Undergraduate Course: Archaeology of Scotland (ARCA08016)
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 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course teaches the archaeology of Scotland from the very earliest surviving evidence for human settlement in the 10th millennium BC until the 21st century AD, covering prehistoric, historic and contemporary topics - from an archaeological, material culture perspective |
| Course description |
The course provides in-depth coverage of the archaeology of Scotland from the very earliest human activities that we know of until the archaeological remains of today. Topics cover the recolonization after the Ice Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic lifeways; the changes in settlement, production and interactions in the Bronze, Iron Age and Roman periods; as well as aspects of Early Medieval, Medieval, Postmedieval and Contemporary archaeology where relevant to the course themes. Practical aspects of the course will introduce students to the study and interpretation of archaeological sites, artefacts and ecofacts related to Scottish archaeology and as displayed at the National Museum of Scotland.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 1 introductory level Archaeology or cognate subject course at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. Visiting students should contact the CAHSS Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
60 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework:
1000 world Reflective Analysis (40%)
Practical Exam:
Class Test 1 on Practicals (20%)
Class Test 2 on Lecture content (40%)
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| Feedback |
Students will receive oral, formative feedback in each practical session on their work produced during the practical.
Students will also receive written feedback on their coursework and class tests, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the staff tutor/Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the archaeology of Scotland and of aspects of the practice of archaeology
- Assimilate a variety of sources and to work with archaeological material and to assess them and formulate critical opinions on them
- Research, structure and complete written and practical work of a specified length and format, and within a specified time
- Make informed contributions to class discussion and activities
- Organise their own learning, manage their workload, and work to a timetable
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Reading List
- Armit, I., 2025, Celtic Scotland. New edition. Edinburgh and London: B T Batsford/Historic Scotland.
- Breeze, D. J., 2006, Roman Scotland: Frontier Country. Edinburgh and London: B T Batsford/Historic Scotland.
- Campbell, L., Wright, D., Hall, N.A., 2018. Roots of nationhood: the archaeology and history of Scotland. Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd.
- Clarke, D.V., Blackwell, A.E., Goldberg, M., 2015, Early medieval Scotland: individuals, communities and ideas. 2nd edition, Edinburgh: National Museums Scotland.
- Driscoll, S.T. 2002. Excavations at Glasgow Cathedral 1988-1997, London: Routledge.
- Edwards, K. J. and Ralston, I. B. M. (eds.) 2022, Scotland After the Ice Age: Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000 BC - AD 100. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Harding, D.W.H. Rethinking roundhouses: later prehistoric settlement in Britain and beyond. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
- Hunter, F., Ralston, I.B.M., 2015. Scotland in Later Prehistoric Europe. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
- Maldonado, A., 2021, Crucible of Nations: Scotland from Viking-age to Medieval kingdom. Edinburgh: NMSE Publishing Ltd.
- Noble, G. 2006. Neolithic Scotland timber, stone, earth and fire. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Shepherd, I. A. G. and Barclay, G. J. 2004, Scotland in Ancient Europe: the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Scotland in their European Context. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
- Warren, G., 2005, Mesolithic Lives in Scotland, Stroud: Tempus. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tanja Romankiewicz
Tel:
Email: T.Romankiewicz@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Marketa Vejskalova
Tel:
Email: Marketa.Vejskalova2ed.ac.uk@ed.ac.uk |
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