Archaeological Fieldschool
| Module title | Archaeological Fieldschool |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARC2004 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Susan Greaney (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 55 |
|---|
Module description
This module will enable you to put into practice the archaeological skills that you have gained in your first year modules. It will provide you with practical experience of field archaeology work (usually excavation and survey) on a project run by the department. As a fieldschool, the experience will include onsite training and continuous assessment of your field and general work skills, as well as the completion of a reflective journal. This practical experience will provide invaluable employability skills, particularly for those pursuing archaeological careers. You will work as part of a team on a real research project. Some fieldschools are in the UK and others abroad. You will develop these skills and gain a broader understanding of how archaeological research projects are conducted by designing your own hypotheticall archaeological project.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide practical experience of field archaeology work, giving competence in core techniques, recording methods and interpretation. Students will gain an understanding of how methods studied at Level 1 are put into practice to meet the aims of a particular archaeological project. You will consolidate methods and experience gained during the fieldschool to research, design and plan your own hypothetical archaeological project.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various techniques of practical archaeological work.
- 2. Understand how methods of excavation, survey and finds processing are put into practice to meet the aims of a particular archaeological project
- 3. Gain experience of a real excavation and/or survey project
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Use appropriate archaeological terminology
- 5. Undertake research into a specific archaeological site and plan an excavation project
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Write a comprehensive report, deploying visual and written material
- 7. Interpret a variety of information forms and synthesise data from disparate sources, including from the field
- 8. Work in a team, within a hierarchical structure, and co-operate with and learn from peers
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following workshops:
- Briefing on the module contents, practical arrangements and nature of assessments.
- At least 16 days of practical training on site.
- Guidance and training to complete your reflective journal.
- Workshops on approaches to designing archaeological field research.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | 164 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 128 | Archaeological Fieldschool (approximately 16 days) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 8 | Four 2hr workshops (one before and three after fieldschool) |
| Guided independent study | 164 | Reading, preparation for workshops and assessment research and writing |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous assessment of field skills (performance, attitude, team skills) | 30 | Four week field school | 1-4, 7-8 | Mark and written comments |
| Reflective fieldwork journal | 30 | 2,000 word report | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 | Mark and written comments |
| Project design relating to the conduct of archaeological field research | 40 | 3,000 word report | 1-2, 4-7 | Mark and written comments |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous assessment of field skills | Repeat fieldschool | 1-4, 8 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Reflective fieldwork journal | 2000 word report | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Project design relating to the conduct of archaeological field research | 3,000 word report | 1-2, 4-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
If you do not attend fieldschool for at least 13 days, you will be required to defer the fieldschool and the two related assessments (continuous assessment of field skills, and reflective fieldwork journal) to the following year. This will not affect the project design assessment, which can be completed in Level 2, Term 1.
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
Core reading:
- Carver, M. O. H. (2009) Archaeological Investigation. London: Routledge
- Collis, J. (2004) Digging up the past: an introduction to archaeological excavation. Sutton: Stroud.
- Drewett, P. (2011) Field archaeology: an introduction. London: Routledge
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11094
- See ‘Useful Resources for guidelines and websites relevant to project planning.‘
Key words search
Archaeology, excavation, fieldschool, fieldwork, survey
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | ARC1010 and ARC1020 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2010 |
| Last revision date | 18/02/2025 |
