Undergraduate Course: Archaeology 1B (ARCA08005)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course offers an introduction to Archaeology, focusing on case-studies from Eurasian later prehistory and beyond. It discusses themes such as the rise of early states, monumentality, urbanism, and death and burial. It offers insights into the workings of archaeological research and interpretation through addressing key theoretical perspectives and methods. |
| Course description |
The course has several themes: Theme 1 (understanding early civilisations) introduces the course and gives you some useful background to the history of Archaeology and aspects of relevant theory and interpretation. It provides a background to understand the rise of early civilisations in Western Asia and Egypt, focusing on the birth of writing, state formation, and the rise of markets and trade. Theme 2 (scientific archaeology) highlights useful applications in archaeological research for studying artifacts and human skeletal remains. Theme 3 (monuments and megaliths) addresses how archaeological science has been able to make sense of Stonehenge, Britain¿s most famous prehistoric monument; and other European megaliths. Theme 4 (European societies from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period) introduces a range of Later Prehistoric and post-Roman societies of Europe, addressing the specifics of their lifeways and the rise of urbanism. The course concludes with the archaeology of the Roman frontiers and Medieval Britain. Many of these topics, as well as several others, can be pursued in further depth in Archaeology 2A and 2B, and in Honours option classes (3-4th years).
There are normally two 1-hour lectures per week and one tutorial per week starting in week 3. Tutorials provide a friendly small group learning context of about 10-12 students. They complement lectures, web pages and textbooks, while helping you develop the skills required for tackling the assessments upon which your final grade depends. Tutorials provide a context for discussion of lecture topics and critical evaluation of selected reading items. They also introduce key themes and issues, while allowing you to ask questions about any aspect of Archaeology that you wish to know more about or need help with. Active contribution and participation is required of all students.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 111 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
165 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework:
800 word short report (20%)
1800 word essay (60%)
Class test (20%) |
| Feedback |
Students will receive written feedback on their short report within 15 working days, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the tutor/Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment. This written and oral feedback will provide preparation for the coursework essay and students will subsequently receive detailed written feedback on that, again within 15 working days. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject considered in the course;
- Assimilate a variety of sources and formulate critical opinions on them;
- Research, structure and complete written work of a specified length, or within a specified time;
- Organise their own learning, manage their workload, and work to a timetable.
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Reading List
Gamble, C. 2004. Archaeology: The Basics. Routledge.
Grant, J. & Gorin, S. 2015, (4th edition). The Archaeology Coursebook: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. Taylor and Francis.
Greene, K. & Moore, T. 2010 (5th edition). Archaeology: an Introduction. Routledge.
Johnson, M. 2010. Archaeological Theory: An Introduction. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. 2012, (6th edition, or recent 7th edition) Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. Thames & Hudson, London.
Scarre, C. 2009, The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 2nd ed. Thames and Hudson, London. (1st edition 2005, also good)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Gather information and organize it coherently.
Critically evaluate different approaches and explanations.
Express ideas and arguments clearly orally and in writing.
Self-direct and organize learning, manage workload and work to a timetable. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Two 1-hour lectures per week on different days; one 1-hour tutorial per week. |
| Keywords | Archaeology 1B |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Beatrijs De Groot
Tel:
Email: Beatrijs.de.Groot@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Marketa Vejskalova
Tel:
Email: Marketa.Vejskalova2ed.ac.uk@ed.ac.uk |
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