Graduate Curriculum Committee Course Proposal Form
for Courses Numbered 5000 and Higher
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
Submission guidelines are posted to the GCC Web site: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gcc/index.cfm
1. Course prefix and number:
HIST 6865
2. Date:
09/30/2013
3. Requested action:
X
New Course
Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of an Existing Course from
from
to
#
Required
X
#
Elective
4. Method(s) of delivery (check all boxes that apply for both current/proposed and expected
future delivery methods within the next three years):
Current or
Proposed Delivery
Method(s):
Expected
Future Delivery
Method(s):
X
On-campus (face to face)
X
X
Distance Course (face to face off campus)
X
Online (delivery of 50% or more of the instruction is offered online)
5. Justification. Identify the committee or group (e.g., Graduate faculty of the Department of
English) that conducted the assessment of curriculum and student learning. Explain why the
unit wishes to offer or revise the course. Include specific results from the unit assessment that
led to the development or modification of the course. If applicable, cite any accrediting
agency/ies and reference the specific standard/s. Indicate the graduate faculty of your unit have
reviewed and approved this proposal.
This is a new course proposal for HIST6865 Field Methods in Archaeological and
Museum Artifact Conservation. This course was previously offered as a special topics
course to gauge interest. Feedback obtained from that experience would be utilized to
ensure the proposed course is equally successful. Archaeological and museum artifact
conservation involves stabilizing archaeological materials that has been excavated from a
burial environment or historical materials that have been carefully cared for through
personal collections or museums. This process involves careful examination of the
artifact, identification of material types, treatment of the object, and storage concerns.
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013
This course will provide practical experience in field methods, challenge critical thinking,
provide leadership skills, and contribute to the needs of community heritage
organizations. It is aimed towards students in history, public history, maritime studies,
anthropology, archaeology, art, and the sciences.
Over the past four years, students have taken HIST6840 and HIST6845 to gain
experience in archaeological and museum artifact conservation and build on introductory
and advanced level experiences in a professional controlled laboratory environment.
Field experience is limited to weekend volunteer projects that are occasionally available
and to external internships at historic sites. This course will emphasize conservation
experience in field environments, which can include maritime or terrestrial
archaeological sites (in collaboration with field schools conducted by professionally
trained archaeologists), museum environments, or historic sites and will build upon
foundation skills that were established in HIST6840.
Conducting research and practicing skills in field conditions challenges critical thinking
and problem solving abilities. Students will also gain leadership skills when interacting
with allied professionals and student peers. This course will also contribute to community
outreach through close collaborations with local heritage groups and museums.
Establishing this course would allow the instructor to work closely with students in a
non-traditional and dynamic field environment while they gain valuable field experience
locally and abroad. The Department of History graduate faculty determined a need for
and approved this course. No additional program or departmental support is requested.
6. Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
HIST 6865 – Field Methods in Archaeological and Museum Artifact Conservation
3 Same as ANTH 6865
P: HIST 6840; Consent of instructor. Field methods in conservation practices and
techniques including on site experience with archaeological sites or museum
environments.
7. If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
N/A
8. Course credit:
Lecture Hours
2
1
2
1
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
Studio
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Practicum
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Lab
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013
s.h.
s.h.
Internship
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Other (e.g., independent study) Please explain.
Total Credit Hours
9. Anticipated annual student enrollment:
s.h.
3
s.h.
8
10. Changes in degree hours of your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Changes in Degree Hours
NA
11. Affected degrees or academic programs, other than your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Changes in Degree Hours
NA
12. Overlapping or duplication with affected units or programs:
X Not applicable
Documentation of notification to the affected academic degree programs is
attached.
13. Council for Teacher Education (CTE) approval (for courses affecting teacher education):
X Not applicable
Applicable and CTE has given their approval.
14. Service Learning Committee (SLC) approval:
X Not applicable
Applicable and SLC has given their approval.
15. Statements of support:
a. Staff
X Current staff is adequate
Additional staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
b. Facilities
X Current facilities are adequate
Additional facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
c. Library
X
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation and an
estimate for the cost of acquisition of required initial resources):
d. Unit computer resources
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013
X
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief
explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
e. ITCS resources
X
ITCS resources are not needed
The following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Software
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
16. Course information (see: Graduate Curriculum and Program Development Manual for
instructions):
a. Textbook(s) and/or readings: author(s), name, publication date, publisher, and
city/state/country. Include ISBN (when applicable).
Below is a select bibliography on readings related to the course. Readings will vary
each time the course is offered to accommodate changes in field conditions and to
provide site background. While a large portion of the course will include practical
techniques, there will also be discussions related to theoretical aspects of field methods.
