The study of cultural artefacts in archaeology and anthropology. Addresses practical problems of classification and laboratory analysis, as well as the interpretation of material symbolism, meaning and agency.
Material culture studies aims to investigate the relationship between human sociocultural groups and the material objects they produce and use. This paper looks at a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of archaeological and contemporary artefacts, particularly those relevant to research in New Zealand and the tropical Pacific. We cover such issues as describing and understanding form, style, technology, function, classification and social meaning. The course takes a hands-on approach and is approximately equally divided between formal lectures and practical laboratories. In lectures we draw heavily on international case studies, and provide a historical overview of approaches to material culture. The practical sessions provide instruction on the handling, description and analysis of selected artefact classes and involve experimental class projects.
| Paper title | Material Culture Studies |
|---|---|
| Paper code | ANTH409 |
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2022 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,371.61 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 72 300-level ANTH or ARCH points
- Restriction
- ARCH 402
- Contact
- More information link
Please visit the Programme of Archaeology
- Teaching staff
Coordinator: Dr Anne Ford
Contributing Lecturers: Dr Catherine Smith and Professor Richard Walter- Paper Structure
- Lectures and labs
- Teaching Arrangements
- One 2-hour lecture/seminar and one 2-hour laboratory workshop per week.
- Textbooks
- Most required reading is from journal articles and book chapters available electronically through the library.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Research, Self-motivation,
Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will
- Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of material culture studies, including how to undertake analysis of a variety of different materials and from a range of different theoretical frameworks/perspectives
- Be able to complete an individual material culture project and present a professional report
