Description
This one-year Master 2 programme is equivalent to the second year of the two-year French Master’s programme. It comes under the Master’s programme entitled Archaeology and Sciences for Archaeological Purposes. The subject pathway entitled ‘Archaeological Operations – Strategies and Techniques’ prepares students to participate and to play an active role within preventative or ‘rescue’ archaeology operations. They will learn to handle the data and samples collected from archaeological excavation sites and add value to their work by considering the scientific dimension of the discipline.
Objectives
Programme objectives
The programme of study aims to enable students to acquire the skills and knowledge that correspond to needs observed on site and in the management and promotion of archaeological operations. Graduates of this programme thus put the necessary procedures in place in order to investigate and evaluate the potential of an archaeological site. They participate in archaeological operations within which they might occupy supervisory posts, most often as middle managers. They ensure that samples and data collected from excavations are properly preserved for study. They will add value to their work via the production of reports and publications linked to their fieldwork.
Training content
Two years of study: Master 1 (M1) and Master 2 (M2)
Students personalise their studies by choosing this subject pathway in the second year of the two-year Master’s programme entitled Archaeology and Sciences for Archaeological Purposes, with the first year of the programme having been merged with that of the research pathway entitled Archaeology. Course units of this vocationally oriented Master 2 programme are concentrated in the first semester. The second semester is reserved for internships and the completion of a report.
Master 1: First year of two-year Master’s programme
For students enrolled in the Université Bordeaux Montaigne Master’s programme Archaeology and Sciences for Archaeological Purposes, the first year of study is merged with that of the research pathway. It benefits from close links with the ‘Archaeometry’ pathway via a common core curriculum. The choice offered via the course units and seminar units enables students to acquire a solid level of generalist archaeological knowledge but also raises their awareness to the activity of research teams in the field, making them fully aware of the scientific aspect of their future profession.
Master 2: Second year of two-year Master’s programme
During the first semester, students are taught the general knowledge or fundamental notions in archaeology (from Prehistory to the Modern Age), archaeometry, the palaeoenvironment and anthropological fieldwork.
The other course units focus on developing an understanding of the professional context (the institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks within archaeology, the competitive context of preventative or ‘rescue’ archaeology, team management) as well as the acquisition of fundamental operational skills. These follow the logic of the operational sequence for archaeology.
Priority is also given to tackling techniques for documentary research; procedures for the investigation and evaluation of a site’s archaeological potential; prediction and risk management; setting up and running an excavation site; the range of techniques for excavation, collecting and recording data; following protocols for sampling depending on the different situations encountered etc.
Meanwhile students also gain fundamental skills such as putting together technical specifications for the creation of a database, or the acquisition of geo-referenced data and the correct use of GIS software to handle this data. Students tackle the problems associated with managing archaeological material and adding value to their field operations, in particular by drawing up technical reports (diagnostic report, final report on an archaeological operation) that are fit for scientific publication.
These skills are learned via real case studies, practical exercises in the field and in laboratories (for example for reading data). Some of this work is carried out in groups (putting together a documentary dossier, analysing documents). The link, between vocational training on the one hand and research on the other, is maintained thanks to the wide choice of seminar units and scientific activities offered to students throughout the course of this year of study.
Access condition
Find information regarding enrolment procedures and the supporting documents to be provided, according to your profile and your level of studies :
Career pathways
Entering employment
Students of this programme can envisage employment opportunities as:
- sector managers in preventative or ‘rescue’ archaeology; heads of project diagnostics; heads of operations.
- These roles require a solid practical experience.
- Following competitive recruitment competitions, students can envisage employment opportunities as:
- research engineers (French Ministry of Culture)
- specialist curator support staff (regional archaeological departments within French regional authorities).
- officers for the promotion of cultural heritage.
