| Unit name | Dating in Archaeology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH30017 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The development of absolute dating methods has had the most profound effect on our understanding of the past. All self-respecting archaeologists should have a basic grounding in radiocarbon dating, but many other dating techniques exist and are appropriate for particular archaeological materials. As well as covering radiocarbon dating, the course covers most of the dating methods of relevance to archaeology from dendrochronology of historical wood back to K/Ar dating of early hominids. The scientific basis of each technique will be covered (in a manner suitable for non-scientists), but the main focus will be on the application of the dating methods to archaeology through examination of case studies. In particular we will look at how and when the scientists have got it wrong, and what archaeologists need to know to spot a dodgy date.
