Undergraduate Course: Archaeological Fieldwork: Foundation Course (ARCA08018)
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 | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A core course for all year 1 Archaeology and Classical Archaeology students, you will be introduced to the skills required of a professional archaeologist and will undertake archaeological fieldwork, such as survey or excavation. This course will cover professional standards, including health and safety, ethics, and responsible practice in real-world settings. Fieldwork and practical project experience enhances employability, builds confidence and autonomy, and contributes to future career development acting as a stepping stone to Chartered Institute for Archaeology professional accreditation. |
| Course description |
This course is intended for students following Archaeology (single or joint) and Classical Archaeology (joint) degree programmes.
The course will introduce students to the practice of archaeological fieldwork and support students to find opportunities for hands-on experience of these skills, which are central to professional archaeological practice. Through a combination of classes and practical work, students will learn how archaeological projects are organised and delivered, receive training in core fieldwork skills, and begin their development as professional archaeologists.
Classes will introduce students to working in a professional field environment, with particular attention to health and safety, personal responsibility, and ethical practice, including site preservation, engagement with local communities, and the respectful handling of human remains. Students enrolled on the course will be required to gain three weeks experience in archaeological practice. Students will undertake a project run by staff within the School, or an approved project led by experts external to the School. Archaeology students will undertake foundational training in archaeological field practice (survey and excavation), which aligns with the Archaeology Skills Passport, designed to help students document the skills they acquire during their studies and beyond. The Skills Passport outlines the main skills required to gain employment as a professional archaeologist, and forms part of our CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists) course portfolio for Archaeology degree programme accreditation, and also acts as a stepping stone to obtaining individual CIfA membership. The practical experience gained during the course also provides a strong basis for future academic work, often inspiring dissertation topics and other research projects.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only open to students on Archaeology or Classical Archaeology programmes |
| Additional Costs | Fieldwork projects often require participation fees to cover food, accommodation, local transport, etc. Fees vary from one project to another. University funding is available to cover a part of these fees. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Fieldwork Hours 105,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
80 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework (100%)
A portfolio to include a Project Report (1500 words) and Self-Reflective Evaluation of achievements, Challenges, and Growth (1000 words) with a maximum of 2500 words.
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| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser during their published office hours for this course or by appointment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate key practical skills in archaeological survey, excavation and recording methods
- demonstrate good understanding of the aims, methods and outcomes of an archaeological fieldwork project
- demonstrate understanding of the core elements of on-site health and safety, and put these into practice
- demonstrate enhanced employability by developing key practical skills and confidence in archaeological field work, post excavation analysis and field recording methods
- communicate key archaeological fieldwork discoveries in a report format
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Reading List
- Carver M, Hummler M, 2025. Archaeological Investigation. London: Routledge.
- Connolly D, 2012 (revised). DIG Survivor. Preparing for your first project. BAJR Practical Series Guide 30. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dig-Survivor-2024.pdf
- Connolly D, 2024. Basic Health and Safety Advice in Archaeology. BAJR Practical Series Guide 20. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Basic-Health-and-Safety-Advice-2024.pdf
- Connolly D, 2024. Field Survey, Field Walking and Detecting Survey. BAJR Practical Series Guide 15. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Short-Guide-to-Field-Survey-2024.pdf
- Connolly D, 2024. Survey Basics: Laying out trenches and levelling. BAJR Practical Series Guide 10. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Survey-Basics-trenches-and-levelling-2024.pdf
- Grant J, Gorin S, Fleming N, 2008. The Archaeology Coursebook: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. London: Routledge.
- Hester TR, Feder KL, Shafer HJ, 2016. Field Methods in Archaeology. Abingdon: Routledge.
- Kausmally T, Western AG, (OSSA Freelance) 2005. Excavation of Faunal Skeletal Remains from Archaeological Sites. BAJR Practical Series Guide 4. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Faunal-Remains-Guide-2024.pdf
- OSSA Freelance, (n.d.). A Field Guide to the Excavation of Inhumated Human Remains. BAJR Practical Series Guide 14. https://www.bajr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Field-Guide-to-the-Excavation-of-Human-Inhumated-Remains-2024.pdf
- Renfrew C, Bahn P, 2024. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (9th edition). London: Thames and Hudson. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and Enquiry:
Problem Solving - using knowledge of archaeological practices in the field, translating this knowledge to different archaeological projects, and imagining new ways of addressing the unexpected on archaeological sites
Critical Thinking - seeking relevant and appropriate evidence and understanding biases when contextualizing the project in the report
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy:
Curiosity - exploring and learning from fieldwork experiences, conducting research and asking searching questions when completing the project report
Data Literacy - developing skills in recording and interpreting primary and secondary archaeological evidence
Personal Effectiveness:
Reflection - through completion of the project report, which includes a critically framed evaluation of personal skills development and achievements during the three-week project
Individuality - through identification of future development goals in the project report
Adaptivity - through adaptability and resilience to changes in project plans, and applying personal drive and motivation on site.
Professional Awareness - by demonstrating adherence to fieldwork code of conduct, health and safety guidelines, and project risk assessments
Assertiveness and Confidence - through development of practical skills and seeking and valuing open feedback on performance, and using judgement to determine when it is appropriate to ask questions
Communication:
Collaboration - through team working with other project participants and site supervisors/directors, and respecting the needs, perspectives and actions of others
Communication - through active listening to project director/supervisor and other project participants, and conveying effective meaning through the completion of a written report of the main findings of the project
Inclusivity - through harnessing the benefit of difference and diversity of background and experience among project participants and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment to sites visitors; and through understanding of and adherence to the Fieldwork Code of Conduct |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Jon Henderson
Tel:
Email: jon.henderson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Claire Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: cbrown20@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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