Undergraduate Course: Themes in Scottish Archaeology: from field to lab, collection to curation (ARCA10104)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Study the key themes in Scottish Archaeology in academic research, professional practice and curatorial management. Learn the methods, skills and techniques that post-excavation officers, museum curators or heritage managers need in order to analyse, interpret and curate the specific archaeological record in Scotland. Ground your archaeological knowledge in the country you are studying in, from prehistory to the present day -- to then use this as a case study from which to apply your new skills to archaeologies worldwide. |
| Course description |
Using a different theme each week, the course will teach theoretical and practical knowledge as well as skills and techniques that are pertinent in Scottish Archaeology. This covers, for example:
- academic debates on how identities and networks were formed using material culture,
- learning practical post-excavation skills on how to analyse objects, soils, or field records and how to archive archaeological material,
- an understanding of how the archaeological record is curated and cared for.
Students will work on one topic for their coursework, to develop a particular knowledge base, skills and expertise, which they can then advance in dissertation topics, and use to build essential research and employment skills.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3x Archaeology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 2,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Formative Assessment Hours 4,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
171 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
30 %,
Coursework
70 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework:
2,000 word report (70%)
Written Exam:
1.5 hour exam (30%) |
| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback on their ongoing coursework as part of the bi-weekly, 1-hr formative assessment and feedback "surgery" session.
Written feedback will be provided with the marking of the exam and the written coursework element. The latter will be returned to students before the exam diet.
Students also have the option for individual feedback during the course organiser's weekly student drop-in sessions or by appointment. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | ARCA10104 | :90 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- command the basic body of knowledge on key themes in Scottish archaeology, in academic research, heritage management and professional practice - from prehistory to the present day;
- critically read, analyse, understand and reflect upon relevant scholarship and case studies in the geographical scope of this course;
- employ basic methods to utilise, analyse and evaluate a variety of primary source materials, specifically from excavations, archive records, on-line databases, museum collections and other heritage organisations in Scotland;
- develop, sustain and communicate scholarly arguments in oral, visual, and written form, by formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence -- these skills will be learned on the Scottish case study but are applicable more widely;
- evaluate methods, analyses and work of others, including peers, based on independence of mind, originality and initiative, intellectual integrity and maturity.
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Reading List
Bayliss, A,, Marshall, P. 2022. Radiocarbon Dating and Chronological Modelling: Guidelines and Best Practice. London: Historic England. Online resource.
Campbell, L., Wright, D., Hall, N.A. (eds) 2018. Roots of Nationhood. The Archaeology and History of Scotland. Oxford: Archaeopress. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ed/reader.action?docID=5845609&ppg=5
Cowley, D.C. (ed) 2011. Remote Sensing for Archaeological Heritage. Proceedings of the 11th EAC Heritage Management Symposium, Reykjavík, Iceland, 25-27 March 2010. EAC Occasional Paper No. 5, Occasional Publication of the Aerial Archaeology Research Group No. 3. Brussels: EAC. Standard Loan: Folio CC76.4 Rem
Giesen, M. 2013. Curating Human Remains. Caring for the Dead in the United Kingdom. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer. https://www-cambridge-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/core/books/curating-human-remains/DBB69DD57E879CB0AE0C051412CE2BFB
Harding, D.W. 2023. Rethinking Roundhouses. Later Prehistoric Building in Britain and Beyond. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/book/45402
Hunter, F., Ralston, I. (eds) 2015. Scotland in later prehistoric Europe. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Folio GN776.22.G7 Sco
Hunter. F. 2019. "Depositional Traditions in Scottish Iron Age. Metalwork and Other Finds", in: Hunter F. The carnyx in Iron Age Europe. The Deskford Carnyx in its European context. Mainz: Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, pp.63-86. Folio ML3799.5 Hun
Hurcombe, L. 2008/2019. Archaeological Artefacts as Material Culture. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203068526
López Varela, S.L. (ed.) 2018. The Encyclopaedia of Archaeological Sciences. Hoboken (NJ, USA): John Wiley & Sons, entries for e.g. "Environmental Archaeology", "Sampling in Environmental Studies", "Formation Processes", "Taphonomy", "Temperate Environments", "Use of Biological Collections" online resource.
Rhys, O. Baveystock, Z. (eds) 2014. Collecting the Contemporary. A Handbook for Social History Museums. Boston: Museums Etc. [new acquisition]
Schofield, J., Carman, J. Belford, P. 2011. Archaeological Practice in Great Britain. A Heritage Handbook. New York, Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London: Springer. https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/book/10.1007/978-0-387-09453-3
Scottish Archaeological Research Framework and Regional Research Frameworks: https://scarf.scot/ |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Curiosity for learning that makes a positive difference:
- Have developed the mindset and knowledge to investigate themes in Scottish Archaeology that include recent discoveries, new research and pertinent topics in theory and practical application of the discipline, to become an active and knowledgeable member of the archaeological research community, in Scotland and worldwide.
Courage to expand and fulfil potential:
- Have developed the skills and knowledge of methods and their application to study, analyse and interpret key evidence of Scottish Archaeology, such as excavated or upstanding archaeological remains, artefacts, environmental material, human remains, etc. Having applied these through the coursework builds confidence in using this skill and knowledge beyond the course.
Passion to engage locally and globally:
- Have developed the mindset and knowledge to understand, protect and promote the significance and values of Scottish Archaeology to local communities, local economies and local and national policy makers. The skills and knowledge learned on the Scottish case study is then applicable to wider European and global context.
Creative problem solving and researching:
- Have developed these skills through study, analyse and research on an object or archaeological material and to solve a practical or theory-based question from real-life situations, prepares students to gear their ambitions towards challenge-led research, solving genuine issues within the discipline as well as in archaeological practice.
Critical and reflective thinkers:
- Being able to critically assess existing scholarship and one's own results from original research, and interpret results in a wider disciplinary context, locally as well as globally.
Effective and influential contributors:
- Being enabled to use the developed mindset, knowledge and skills, and the results from coursework, to contribute to the expansion and dissemination of knowledge on Scottish Archaeology; have developed direct employment and transferable skills.
Skilled Communicators:
- Have developed oral, written and visual skills to communicate specifically about themes in Scottish Archaeology and Archaeology's significance and values more generally, to peers, the public, employers, stakeholders and policy makers. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tanja Romankiewicz
Tel:
Email: T.Romankiewicz@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Danielle Robertson
Tel:
Email: Danielle.Robertson@ed.ac.uk |
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