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ARCH10010

Academic Year 2026/2027

Exploring Archaeology (ARCH10010)

Subject:
Archaeology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Archaeology
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Brendan O'Neill
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Archaeology explores how people in the past created and inhabited worlds that were often very different to our own. Archaeologists gain unique insights into the human condition by investigating the material remains from past societies, enabling new understandings of what it is to be a person in many different contexts. This module will give you a general introduction to this exciting and engaging subject, enabling you to understand basic archaeological principles, methods and techniques. We will explore how archaeologists reveal the past – investigating how people lived, how they created and used objects, what they ate, what they looked like, and what happened at the end of their lives. It will also provide an overview on why Archaeology is relevant to our modern world. The module is taught by lively and well-illustrated lectures, small-group tutorials, a visit to a museum and a fieldtrip to an archaeological landscape, all providing you with practical opportunities to investigate ancient landscapes, objects and materials yourself. Exploring Archaeology is a useful module for students from across all subjects in the university, in particular social sciences, arts and humanities, earth and life sciences, medicine, veterinary studies, engineering and architecture.

Field trip most likely October 24th (to be confirmed). This is an outdoor field trip and you are required to bring suitable outdoor clothing (hiking boots or similar, waterproof, etc.)

This module is co-taught across the School of Archaeology, with contributions from Dr Anita Radini, Dr Ryan Lash, Assoc. Prof. Helen Lewis, Assoc. Prof. Barry Molloy.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of how archaeologists recover different types of evidence.
2. Review the variety of methods used in archaeological investigation.
3. Visit an archaeological site or museum exhibition and be able to adopt an archaeological perspective on what they experience.
4. Study an archaeological object (specifics provided) and produce a written report.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction: what is archaeology?
What materials survive from the past and how do Archaeologists study them?
How do we find and investigate archaeological landscapes?
How were societies organised?
What happened at the end of their lives?
What did people look like?
What foods did they eat?
A case study
Using the past to understand the present.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Novice

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Novice

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Novice

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

9
Tutorial

4
Field Trip/External Visits

8
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

29
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures that include active/task-based learning.
Tutorials that include peer and group work, including a museum visit during one tutorial.
Critical writing skills introduced in project assessment.
Field trip to put new learning into practice.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

None

Learning Exclusions:

None


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
Archaeology PhD students (DRHSC001 Z117, DRHSC001 Z118) may audit this module only.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Project - Object study Week 6 Graded No
30
 No
Exam (Open Book): Candidates must answer two out of three questions. Candidates may bring notes covering both sides of a single sheet of A4 paper into the exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Fortnightly online MCQ test (10 questions per test). A total of three MCQ quizzes will be held. Each quiz is completed online via Brightspace. Week 3, Week 5, Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Three MCQ quizzes (online through Brightspace) held every two weeks from week 3. Week 6 Project: written feedback within 4 weeks after submission deadline. End of Trimester Exam: written feedback within 4 weeks after submission deadline.

CORE: Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. 2020. Archaeology: theories, methods and practice (8th edition). London: Thames and Hudson.
UCD Library Ebook.

Greene, K. and Moore, T. 2010. Archaeology: an introduction (5th edition). Abingdon: Routledge. UCD Library Ebook. Hard copy also available in James Joyce, Short Loan Collection, 930.1 GRE.

Grant, J., Gorin, S. and Fleming, N. 2008 The archaeology coursebook: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. London: Routledge. UCD Library Ebook. Hard copy also available at James Joyce, Short Loan Collection, 930.1028 GRA.

Scarre, C. (ed.) 2018. The human past: world prehistory and the development of human societies (4th edition). London: Thames and Hudson. UCD Library Ebook. Hard copy also available at James Joyce, Short Loan Collection, 930.1 SCA.

Carver, M. 2009. Archaeological investigation. London: Routledge. Hard copy available in James Joyce, Short Loan Collection, 930.1 CAR.

Name Role
Professor Joanna Bruck Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Meaghan Mackie Tutor
Julie Perez Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Wed 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 11 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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