This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)
Module ARCH51615: Geophysical Survey
Department: Archaeology
ARCH51615: Geophysical Survey
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 4 | 15 | Available in 2015/2016 | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To equip students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical experience to conduct archaeological geophysical surveys ad produce interpretations of the resulting data.
Content
- The students will undertake two surveys of archaeological sites, structures or landscapes, in each case using more than one of the survey techniques taught in the course; a report on each site will be produced to professional standards. At least one report must include a discussion of the site in the broader context of its place in the archeology of its region and period
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- the students will have learned the physical properties of rocks and soils which are relevant to the creation of archaeological geophysical anomalies
- the mechanisms by which such anomalies come into existence
- the use of instruments which are capable o detecting these anomalies, and their application in the field
- the discriminating use of software packages to process geophysical data and produce graphical displays of the result
Subject-specific Skills
Key Skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures - Soil properties; the earth's magnetic field; Magnetic prospection; Electrical prospection; Three-dimensional geophysics
- Practicals - Processing geophysical data; Combining geophysical data with other digital map data
- Fieldwork - Magnetic survey; Electrical survey
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 5 | 1 or 2 per week | 1:00 | 10 | Yes |
| Tutorials | 2 | fortnightly | 1:00 | 2 | |
| Seminars | 0 | ||||
| Practicals | 2 | Twice | 2:00 | 4 | Yes |
| Fieldwork | 2 | Twice | 2:00 | 4 | |
| Preparation & Reading | 0 | ||||
| Other: | 132 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% | Report of a magnetic and an electrical survey, combined with Ordnance Survey or other digital map data, plus an archaeological interpretation; | 10 pages max | 50% | |
| Essay | 2,000 words | 50% |
Formative Assessment
Two project designs (one per site) of not more than 1500 words each.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.