ARK Introduction to Maritime Archaeology
Course content
Denmark provides very detailed source material for the field of maritime archaeology. With finds of ships and submerged settlements, it is one of the key starting points for the discipline and has since been a proving ground for most of its developments. The aim of this course is to present to and discuss with students and experts the research history, up-to-date theories, methods, research agendas, and issues within the field of maritime archaeology. The course will primarily focus on Scandinavia and Northern Europe as its geographical basis but will also touch upon global case-studies. Lectures on material culture and intangible cultural heritage and heritage management will be supplemented by practical experience in documentation and interpretation methods, including experimental archaeology.
The course will be hosted by the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde and the UCPH School of Archaeology, include guest lectures from colleagues at the Globe Institute as well as the National Museum of Denmark.
The course includes 5 modules
Module 1: Introduction
1a. Introduction to maritime archaeology (definitions, general practice, course overview)
1b. History of the practice in the Denmark, Scandinavia and Northern Europe
1c. Maritime Landscapes
Module 2: Finds/Datasets
2a. Ports / harbours / anchorages /submerged settlements
2b. Ship construction / sail technology
2c. Cargoes and routes
2d. Maritime Textiles
Module 3: Survey and Excavation Methods
3a. Theory: approaches to different site types, materials, site processes
3b. Geomorphology and geoarchaeology
3c. Coastal survey, diving, excavation, and remote sensing (marine, aerial, terrestrial)
Module 4: Documentation and Analyses
4a. Scanning, photogrammetry, visual interpretation, dendrochronology
4b. Ethno-archaeology + experimental archaeology
4c. Sailing
4d. Scientific analyses
Module 5: Heritage Management
5a. Heritage management: National legislation, UNESCO conventions, at-risk heritage, best practices.
Prehistoric Archaeology, Classical Archaeology
BA Independent Study
Learning objectives, teaching and working methods, examination, and special provisions
At the examination, the student must be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge of
- a selected topic with an understanding of its significance within a broader academic context.
Skills in
- applying the scientific analytical tools and methods of a field and justifying their use in relation to the given problem.
- providing a reflective and independent analysis of key issues within the relevant field.
- communicating academic material and academic discussion in a clear and well‑documented manner, in accordance with academic standards.
Competencies to
- place the chosen topic within a relevant theoretical context and relate to the methods used in the field in question.
MA Independent Study 2
Learning objectives, teaching and working methods, examination, and special provisions
At the examination, the student must be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge of
• a selected topic, with an understanding of its significance
within a broader academic context
• relevant theories and methods.
Skills in
• applying the scientific analytical tools and methods of a given field, and justifying their use in relation to the specific problem
• providing a reflective and independent analysis of key issues within the relevant field
• presenting academic material and scholarly discussion in a clear and well‑documented manner, in accordance with academic standards.
Competencies to
• place the chosen topic within a relevant theoretical context and engage with the methods used in the field
• work independently on a topic.
Classroom teaching, lectures, exercises, excursions
Belasus, M. & A. Daly (2022), Timber Resources for the
‘Bremen Cog’. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 51.2:
207-231
Crumlin-Pedersen, O. (2011), Archaeology and the Sea in Scandinavia
and Britain: A Personal Account (Viking Ship Museum)
Harpster, M. (2009), Keith Muckelroy: Methods, Ideas and Maritime
Archaeology. Journal of Maritime Archaeology 4: 67-82
Jones, J., C. Mires & D. Zwick (eds) (2025), Intertidal
Shipwrecks: Management of a Historic Resource in an Unmanageable
Environment (University Press of Florida)
McCarthy, J.K., J. Benjamin, T. Winton & W. van Duivenvoorde
(eds) (2019), 3D Recording and Interpretation for Maritime
Archaeology (Springer, Cham)
Viduka, A. (2012), Intrusive Techniques in Underwater Archaeology.
In: Training Manual for the UNESCO Foundation Course on the
Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Asia
and the Pacific (UNESCO, Paris), 2-29
Westerdahl, C. (1992), The maritime cultural landscape,
International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 21:1, 5-14Additional
literature will be made available at the start of the course
A minimum of 7.5 ECTS in an archaeology related subject is required.
Students at the Faculty of Arts can register during the registration period from May 15th to June 1st via Self Service.
International fee paying students – application deadline 9 April https://www.service4mobility.com/europe/BewerbungServlet?identifier=KOBENHA01&kz_bew_pers=S&kz_bew_art=IN&aust_prog=STB&sprache=en
International external applicants (non-students) - application deadline 9 April L ink
Betalende færdiguddannede/fagprofessionelle kursister fra Danmark – ansøgningsfrist 9. april Ansøgningslink
Meritstuderende fra andre danske universiteter – ansøgningsfrist 1. juni Ansøgning om optagelse som meritstuderende fra andet dansk universitet
Meritstuderende fra andre KU uddannelser – ansøgningsfrist 1. juni Ansøgning om meritindskrivning som KU studerende
Please enclose the following documents with your application
For students currently enrolled at a university
- Certified transcripts from home university in a Nordic language or English or translated into English. All credits must be in ECTS-points or must be converted from home credit system to ECTS-points with a reference/functional web-link to the official credit conversion
- A pre-approval letter of confirmation from your home university (forhåndsgodkendelse) stating that the summer course can be integrated into your studies and assuring that you will receive credits for the summer course at your home university
- Documentation of citizenship if other than Danish
For non-students (Open University application)
- Certified MA, BA or Professional BA diploma in a Nordic language or English or translated into English.
- Documentation of citizenship if other than Danish
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Extent: 11-15 pages
Group regulations: The examination can only be taken individually.
Language of examination: English
Curriculum: The student selects a syllabus of 900–1000 standard pages, which must be approved by the examiner. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Exam period
-
The assignment must be handed in October 1st 2026 at the latest.
- Re-exam
-
Same as the ordinary exam.
Criteria for exam assessment
See Learning Outcome.
Short courses / Summer school
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Preparation
- 40
- Exercises
- 15
- Excursions
- 15
- Exam
- 80
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- HARKS2026U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Full Degree Master choice
- Placement
- Summer
- Price
-
Applicant status
7,5 ECTS courses
Students enrolled at a Danish University
No tuition fee
Non-students from Denmark
Tuition fee is DKK 3,750
Students and non-students from EU/EEA countries
Tuition fee is DKK 3,750
Students from non-EU/EEA countries with a permanent Danish residence permit
Tuition fee is DKK 3,750
Students from non-EU/EEA countries without a permanent Danish residence permit
Tuition fee is DKK 9,375
- Schedulegroup
-
Viking ship museum 29-31/7, 3-4/8, 6/8
Globe, Nat Mus Brede and UCPH 5/8,
UCPH 7/8 - Studyboard
- Study Board of Archaeology, Ethnology, Greek & Latin, History
Contracting department
- SAXO-Institute - Archaeology, Ethnology, Greek & Latin, History
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinators
- Eva Andersson Strand (12-697a65657268697677777372446c7971326f7932686f)
- Athena Trakadas (8-7e7c6b756b6e6b7d4a727f7738757f386e75)
Er du BA- eller KA-studerende?
Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende