. London, Leicester & New York: Leicester University Press.

GOMES, R. V. (2012) – Arqueologia da Idade Moderna em Portugal – contributos e problemáticas. O Arqueólogo Português, Série V, 2, p. 13-75.

GONZALEZ-RUIBAL, A. (2019) – An Archaeology of the Contemporary Era. London: Routledge.

GREEN, A. & LEECH, R. eds. (2006) – Cities in the World, 1500-2000. London: Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology.

FUNARI, P.; SENATORE, M., ed. (2015) – Archaeology of Culture Contact and Colonialism in Spanish and Portuguese America. London: Springer.

MOSHENSKA, G., ed. (2024) – Teaching and Learning the Archaeology of the Contemporary. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

TEIXEIRA, A.; BETTENCOURT, J., coord. (2012) – Velhos e Novos Mundos: Estudos de Arqueologia Moderna. Lisboa: CHAM, 2 vols.