Great Discoveries in Archaeology
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR1023 | Classics and Archaeology | 1 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- CLAR1023
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
Discovery lies at the heart of Archaeology. Archaeological discoveries shape the discipline and advance our understanding of the development of human societies while sites such as Stonehenge and Pompeii exert a significant hold on the popular imagination. In this module the staff of the Classics and Archaeology department will examine the sites and discoveries that have formed major benchmarks in the history of the discipline. Taking a broadly chronological approach the course will touch upon discoveries relating to periods from the earliest phases of human evolution until the Middle Ages. Each lecture will focus on a major site, scientific discovery or excavation that has fundamentally altered previously held interpretations of and approaches to the past. The course will also examine the personalities and ideologies that have shaped the discipline of archaeology, noting how changing perspectives on gender, ethnicity and class have in turn shaped ideas about the past and its material remains. The module will be team taught and will encourage students to consider wider ethical issues relating to our approaches to the past.
Target Students
Available to all Undergraduate level 1 students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences students on the Archaeology pathway, School of Humanities, exchange and subsidiary students.
Classes
- One 2-hour workshop each week for 10 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: 2500-word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to use iconic sites and discoveries to introduce students to the development of archaeology as a discipline and the ways in which the discipline has been shaped by its social context. By the end of the module, students will gain an understanding of key developments in the rise of archaeology as a scientific discipline and the ways in which approaches to key sites and the interpretations of those sites have changed over time. They will also develop an appreciation of the ways in which modern societies have used material culture and archaeological sites to create a range of different pasts that reflect their own beliefs, ideologies and aspirations. The structure of the lectures and workshops will be explicitly participatory, to encourage students to voice and debate their own opinions on what are often contentious interpretations of the past. The use of multiple lecturers and a wide variety of learning aids and techniques will create an innovative and stimulating learning environment for students.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate broad knowledge of a range of major archaeological sites and discoveries.
• Demonstrate understanding of key themes in the interpretation of archaeological evidence.
• Demonstrate understanding of the broad development of archaeology as a discipline and the historical and social context of its development.
Intellectual
By the end of the module, students will:
• Have gained a critical appreciation of the ways in which the material remains of the past are used to construct narratives that reflect the ideological interests of different individuals and societies.
Practical and professional
During the module, students will:
• Develop skills in the critical assessment of conflicting interpretative narratives.
• Develop skills in the assimilation of data from a wide variety of sources and time periods.
Transferable (Key) skills
By the end of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
• Development of confidence in verbal communication and argument skills.
• Promotion of independent study skills through preparation for lectures.
• Development of skills in the production and presentation of cogent and critical written arguments supported by archaeological evidence.