The UAB launches Arqueolab, a new archaeological experimentation space
On Friday 19 June the UAB inaugurated Arqueolab, a new academic initiative aimed at strengthening practical learning in the field of archaeology. The inauguration formed part of the 5th Teaching Innovation Conference held at the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.
The UAB Arqueolab is made up of a covered archaeological excavation simulation and is located outside the faculty, in an area that facilitates integration between theoretical and practical teaching spaces. At the inaugural event, Margarita Freixas, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, highlighted the importance of inaugurating this space in which they have been working for three years and which allows them to strengthen “the most practical part of teaching”. Xavier Gabarrell, Vice-Rector for Campus and Sustainability, highlighted that it is a “new teaching space that breaks clichés and that must become a point of reference and change”.
The new facility is organised into two distinct areas that recreate different archaeological contexts: a first sector dedicated to prehistory and a second one for ancient and medieval archaeology; and another space with storage functions which will added shortly. This division facilitates the development of practical activities adapted to different historical periods and specific excavation methodologies. Various experimental tasks can be carried out there, such as testing archaeological techniques, recreations, or other initiatives linked to hands-on training.
Antoni Palomo, lecturer in the Department of Prehistory, gave a practical demonstration of the activities that can be carried out there and stressed that it will be a space “with an enormous paedagogical load”, as it will allow “a transfer of quality knowledge”. “Now that we are talking about student dropouts”, he said, “this type of initiative is fundamental, as it is a great tool to retain them”. Similarly, Samuel Reyes, executive administrator of the UAB, stressed that in times like the current ones “we need to be up to the task with projects like this”.
With the launch of this new space, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities reinforces its commitment to innovative teaching, based on active learning and the development of essential practical skills for the training of future professionals in archaeology and related disciplines.