Understanding the Past I

Code

CLAR1021

School

Classics and Archaeology

Level

1

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

Archaeologists are interested in all aspects of the human past, from ancient landscapes and changing environments, buried settlements and standing monuments and structures, to material objects and evidence for diet, trade, ritual and social life. This module provides a basic introduction to the practice and discipline of archaeology, the process by which the material remains of the past are discovered, analysed and used to provide evidence for human societies from prehistory to the present day. Through this it will form a foundation for future student learning throughout the single and joint-honours archaeology degree programmes. It introduces current practice in excavation and post-excavation analysis, relative and absolute dating, and the study of archaeological materials and bioarchaeology. Focusing on methods of analysing remains of past societies, it will also introduce some of the basic principles of archaeological science, including the analysis of plant and faunal remains and the scientific analysis of materials such as metals, ceramics and glass, using both classroom and laboratory based sessions allowing students to gain hands-on experience with different types of materials.

Target Students

Only available to Undergraduate level 1 students studying single or joint honours degrees in Classics and Archaelology or MSci Natural Sciences students on the Archaeology pathway, and exchange students. It is not available for subsidiary students.

Classes

• One 2-hour workshop each week for 3 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 5 weeks
• Two 2-hour lectures each week for 5 weeks
• One 2-hour laboratory each week for 2 weeks

Assessment

• 100% Coursework: Coursework portfolio, 4,000 words

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
Understand the processes of archaeological data collection/creation through excavation and post-excavation analysis.
Demonstrate understanding of the aims, techniques and scope of scientific archaeology.

Intellectual
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
Appreciate the range of frameworks of interpretation currently employed by archaeologists.
formulate and support written arguments pertaining to the methods and theories of scientific approaches to archaeology;
Take part in discussion on diverse issues, partly to reinforce the knowledge they have gained but also to develop their ability to express and defend their views in a scholarly manner;
Develop a basic competence in laboratory-based research into archaeological questions.

Practical and professional
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
Show awareness of approaches to the construction of chronologies from archaeological data – through stratigraphic analysis, artefact and scientific dating.
Show awareness of basic methods of scientific analysis of a range of materials. 
Show awareness of basic health and safety procedures associated with archaeological practice.

Transferable (Key) skills
Key skills promoted include:
Encouragement of independent learning skills and the ability to meet deadlines via assessed coursework.
Development of writing and IT skills of writing skills in essay preparation classes and essays.
Working as part of a team during practical laboratory work.
Drawing together multiple sources of information to create a unified report.

Conveners

• Dr Richard Kendall
• Dr Anna Bloxam