Module ARCH3471: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS AND MATERIALS

Department: Archaeology

ARCH3471: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS AND MATERIALS

Prerequisites

• Archaeological Method and Theory (ARCH2121) OR Professional Training (Techniques of Archaeological Fieldwork) (ARCH2102) OR Applied Archaeological Science (ARCH2041).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This constitutes one of a group of modules designed to provide students with a sound knowledge of core professional techniques related to the recording and analysis of classes of primary archaeological materials, and thus develop skills required for their analysis and interpretation.
• To show how the study of artefacts reveals information about the past.
• It considers how the composition of materials determines their properties and subsequent use and influence on society.

Content

• To provide students with a sound understanding of the techniques used for the examination of archaeological materials and to reveal how and why such materials have influenced, and have been influenced by past societies.
• The module covers theories on the production and use of artefacts and materials.
• techniques for the investigation and analysis of artefacts and case studies on the investigation of artefacts and materials.
• A series of student led seminars will explore published studies of archaeological artefacts and sites identified with material and artefact production.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module the student will: have developed a sound knowledge of the methods for analysing archaeological material, and of the potential and limitations of such techniques.
• be able to show how information obtained from archaeological sites and artefacts reveals the technical processes and materials used in their construction.
• have developed a sound knowledge of the nature of archaeological materials and how they have influenced society.

• Gain core skills pertaining to archaeological artefacts including the selection of appropriate humanistic and scientific methods for investigating and interpreting archaeological artefacts and materials.

• Develop competence in transferable skills such as independent research and effective oral and written communication of complex archaeological artefactal or material information.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is taught through lectures, seminars and artefact handling sessions.
• The lectures establish the theoretical and practical methods for the examination and analysis or archaeological materials.
• The seminars and practicals develop students' understanding of the potential of these methods and how they have been or could be applied to reveal information about the past.
• The student's seminars presentations will form the basis for the assessed essays.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ 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