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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Archaeology

Undergraduate Course: Archaeology in Practice (ARCA10065)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryWhat do Archaeologists do outside University? 'Archaeology in Practice' aims to increase student understanding and experience of the contemporary practice and issues of Archaeology within the UK and internationally and to introduce students to the range of research resources available to students in Edinburgh and elsewhere.
Course description Managing public archaeology
Making Stonehenge, past and future
Presenting Archaeology to the Public
Archaeologists working in the applied sector
Treasure and Portable Antiquities
Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management in the USA
Visit to the RCAHMS collections

'Archaeology in Practice' aims to develop student understanding and experience of the contemporary practice and issues of Archaeology with the UK and internationally through a range of talks by visiting professionals from outside the University. In addition the course aims to introduce students to the range of research resources available to students in Edinburgh and elsewhere which can be used for their dissertation in fourth year. The course aims to improve and extend subject specific skills and understanding, in particular a wider understanding of the various roles and activities of professional archaeologists and the to develop wider generic skills - in information literacy and analysis. There is also the opportunity (optional) for students to participate in short internships with a local Archaeological company once they have completed the course.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Pre-requisites: Archaeology 2A and 2B, or Honours entry to degrees in Classics, or equivalent.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Archaeology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. Enrolments for this course are managed by the CAHSS Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department. All enquiries to enrol must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  56
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 11, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework:
1,000 word comparative review of two popular archaeology magazine (25%), and
2,500-3,000 word essay considering a major theme (75%)
Feedback Feedback is provided after the first short review (1000 words) scheduled mid-term. Advice is given on the choice and subject matter of the long essay as required. Students will receive written feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. demonstrate skills in locating a range of sources in libraries, online and in museums and archives.
  2. demonstrate understanding of the contemporary practices and issues in world archaeology.
  3. demonstrate knowledge of the range of approaches to heritage management.
  4. demonstrate awareness of the ethical problems and conflicting principles encountered in archaeological research and in conservation management.
  5. demonstrate recognition of the role of Archaeology in British society
Reading List
Bintliff, J. 2004 A Companion to Archaeology. Oxford: Blackwell.

Darvill T 2004, Public Archaeology: a European Perspective, in Bintliff, J. A Companion to Archaeology. Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 406-434.

Hunter, J. and Ralston, I. (eds) 2006 Archaeological Resource Management in the UK, an introduction. Stroud: Alan Sutton. 2 edn.

Morel, V. 1995 Who owns the past?' Science 268, 1424-26.

Skeates, R., McDavid, C. and Carman, J. (eds.) 2012 The Oxford Handbook of Public Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tainter, J. A. 2004, 'American Cultural Resource Management', in Bintliff, J., A Companion to Archaeology. Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 435-453.

Waterton E., Saul H. 2018, Public Education and Archaeology: Disciplining Through Education. In: Smith C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, Cham
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills At the end of this course the student will be able, through written examination, coursework and class presentation and discussion, to demonstrate his/her:
written skills and oral communication skills
analytical skills of material, written and visual evidence
ability to recognise and focus on important aspects of a wide-ranging subject and to select specific examples
ability to produce a concise review of popular publications
Additional Class Delivery Information There is normally one two-hour lecture per week,
in addition there are also visits to local Archaeological archives, especially the RCAHMS
KeywordsArchaeology in Practice,Conservation,Public Archaeology
Contacts
Course organiserDr Rachel Cartwright
Tel:
Email: rcartwr2@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Claire Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: cbrown20@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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