Experimental Archaeology and Ancient Technology (U00207)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-AExpTech

The aim of the course is to develop students' thinking about archaeological sites and artefacts by introducing them to different ways of looking at the material remains we uncover in excavation and survey. This invovles an examination of the way prehistoric societies have exploited and manipulated certain aspects of their environment and the natural resources available to them to create buildings, tools and domestic equipment. The course also demonstrates what sort of impact this will have had on the formation of the archaeological record and how we, as archaeologists, can understand or interpret that record. The use of experimental archaeology techniques to study and analyse artefacts is also studied although the core area of teaching and research focuses on prehistoric buildings and structures.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Archaeology 2A and 2B

? Costs : None

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Archaeology, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	17:00	Central
Lecture	Thursday	16:10	17:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : N.B. The timetable is arranged annually.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- To provide an introduction to the ethics, philosophy and methodology of experimental archaeology;
- to explore the different types of experimental archaeology that have been carried out and to give a background knowledge of the history of this form of study;
- to study and assess some of the major projects of experimental archaeology developed in recent years;
- to highlight the research being carried out within the department and to use this to explore issues surrounding prehistoric technology, prehistoric buildings, site formation processes, prehistoric environments and artefact studies;
- to investigate the role played by experimental archaeology in site and heritage management considerations.