Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)
Module ARCH1041: SCIENTIFIC METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Department: ARCHAEOLOGY
ARCH1041: SCIENTIFIC METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
| Type | Open | Level | 1 | Credits | 20 | Availability | Available in 2005/06 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
Prerequisites
- None; only available to students taking the BSc (Hons) Archaeology [F402] or to students in the Faculty of Science.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combination of Modules
- This module is only available to students in the Faculty of Science. In addition, Applied Archaeological Methods (ARCH1081) may not be taken after or with this module.
Aims
- This module will provide students with a grounding in a range of scientific methods and techniques used in contemporary archaeology through a critical examination of case studies which stress the significance of scientific techniques appropriate to archaeological questions.
Content
- Students will be taught the basic principles underlying the scientific techniques used in archaeology by means of a series of case studies.
- The module will include the following topics: dating, environmental archaeology, archaeological prospection, human remains in archaeology, and archaeological materials.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- By the end of the module, students will have gained an introductory knowledge of the fundamentals of archaeological science.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Basic familiarity with a wide range of biological, physical and environmental methods used in archaeology
Key Skills:
- To gain direct experience in essay writing
- Use of the Library
- Tutorial work
- Problem solving
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- TEACHING & LEARNING: Lectures; tutorials; self-guided learning.
- ASSESSMENT: Examination; essays; short-answer test.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 22 | 2 Per Week with Gaps | 1 Hour | 22 | |
| Tutorials | 3 | 1 Hour | 3 | ||
| Preparation and Reading | 175 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Examination | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Written examination | 3 hours | 100% | |
Formative Assessment:
Two essays of approx 2,000 words. One short-answer test.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University