Course content

One week field course at a specific medieval church. The introductory lecture focuses on the specific church’s historical sources, how to read them, and where to find relevant material. Thorough investigations are carried out on site, of both the church building and its inventory. The Summer School is interdisciplinary. The methodological model for the Summer School is the so-called "reflection seminars" that have been arranged at many Norwegian churches for the past 20 years, where professionals from different fields have gathered to map each part/aspect of a church building in dialogue with the other participants. The course places great emphasis on discussion of theories and methodologies on site.

The course will be useful for anyone who wants to work with church buildings and cultural heritage protection.

The course can be taken as a stand-alone course, or together with KUH6000 and KUH6002. These courses are approved as courses in NTNU's master's degree program in art history.

The course has limited admission. Those who have taken KUH6000 and KUH6002 will be given priority when there is a shortage of places.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the candidate should have:

Knowledge

• Knowledge to do fieldwork in connection with preliminary projects
• Be able to assess a building's dating, condition and uses through various periods
• Have practice in building archaeology; to "read" buildings
• Knowledge of various materials, and their challenges

Skills

• Methods for conducting source studies
• Methods for examining a building on site
• Ability to write reports based on the interdisciplinary examinations

Learning methods and activities

The course will be in June, when regular teaching is over. The course will take place at a specific church, and the examinations carried out in situ. Students pay for their own travel and accommodation (six days). The preparatory digital session will take place in early June, so the student has the opportunity to prepare thoroughly. Students then choose a specific aspect of the church building to write their essay on. In the field, there are lecturers from UiO and NTNU, as well as private agents form the heritage sector, who have experience with main projects and restoration projects for conservation authorities such as the Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

Compulsory assignments

• 100% attendance

Specific conditions

Course materials

Published literature about the church in question.

Archival material on the church in question; including church accounts, older drawings of the building, reports from inspections, etc.