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Archaeology

Archaeology: Accessing Past Lives

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course hopes to illustrate that archaeology is an accessible subject and that almost any location or object can be examined through archaeological perspectives, methods and theories. Students will undertake a group project through which they will undertake a practical examination of archaeological techniques and processes, and explore ways in which archaeological methods are applied.

Please note, this course includes field trips (e.g. around Holyrood Campus and Holyrood Park).

Course Details

Special Information

We shall offer detailed advice as to the clothing and equipment required and the distance between indoor learning environment and outdoor location, and terrain.

Content of Course

The course will offer an opportunity to look in detail at the various aspects involved in planning and delivering an archaeological research project. These include locating and accessing source material, considering health and safety procedures, legal, ethical and moral considerations, different approaches to investigating the past, and a range of archaeological methods such as mapping, surveying, excavating and recording findings.

Students will be supported as a group to collect and test data using observational skills, undertaking a walk-over survey and field survey methods. We shall then engage in post fieldwork analysis and the synthesis of data. Due consideration of past evidence and the development of archaeological interpretations and presentation of data will be undertaken as part of the course.

The course will provide an overview of the range of ways archaeological findings are disseminated.

Students will become familiar with recognised archaeological terminology and archaeological research, past and present, will be considered within historical, political and economic contexts.

Teaching method(s)

Students can expect to engage in tutorial-type discussions and field work, with a strong emphasis on group work. Details about the field work will be given in advance of each iteration of the course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Engage practically with archaeological ideas and methods;

2. Critically assess source materials;

3. Apply key field skills;

4. Interpret and evaluate results;

5. Recognise established methods of dissemination.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

  • Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P., 2005. Archaeology. London: Routledge.

  • RCAHMS, 2011. Scotland's rural past: a practical guide to recording archaeological sites. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

  • Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P., 2016. Archaeology: Theories Methods and Practice. London: Thames and Hudson.

  • Colin Renfrew. C. and Bahn, P., eds. 2005. Archaeology: The Key Concepts. London: Routledge. 

Web Sources

http://thereno.live/about 

‘Excavating Reno’, the story of an excavation in Salford that changes how we think about archaeology today.

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.