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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Contemporary Theory in Archaeology |
| Unit code |
ARCH20004 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Pollard |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
ARCH10001 |
| Co-requisites |
ARCH20003 |
| School/department |
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit aims to aquaint students with an historical perspective on the development of the discipline of archaeology. Emphasis will be placed on the development of concerns with the past from a European or 'Western' perspective, the formulation of the concept of prehistory, and the relationship of archaeology to other discipines. The unit will introduce students to the main events and themes in the history of archaeology, and provide an essential background to the study of contemporary archaeological theory.
The Unit aims to:
- provide students with an overview of the historical background to current archaeological theory and practice, and the philosophical development of archaeological theory as a coherent sub-discipline from the 1960s onwards.
- enable students to assess the relative importance of competing explanative frameworks and to understand their historical situation.
- provide students with an academic background to effectively read and understand current archaeological literature.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this Unit students will:
- demonstrate familiarity with the broad philosophical and historical development of contemporary archaeological theory.
- demonstrate familiarity with the broad scope of philosophical and theoretical literature as it applies to the study of archaeology.
- demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and deconstruct archaeological texts on the basis of their theoretical underpinnings.
- demonstrate effective evaluation and explanation of archaeological data from multiple theoretical standpoints.
Teaching Information
Lectures.
Assessment Information
Summative. One reflective notebook of c.4-5000 words (100%).
Reading and References
- Gamble, C. 2001. Archaeology: the basics. London: Routledge
- Gosden, C. 1999. Anthropology & Archaeology: a changing relationship. London: Routledge
- Hodder, I. (eds) 2001. Archaeological Theory Today. Cambridge: Polity Press
- Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. (eds). 2005. Archaeology: the key concepts. London: Routledge
- Thomas, J. (ed.) 2000. Interpretive Archaeology, a reader. London: Leicester University Press
- Trigger, B. 1989. A History of Archaeological Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
