AA4127 In the Footsteps of the Ancients: Exploring the Archaeology and Topography of Greece

Academic year

2025 to 2026 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 10

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

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

TBC

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

Module coordinator

Dr B A Martens

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

Module Staff

Brian Martens (bam21)

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

Module description

Through on-site teaching in Greece and home lectures, this course studies how and why Greek secular and religious sites developed where they did, what their different functions may have been (in relation to architecture/topography), how these changed over time, and what important interactions existed within and between secular and religious sites. On-site teaching will also allow treatment of the nature of site-excavation and its impact on interpretation, as well as development of students' own interpretations and illustration of contemporary topics such as the values of restoration, conservation and presentation of archaeology. The module will provide a broad yet detailed examination of Greek society and culture from Prehistoric to modern times. There will be ca. 11 days of visits to sites and museums in Athens, Attica, Central Greece and the Peloponnese; these include the Athenian Acropolis and Agora, Delphi, Ossios Loukas, Mycenae, Sparta, Mistras, and Olympia. The module is assessed by an on-site oral presentation and accompanying written submission, a research diary and written site case-study.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

12 hours of lectures and seminars in St Andrews; 90 hours on-site lectures and seminars in Greece.

Scheduled learning hours

102

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

Guided independent study hours

198

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Engage with and analyse archaeological and topographic data on site and in the class room
  • Relate material remains and the history of ancient Greece to the physical setting.
  • Relate material remains and the history of ancient Greece to the physical setting
  • Demonstrate enhanced visual skills
  • Demonstrate insight into the diachronic nature of settlements and religious sites in Greece
  • Demonstrate improved group and individual research skills