AA3020 Principles and Techniques in Archaeology

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students in Honours Ancient History & Archaeology or Honours Medieval History & Archaeology

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Team Taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module, which draws on archaeological material from around the world, is divided into two sections. The first is a series of seminars and lectures on the central practical concerns of archaeology: the way in which the type of excavation affects the resulting evidence; methods of studying sites and artefacts; how to publish archaeological material, and the importance of conservation. This will give a general grounding to enable students to understand archaeological reports, and to apply this understanding to other parts of the Honours degree. The second part will address the important contribution of theoretical archaeology to the discipline, while also elucidating the practical applications and relevance of theory. There is no particular concentration on any one historical period and material is chosen rather to illustrate a broad range of methods and issues.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE ALL MODULES FROM {AN2002, AN2003, CL2003, CL2004}

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

New coursework of equivalent weight to a 3-hour Honours exam (2 essays or one long essay)

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1-hour induction session in Orientation Week then 1 lecture and 1 x 2-hour seminar per week.

Scheduled learning hours

31

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

269

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Engage effectively with archaeological theories and methodologies
  • Integrate a variety of evidence into archaeological and historical arguments
  • Construct and articulate a coherent oral presentation with critical use of evidence
  • Process and convey archaeological information in written form with a keen awareness of diverse audiences (e.g. members of the public, grant committees, etc)
  • Analyse and critically evaluate published archaeological research