Module ARCH2111: EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE (EMAS)

Department: Archaeology

ARCH2111: EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE (EMAS)

Prerequisites

• Scientific Methods in Archaeology 1 (ARCH1041) OR Applied Archaeological Methods (ARCH1081).

Corequisites

• Scientific Methods in Archaeology 2 (ARCH2041).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To allow students to gain practical experience of some of the laboratory and field methods that form the basis of a selection of key archaeological science techniques .
• To provide an insight into the methodology employed in such techniques that, by means of practicals, aims to develop skills in experimental technique, data analysis and interpretation, and teamwork.

Content

• The module offers students training in practical and experimental methods employed in archaeological science.
• The practicals will introduce students to aspects of methodology drawn from the following themes: human palaeoecology (e.g. analysis of bones, plant remains), materials (e.g. analysis of metals and glass), dating (e.g. dendrochronology, luminescence dating).
• Students will gain experience in teamwork by gathering data in small groups and developing skills in data analysis and interpretation through individual work.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module the student will have: i) developed skills in experimental methodology and how the inherent uncertainties of measurement and observation affect their application to archaeological problems and ii) gained a greater appreciation of the means by which experimental methods contribute to archaeological science research.

• Gain core skills pertaining to archaeological science including obtaining, analysing and reporting on, for e.g. the elemental composition of archaeological materials and plan and mammalian remains.

• Develop competence in transferable skills such as data gathering and interpretation using statistical methods.
• Develop competence in transferable skills such as word processing, spreadsheets and report preparation.

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

• The module is taught primarily by practicals, performed in small groups.
• The first practical assignment is assessed formatively, to familiarise the students with assessment procedures.
• The practicals are designed to promote an understanding of analytical methods rather than adherence to procedure and the summative assessments (experimental reports) will be specified to test this.
• Since the practicals will contain a proportion of directed work in terms of procedures to be used by the group, the development of teamwork skills is an inherent part of the learning outcomes (but not assessed summatively).
• Learning support is provided by guidance during practicals and follow-up classes to monitor progress in writing up.
• The co-requisite module 'Scientific Methods in Archaeology 2' complements this module by providing instruction in a theoretical treatment of a range of archaeological topics in archaeological science, including those that form the basis of the practicals in 'Experimental Methods in Archaeological Science'.
• Self guided learning.
• Research is embedded into the teaching of this module through the expertise of the lecturers and tutors. The examples and topics chosen within the curriculum will derive from the specialist research interests of the staff teaching the module. The module also enables students to explore how archaeologists produce evidence about the past, develop theories to explain it, and how archaeological evidence may subsequently be reinterpreted. Through practical work students experience the process of research and develop skills in conducting archaeological research.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Experimental Report (1500 words text plus data tables and graphs/figures) based on the first practical.

■ 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