International Application of Archaeological Science Workshop 2018 – 2019
In 2018 and 2019, the Department of Archaeology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History hosted intensive, invitation-only, one-week workshops on the International Applications of Archaeological Sciences. These workshops were designed specifically for early career researchers from all over the world and provided crash-course training sessions in modern methods of the archaeological sciences. The goal was not just to train the participants in the course, but to send skills and knowledge back to regional institutes and hopefully provide long-term opportunities for researchers as well as spark enthusiasm for the exploration and application of diverse archaeological science methods.In both years, more than 15 members of the department’s scientific community including technicians, group leaders, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students, provided training sessions that included both hands-on experience as well as group discussions and seminars.
The workshop provided training and tutorials in a series of archaeological science approaches that have international applicability. The workshop covered a variety of methods, including quantitative lithics analyses, Geographical Information Systems approaches, ancient proteomics, ZooMS, stable isotope analysis, both micro and macroscopic methods in archaeobotany, morphological identifications in archaeozoology, human osteology, chronological methods and models, and statistical analysis. Organized trips and tours of local prehistory museums and archaeological sites were also integrated into the program in 2019. The workshop was a rewarding experience for both the participants and the instructors.
About the 2021 Virtual IAAS
After the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the in-person intensive IAAS workshop, our department started creating virtual resources that covered a range of innovative approaches and methods to archaeological science, from ZooMS to plant wax biomarkers. These videos and tutorials will be posted here throughout Summer 2021.
