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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Advanced Issues in Archaeology and Anthropology |
| Unit code |
ARCH35013 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Pike |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
The aim of this unit is to introduce third year students in the Archaeology and Anthropology SH degree programme to advanced issues in Archaeology and Anthropology, with particular emphasis on illustrating how the two disciplines may be combined. The course is both historical, in that it introduces the way that the two disciplines have pursued parallel, but often intersecting paths over the last century, and also thematic, in that it demonstrates the way that these themes may be considered through specific examples, such as the study of the body; material culture; heritage and nationalism; kinship and genetics; societal organisation and the emergence of states.
Aims:
- To introduce students to the way that anthropology (both social and biological), and archaeology have diverged but also often worked together as academic disciplines.
- To encourage an awareness of the way key problems such as the relationship between material culture and society; social relations and kinship; understanding of the body and death; the interaction between the present and the past can be informed by drawing upon the resources of both archaeology and anthropology.
- To encourage students to consider and devise their own syncretic approach toward bringing the disciplines together.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the course's conclusion, students are expected:
- To be familiar with the recent history of both archaeology and anthropology, and areas where they may overlap.
- To possess a working knowledge of key thinkers and a number of case studies which bring the disciplines together.
- To be aware of current trends in data collection and analysis (including those dependant upon technological advancement), and the implications that these recent developments may have for the way that the disciplines may come together.
- To be able to conceptionalise and articulate these issues with reference to the current, and possible future practice of the discipline.
Teaching Information
Course will be taught through lectures (10) and seminars (10), making 20 hours contact time in all.
Assessment Information
SUMMATIVE:
- One 3000 word essay (50%)
- One 2 hour written examination (50%).
The seminar presentations are formative.
Reading and References
- Dimitriadis, G.(ed.) 2009 Landscape in mind : dialogue on space between anthropology and archaeology BAR international series, Oxford : Archaeopress.
- Feder, K. 2007 Human Antiquity: an introduction to physical anthropology and archaeology, London: McGraw-Hill.
- Hodder, I. 2009 (1982) Symbols in action: ethnoarchaeological studies of material culture New studies in archaeology, Cambridge : CUP.
- Lewis, B. 2010 Understanding humans: introduction to physical anthropology and archaeology, Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- Shankland, D. (ed.) (forthcoming) Archaeology and Anthropology: past, present and future (ASA Monographs 2010).
- Journals. Journal of Social Archaeology. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.
