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Archaeology

Archaeology of Scotland: Iron Age, the Romans and Early Prehistoric Period

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

An introduction to the later prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology of Scotland, the course uses sites and material culture to analyse society and culture in Scotland from the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age to the Kingdom of the Picts. The course provides an opportunity to handle excavated materials.

Course Details

Content of Course

1. Archaeology - An introduction.

2. Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age - Society and subsistence.

3. 'Celtic princes' in Scotland - Scotland within a wider Celtic world?

4. Atlantic roundhouses.

5. Crannogs.

6. Why did the Romans fail to conquer Scotland?

7. The early historic period.

8. The introduction of Christianity.

9. Lives set in stone.

10. Warfare, politics and religion.

Teaching method(s)

Teaching methods will be based on lectures, combined with illustrative examples of excavated materials. This will be followed by a group discussion and debate of theories / issues raised in the lecture and hand-outs. Informal group discussions will also provide an opportunity for students to handle artefacts, faunal remains and excavated sediments to gain a clearer picture of the practical work undertaken by archaeologists.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of relevant archaeological methods and techniques - the identification, recovery, documenting, analysis and interpretation of archaeological evidence,

  • Critically evaluate archaeological evidence and interpretations, presenting a logical, reasoned argument,

  • Describe the chronology and framework of society and settlement in the later prehistoric and early historic periods of Scotland.

Sources

Core Readings

  • Ritchie, A. and Ritchie, G., 1998 Scotland. An Oxford Archaeological Guide.

or

  • Ritchie, A. and Ritchie, G., 1992 Scotland: Archaeology and Early History. Edinburgh University Press.

Class Handouts

A relevant text and an illustrated set of lecture notes will be circulated each week.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.