| Unit name | Archaeological Practice |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH10016 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Prior |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Discovering the Past |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important:
This unit will introduce the practical methods and techniques that archaeologists use to identify and record archaeological materials, features, structures, sites and landscapes. The unit aims to give you a broad practical understanding of the range and nature of archaeological remains and the ways in which archaeologists find, investigate and record them. Key to this will be a series of hands-on introductions to the practical field skills and techniques archaeologists currently employ. As well as laboratory and fieldwork session the unit includes participation in a 3-week archaeological training excavation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study:
The unit is fundamental to your training as an archaeologist. It builds directly upon the concepts and ideas introduced during the Discovering the Past unit; not only providing you with a more detailed technical understanding of the techniques and method archaeologists employ, but also hands-on experience in applying them. The unit leads directly on to the field school, where you will be able to utilise and develop your newfound skills in the context of a 3-week archaeological excavation.
An overview of content
Overall aims of the unit:
The main techniques of archaeological investigation and recording will be introduced, including the use of documentary and digital resources, geomatics, geophysical survey, stratigraphic excavation and standing building recording. In addition, you will also be introduced to the techniques and approaches archaeologists use in order to make sense of the complex assemblages of artefactual and organic material that are frequently recovered. This will encompass classifying and identifying remains, analysing their composition, and dating them.
The course is structured around five core themes:
Theme 1. Finding and exploring existing information
Theme 2. Generating new information through non-invasive means
Theme 3. Generating new information – through more invasive approaches
Theme 4. Extracting information from the things we uncover
Theme 5. Getting ready for fieldwork and the training excavation
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
At the end of the unit will have gained the core practical skills needed to function as an effective archaeologist; a foundation that will be enhanced and built upon during the 2nd and 3rd years of study.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
The unit will be delivered via a series of 2-hour lecture sessions accompanied by complimentary 2-hour practicals. This will be followed by participation (15 full days) on the department’s archaeological training excavation.
The lecture element will introduce and explore a given theme in order to provide core intellectual scaffolding. In the accompanying practical students will be introduced to the skills needed in order to put this theory into practice through a set of problem-solving exercises and challenges.
The archaeological field school provides students with an opportunity to carry out original archaeological fieldwork; learning how to select and apply the appropriate methodologies in the context of a dynamic research project as well as building their confidence and team-working skills.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative tasks will take the form of a range of task-based in-class exercises/workshops, and seminar discussions, with verbal feedback given by the unit leader.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Archaeological Site Interpretation, 2,000 words (50%) [ILOs 1, 2 and 5].
This is designed to demonstrate your ability to describe effectively the physical remains of a site; assess previous fieldwork that has taken place and interpretations that have been offered; suggest a coherent plan for its future investigation.
Notebook; Applying Methods, 1,500 words (50%) [ILOs 3-5].
The task-based notebook draws directly upon the skills you will have developed during the course of the practical sessions. It will demonstrate your ability to select and deploy appropriate skills/techniques and approaches in order to tackle archaeological challenges.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCH10016).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
