2025
Grave Excavation Methodologies
Name: Grave Excavation Methodologies
Code: HIS14701M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Archeology, Biological Sciences, Physics
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
The contents of this CU are practical in order to provide students with knowledge and skills in fieldwork, from excavation methodologies, to data collection and analysis.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Objectives:
Knowing the different types and methods used in archaeological excavations;
Know the excavation techniques, from the marking of the terrain, identification and interpretation of stratigraphies, to the field drawing; distinguish the different geophysical methods with application in archeology and identify the presence of archaeological structures in the distribution of physical properties estimated from the application of these methods.
Skills:
Capacity to organize and promote archaeological interventions.
Capacity to produce an entire field record.
Capacity to interpret and discuss stratigraphies and contexts.
Capacity to prepare technical and scientific reports.
Be able to propose the most appropriate geophysical method in each situation.
Ability to interpret geophysical models.
Knowing the different types and methods used in archaeological excavations;
Know the excavation techniques, from the marking of the terrain, identification and interpretation of stratigraphies, to the field drawing; distinguish the different geophysical methods with application in archeology and identify the presence of archaeological structures in the distribution of physical properties estimated from the application of these methods.
Skills:
Capacity to organize and promote archaeological interventions.
Capacity to produce an entire field record.
Capacity to interpret and discuss stratigraphies and contexts.
Capacity to prepare technical and scientific reports.
Be able to propose the most appropriate geophysical method in each situation.
Ability to interpret geophysical models.
Contents
The different types of excavation: the survey of the excavation area.
Stratigraphy and stratigraphic units.
Use of anthropological field sheets.
Field drawing.
The reports: texts, maps, photographs, field drawings.
Scientific articles.
The Geophysics in Archaeology: geophysical surveys and their limitations.
Electrical resistivity method and their application in archeology.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and their application in archeology.
Magnetometry and their application in archeology.
Surface mapping with Laser Scanner, Photogrammetry, GNSS. Digital terrain models and their application in archeology.
Stratigraphy and stratigraphic units.
Use of anthropological field sheets.
Field drawing.
The reports: texts, maps, photographs, field drawings.
Scientific articles.
The Geophysics in Archaeology: geophysical surveys and their limitations.
Electrical resistivity method and their application in archeology.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and their application in archeology.
Magnetometry and their application in archeology.
Surface mapping with Laser Scanner, Photogrammetry, GNSS. Digital terrain models and their application in archeology.
Teaching Methods
During field classes, geophysical methods will be applied alongside excavation, stratigraphic observation, field recording and drawing. This work will be complemented in the laboratory by the analysis of the results obtained and of the human remains. The activities carried out will be presented in a written report.
The development of this course unit also falls within the framework established by Order No. 34/2026 ? Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI may be used as a tool to support learning, research and critical reflection, but not as a substitute for human reflection, creativity or authorship. The use of AI must comply with the principles of honesty, rigour and intellectual responsibility. Practices involving plagiarism, falsification, manipulation or omission of sources will not be accepted, nor will the uncritical use of content produced by automated systems.
Any use of AI tools in the preparation of assessed work must be explicitly acknowledged, identifying the tool used and the nature of its contribution. Students must demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate, interpret and problematise AI-generated outputs, recognising their limitations, potential biases and ethical implications. The input of personal data, confidential materials or sensitive information into generative AI systems is prohibited, in accordance with the GDPR and the regulations of the University of Évora.
AI cannot be considered an author. In all cases, the student retains full responsibility for the authorship, quality, rigour and accuracy of the work submitted. The use of AI is permitted as a research support tool, an instrument for critical reflection, and a resource in active learning contexts. However, it may not be used to generate texts, answers, images or other content presented as the student?s original work, nor to automatically produce assignments, essays, reports or other assessed work without substantive intellectual input from the human author.
The use of AI without explicit disclosure, where it has contributed to the preparation of assessed work, will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in penalties equivalent to those applicable in cases of plagiarism. Whenever there are doubts regarding authorship or the process through which a piece of work was produced, the lecturer may request additional clarification, preliminary versions or other materials that allow the production process to be assessed. The lecturer may also request oral clarification or, where justified, require an oral examination before the course unit examination panel.
Originality, critical analytical ability, intellectual autonomy and interpretative competence remain fundamental assessment criteria.
The development of this course unit also falls within the framework established by Order No. 34/2026 ? Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI may be used as a tool to support learning, research and critical reflection, but not as a substitute for human reflection, creativity or authorship. The use of AI must comply with the principles of honesty, rigour and intellectual responsibility. Practices involving plagiarism, falsification, manipulation or omission of sources will not be accepted, nor will the uncritical use of content produced by automated systems.
Any use of AI tools in the preparation of assessed work must be explicitly acknowledged, identifying the tool used and the nature of its contribution. Students must demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate, interpret and problematise AI-generated outputs, recognising their limitations, potential biases and ethical implications. The input of personal data, confidential materials or sensitive information into generative AI systems is prohibited, in accordance with the GDPR and the regulations of the University of Évora.
AI cannot be considered an author. In all cases, the student retains full responsibility for the authorship, quality, rigour and accuracy of the work submitted. The use of AI is permitted as a research support tool, an instrument for critical reflection, and a resource in active learning contexts. However, it may not be used to generate texts, answers, images or other content presented as the student?s original work, nor to automatically produce assignments, essays, reports or other assessed work without substantive intellectual input from the human author.
The use of AI without explicit disclosure, where it has contributed to the preparation of assessed work, will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in penalties equivalent to those applicable in cases of plagiarism. Whenever there are doubts regarding authorship or the process through which a piece of work was produced, the lecturer may request additional clarification, preliminary versions or other materials that allow the production process to be assessed. The lecturer may also request oral clarification or, where justified, require an oral examination before the course unit examination panel.
Originality, critical analytical ability, intellectual autonomy and interpretative competence remain fundamental assessment criteria.
Assessment
Assessment will consist of an individual assignment (75%), to be submitted during the assessment periods established in the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora, together with attendance and participation in field and laboratory activities (25%). Students who fail to complete at least one component of continuous assessment will automatically be transferred to the final assessment system (Article 110(11)(a), RAEU), with a weighting of 100%.
A student who fails to complete at least one component of the continuous assessment will automatically be transferred to the final assessment regime (line a, n.º 11, article 110 of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora), with a weighting of 100%.
In accordance with Order No. 216/2026, of 22 July, where deemed necessary to assess the extent to which the student has acquired the knowledge and skills defined for the Course Unit, the teaching team may require the student to undertake an oral examination, pursuant to Article 110(13) of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora. The conditions set out in Article 116(4) and Article 118(1) of the same Regulations shall be ensured. The oral examination will account for 50% of the final grade for the Course Unit.
A student who fails to complete at least one component of the continuous assessment will automatically be transferred to the final assessment regime (line a, n.º 11, article 110 of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora), with a weighting of 100%.
In accordance with Order No. 216/2026, of 22 July, where deemed necessary to assess the extent to which the student has acquired the knowledge and skills defined for the Course Unit, the teaching team may require the student to undertake an oral examination, pursuant to Article 110(13) of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora. The conditions set out in Article 116(4) and Article 118(1) of the same Regulations shall be ensured. The oral examination will account for 50% of the final grade for the Course Unit.
Accreditations and Certifications
