The School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa offers an intensive interuniversity course in Practical Geoarchaeology to be conducted over six days (12-17th June 2022). The course will be supervised by Prof. Ruth Shahack-Gross and Dr. David Friesem with guest lectures of scholars of international recognition, partially sponsored by The ERC TransCause project and the Laboratory of the Study of Human-Environment Dynamics (HUJ). The primary teaching language will be English. The course will include two online days of lectures and four days of intensive practical (hands-on) learning in the field and laboratories. The course integrates theoretical and methodological aspects of geoarchaeology that aid addressing key archaeological questions such as site formation processes, stratigraphy, subsistence practices and humanenvironment interactions. During fieldtrips students will learn how to describe archaeological depositional sequences and sample archaeological deposits for geoarchaeological analysis in prehistoric as well as historic (urban) sites, in terrestrial, coastal and underwater contexts. Work in the laboratory will allow students to gain a hands-on training in microscopy and infrared (FTIR) analysis, and get familiar with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), quantitative analysis of phytolith, ash and dung micro-remains, and soil characterization.

Admission: The course is open to advanced BA, MA and PhD students, from all universities in Israel, who have basic experience in field archaeology (at least one week of excavation) and basic knowledge about sediments. Due to the limited instrumentation and space in the laboratories, the number of participating students will be restricted. Enrollment to the course requires submission of a short application (up to one page) outlining how you fulfill the prerequisites and why you would like to participate in the course. Applications should be submitted no later than 13th April 2022. Decisions will be sent by the end of April 2022. For submitting an application and more information please email to: Prof. Ruth Shahack-Gross rgross@univ.haifa.ac.il or Dr. David Friesem dfriesem@univ.haifa.ac.il