Essential Archaeological Methods

Module title	Essential Archaeological Methods
Module code	ARC1020
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Hajnalka Herold (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		10

Number students taking module (anticipated)	60

Module description

Essential Archaeological Methods explains how archaeology is done. It will introduce the business of finding archaeology, whether in the form of individual sites or as interconnected landscapes, and how we then investigate archaeology through excavation and the importance of stratigraphy. After gathering data the archaeological process progresses to the analysis of materials and evidence. The fundamentals of chronology and the use of historical, typological and scientific dating methods are an important element of the process. The investigation of biological evidence that tells us about natural as well as human environments in the past will be introduced. Desk-based exercises will give exposure to some of these methods.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module introduces the most widely used methods of archaeological investigation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key techniques used in gathering archaeological evidence
2. Demonstrate understanding of the different stages of the archaeological process
3. Appreciate the contribution of science in archaeology and the role of specialist research

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Appreciate how and why different methods are chosen for investigating archaeology and their impact on interpretation

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Understand information presented in a range of written, numerical and graphical forms.
6. Understand the relationship between methods, data and interpretation

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

What and where is archaeology: sites and landscapes
Seeing archaeology from afar: aerial survey and remote sensing
Seeing archaeology close-up: geophysics
Digging archaeology: excavation strategies and stratigraphy
Digging archaeology: recording and archiving
Dating archaeology: chronology and typology
Dating archaeology: scientific methods
Analyzing materials and assemblages
Spatial and numerical analysis
Bioarchaeology: plants and animals
Bioarchaeology: human remains

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
20	130	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	20	Lecture content
Scheduled learning and teaching	130	Guided independent study, including reading, research and preparation for classes and assignments

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Practical exercises (face to face or online; online can be synchronous or non-synchronous delivery)	10-15 minutes	1-6	Verbal comment (written comment for non-synchronous delivery)

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
40	60	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Examination	60	1.5 hours (or open book equivalent if closed note examination is not available)	1-6	Written feedback
Poster	40	500 words	1-6	Written feedback
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Examination	1500-word essay	1-6	Referral/Deferral period
Poster	500 words	1-6	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading (e books):

Cunliffe, B., Gosden, C. and Joyce, R. A. (eds) 2009: The Oxford handbook of archaeology. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
David, B. and Thomas, J. (eds) 2008: Handbook of landscape archaeology. Walnut Creek, Calif.: Left Coast Press.
Dincauze, D. F. 2000: Environmental archaeology: principles and practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Drewett, P. 1999: Field Archaeology: An Introduction. London: UCL Press.
Grant, J., Gorin, S. and Fleming, N. 2015: The archaeology coursebook: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. London and New York: Routledge.
Richards, M. P. and Britton, K. (eds) 2020: Archaeological science: an introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Shennan, S. 1988: Quantifying Archaeology. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Publications by English Heritage and Historic England on archaeological methods and techniques, available at https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/archaeological-science/

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11464

Key words search

Archaeology, methods

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	4
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	30/06/2014
Last revision date	31/01/2024