Archaeology University of Porto

Overview

The Archaeology programme of the University of Porto aims to train archaeologists and civic-minded and interventive citizens motivated to keep learning throughout life and capable of an autonomous professional practice and ethics, based on a theoretical and experimental framework, with different profiles but always generating vocational skills that enable them to perform various tasks in the field of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, particularly in the areas of scientific research, management and planning, intervention and preservation, valuation and dissemination.

Professional Abilities

The master's degree in archeology aims to develop a set of generic skills and specific skills.

Specific skills:

• to acquire essential conceptual and methodological instruments to understand and to develop knowledge in archeology and cultural heritage;

• to identify past and present scientific paradigms underlying the production of knowledge in archeology;

• to identify past and present scientific paradigms underlying heritage science;

• to know the scientific method and scientific techniques to be used in different situations;

• to experience the practice of archaeology in different domains (survey, excavation, study of materials, etc.), different chronologies and different contexts;

• to know the procedures to prepare a research project in archeology;

• to recognize different forms of occupation and organization of space/ territory in a diachronic perspective;

• to be able to identify (and justify) the chronology and cultural context of a site or of a set of archaeological artifacts;

• to perceive the regional variability of the archaeological record, its meaning and relevance;

• to be able to identify materials and to know how to deal with them in a conservative perspective;

• to be able to evaluate the relative importance of an archaeological remain;

• to know the legal framework of archaeological heritage;

• to know the procedure to trigger a process of archaeological/ heritage inventory and classification;

• to be able to integrate archaeological heritage in planning and land management;

• to act for the preservation, valuation and dissemination of archaeological heritage;

• to enhance the cultural heritage, in particular the archaeological one, as a factor for increasing quality of life and development.

These skills are transversal to all curricular units and can be reached through: the development of a solid theoretical and methodological knowledge; the use of the scientific method; the use of updated literature and diverse sources of information; the direct knowledge of archaeological sites and collections; participation in fieldwork and laboratory activities; self-motivation for constant learning; critical thinking skills, etc.