ARCH1027: SCIENTIFIC METHODS IN ARCHAEOLOGY 1*

• None

• Must be taken alongside Introduction to Archaeological Methods (ARCH1047 (Term 1)

• Ancient Civilisations: Sources, Approaches and Methods (ARCH1017), Historical Archaeology: Methods and Sources (ARCH1037).

• * All modules marked with this symbol form part of an Accredited CIfA pathway
• To provide students with a grounding in a range of scientific methods and techniques used in contemporary archaeology, and to develop a basic critical awareness of the potential and limitations of the data and its analysis when applied to the study of the human past.
• To provide a core module for BSc Archaeology (F402), BA Archaeology (F400), BA Archaeology & Ancient Civilisations (VQ48) and BA Historical Archaeology (F411).

• Using case studies from UK and global contexts, this module introduces a number of key methods and approaches in modern archaeological practice, including:
• Landscape archaeology, remote sensing and survey methods
• Scientific methods that can be used to date archaeological sites and materials
• The scientific analysis of archaeological materials to understand their composition and origins
• Applying isotopic studies to the understanding of ancient diet and migrations
• Applying ancient DNA to the understanding of past human and animal populations

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module, students will have:
• Obtained a broad range of basic knowledge pertaining to scientific methods used in archaeology, including (a) biological, (b) physical, and (c) landscape and environmental methods.
• Gained a basic understanding of a range of ideas and materials that form the foundation of knowledge in archaeological science.
• Been introduced to fundamental issues in archaeological science research, through both secondary literature and practice.
• An awareness of how to select, propose and agree appropriate methods for analysis and interpretation.
• An awareness of archaeological ethics, technical standards and investigation methods.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of the module, you will have gained a range of key skills (detailed below) that can be applied to archaeologically specific tasks and situations.

Key Skills:

• Over the course of the module, you will gain direct experience in a number of key skills, including:
• Essay writing and correct citation of references.
• Identify high quality sources of information and assess the availability of information.
• How to access library, WWW and the VLE resources.
• Ascertain the procedures required to access information and ensure thse are complied with.
• How to prepare and effectively communicate data, data analysis interpretations, and arguments.
• How to correctly sample, collect, record, analyse, and interpret different types of qualitative and quantitative data.
• How to apply ethical and technical standards.
• Ensure that sources of information and opinion used to inform research and analysis are investigated critically.

• The module is taught through a combination of lectures, problem classes, tutorials, formative essays and self-guided learning.
• It is assessed through a problem-solving exercise (formative) and an examination (summative).
• Lectures are where the module instructors present key information, theoretical ideas, and case study examples, enabling students to gain up-to-date knowledge. They are always supported by reading lists. They may consist of pre-recorded videos, but will mainly be live presentations from the module instructors. They may integrate break-out discussions, problem exercises, and other learning activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.
• Tutorials will focus on discussion and feedback between tutors and students in small groups, in a relatively informal learning environment, enabling students to enhance, discuss, question and receive feedback on their knowledge and to gain experience in oral communication and collaborative group-work.
• Problem classes will include exercises designed to practise and develop skills in numerical data analysis, providing a deeper understanding of the quantitative analysis of archaeological data.
• Self-guided learning comprises personal study, research, revision and evaluation associated with classes and assignments; guided by lecturers, tutors and reading lists of specialist books, articles and web-sites.
• 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, and students are introduced to the results of the research of their teachers as well as the wider context of the subject.
• Lectures may consist of pre-recorded videos and/or live presentations from tutors, and integrate break-out discussions, study exercises and other learning activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.

Formative assessment may include a range of quizzes, short answer tests and other short assignments related to the learning outcomes of the module.

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