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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 |
ARCH25002 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Alex Bentley |
| 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
This unit aims to acquaint students with current themes in archaeological theory. Emphasis is placed upon understanding the role of theory in contemporary archaeology and in understanding the situations within which various approaches to archaeological theory have developed. The content of the unit will provide students with the skills to effectively read, understand and assess current archaeological literature on the basis of its theoretical stance. The unit provides an overview of the philosophical and material dimensions of various theoretical positions, reviewing the history of this development and providing the necessary analytical frameworks within which to understand contemporary trends in archaeological theory.
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