General Theoretical Texts
 Keene, S., ed.1980. Conservation, archaeology and museums. UKIC
Occasional Papers, no. 19, London. ISBN: 0950415510
 Appelbaum, B., 2011, Conservation Treatment Methodology. CreateSpace
Publishing. ISBN: 1453682112
 Caple, C., 2000, Conservation Skills: Judgement, Method, and Decision
Making. London, Routledge. ISBN: 0415188814.
 Ethics and Critical Thinking in Conservation, 2013. American Institute for
Conservation, Washington DC.
 Jaeschke, R., 1996, When Does History Stop?. In: Archaeological
Conservation and Its Consequences, pp. 86-88.
Conservation on Archaeological Sites
 Borque, B. J.,1980, Conservation in archaeology: Working toward closer
cooperation. American Antiquity45(4):794–99.
 Cronyn, J., 1990, The Elements of Archaeological Conservation. Routledge,
London. ISBN: 0415012074
 Hodges, H., 1987, In Situ Archaeological Conservation. Oxford Press USA.
ISBN: 094110303X
 Leigh, D. et al., 1978, First aid for finds: A practical guide for archaeologists.
Hertford. RESCUE; Southampton, Department of Archaeology. ISBN
0903789000
 Logan, J.,1988, Thoughts on the role of the archaeological conservator.
Newsletter (Canadian Conservation Institute) June, 8–10.
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013






Preventive measures during excavation and site protection, 1986, (Conference,
Ghent, 6-8 November 1985). Rome: ICCROM
Sease, C., 1994, Conservation Manual for the Field Archaeologist. Los
Angeles, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press. ISBN: 0917956591
Schiffer, M. B.,1987, Formation processes of the archaeological record.
Geoarchaeology, Vol 4 Issue 3, pp. 277-278 Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico Press.
Watkinson, D., 1998, First Aid for Finds. London, UKIC. ISBN: 1871656281
Williams, T. (ed.), Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites
(Journal). Maney Publishing. ISSN: 1350-5033
http://www.siteconservation.com/en_Topics_in_Conservation.htm
Conservation in Museum Environments
 Child, R., 1997, Ethics and Museum Conservation. In: Museum Ethics, pp. 209215. ISBN: 0415152909
 Keene, S., 2002, Chapter 2: Museums, Collections and People. In: Managing
Conservation in Museums. New York, Routledge. ISBN: 0750656034
 Morris, K., 1980, Conservation of archaeological collections. North American
Archaeologist 2(2):131–36.
 Plenderleith, H. J., and W.E.A.Werner, 1971, The conservation of antiquities
and works of art: Treatment, repair and restoration. London, Oxford
University Press. ISBN: 0192129600
 Scott, A., 1921, The cleaning and restoration of museum exhibits (report upon
investigation conducted at the British Museum, Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research). Bulletin 5. London: H. M. Stationery Office. 1–13.
b. Course objectives for the course (student – centered, behavioral focus)
If this is a 5000-level course that is populated by undergraduate and graduate students,
there must be differentiation in the learning objectives expected.
By the completion of the course, students will be able to:






Implement field excavation techniques for archaeological materials
Identify methods of conserving excavated materials using available resources
Document material culture from archaeological and museum sites for condition
analysis
Gain an understanding of field operations and management of cultural resources
Evaluate and analyze the use of various conservation treatments including those
from an international perspective
Formulate storage and exhibition parameters for archaeological and museum
collections
c. Course topic outline
The list of topics should reflect the stated objectives.
1.0 Pre-excavation considerations
2.0 On-site laboratory set up
2.1 Health and safety in the field
3.0 The archaeological environment
3.1 Agents of deterioration
3.2 Environmental factors and effects
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013
4.0 Excavation techniques
4.1 In situ consolidation
4.2 Molding and block lifting materials
4.3 Handling objects
5.0 Documenting objects
5.1 Field documentation and recording
6.0 Examining and cleaning objects
6.1 Methods of analysis
6.2 Mechanical cleaning techniques
6.3 Chemical cleaning techniques
7.0 Conservation Processes
7.1 Treatment
7.2 Packaging and protecting finds
8.0 Post Processing Considerations
8.1 Storage
8.2 Display
d. List of course assignments, weighting of each assignment, and grading/evaluation system
for determining a grade
Grading for this course is based on:
 Lab/Field Notebooks (10%): Students must maintain a laboratory notebook,
which records treatments and observations on their research.
 Final Treatment Reports (60%): The final treatment report details the work
they have completed over the semester on the projects.
 Project Presentation and Discussion (20%): Students are expected to give a
15-minute presentation on their project, which details the site analysis and
treatment.
 Class Participation (10%): Participation in class will be based on attendance
and interaction with faculty and peers.
Grade Scale
Grade Percent Range
A 93%-100%
B 86%-92%
C 76%-85%
F 75% or below
Approved by GCC April 2013 and posted fall of 2013
Point Range
930-1000
860-929
760-859
759 or below