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ARCH20510

Academic Year 2026/2027

Archaeology of Landscapes (ARCH20510)

Subject:
Archaeology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Archaeology
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Helen Lewis
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Landscape archaeology explores the often complex relationships between people and their environments by investigating how people shaped the land around them, how landscapes may have been perceived (including symbolic and ideological meanings of landscapes), and how culture and nature can shape each other.

Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this module will explore how archaeologists encounter, investigate and interpret archaeological landscapes. The module will introduce students to concepts and theoretical approaches in landscape archaeology. The module will reveal the wide variety of methods that can be drawn upon to investigate landscapes, including cartographic and other documentary sources, field survey and excavation, imaging (including remote sensing), environmental studies, oral histories. A case study-based approach will demonstrate how methods and theory can be applied, the results considered, and narratives developed about past societies and environments.

Through well-illustrated lectures, the module will draw upon case studies from around the world, from early prehistory to early modern societies. Active learning through in-class discussions will enable students to develop a deeper understanding of the topic. A one-day fieldtrip will be undertaken to complement the lectures and enable students to put their learning into practice. The fieldtrip will require suitable outdoor clothing (hiking boots or similar, waterproof trousers, etc.).

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Understand key theoretical and methodological approaches towards investigating archaeological landscapes.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of applying different approaches in landscape archaeology.
3. Characterise key debates concerning ancient landscapes from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
4. Understand how archaeology can help us adapt to landscape and climate change in the world today.

Indicative Module Content:

Five themes will be explored:
1) Concepts and theory in the study of archaeological landscapes.
2) Methods.
3) Characterising landscapes.
4) Creating a sense of place.
5) Going forward: lessons from archaeology for the future, and changing stewardship issues

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. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

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

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. Advanced Beginner

Strategic

The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Advanced Beginner

Integrated Problem Solving

The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Not addressed

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

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.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22

Field Trip/External Visits

8

Autonomous Student Learning

70

Total

100


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures that include active/task-based learning
Fieldtrip to put learning into practice. The fieldtrip will demonstrate the types of approaches that could be used in the major project.
Critical communication skills developed.
You will have a one-hour written in-person exam.
The module is co-taught by multiple experts.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


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 Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Individual Project: Illustrated project on an archaeological landscape. See course handbook for details. Week 9 Graded No
55
No
Exam (In-person): Final exam, essay questions End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded No
45
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 - 2 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?

Written feedback within 4 weeks after submission deadline. The initial project will help you develop your ideas, and feedback from that is intended to help you construct your final project. Final exam feedback as per university regulations.

CORE TEXTBOOK
David B, Thomas J (eds) (2016) Handbook of landscape archaeology. New York: Routledge. UCD Library eBook.

USEFUL READINGS
Ashmore W, Knapp BA (2012) Archaeologies of landscape: contemporary perspectives. Oxford: Blackwell. James Joyce Library, 930.1 ASH (copies in Short Loan Collection)

Hicks D, McAtackney L, Fairclough G (2016) Envisioning landscape: situations and standpoints in archaeology and heritage. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press. UCD Library eBook.

Howard P, Thompson IH, Waterton E, Atha M (2019) The Routledge companion to landscape studies (2nd edition). Abingdon: Routledge. UCD Library eBook.

Kluiving SJ, Guttmann-Bond EB (eds) (2012) Landscape archaeology between art and science: from a multi- to an interdisciplinary approach. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. UCD Library eBook.

Layton R, Ucko PJ (1999) The archaeology and anthropology of landscape: shaping your landscape. London: Routledge. UCD Library eBook.

Tilley C (1994) A phenomenology of landscape: Places, Paths and Monuments. Oxford: Berg. James Joyce Library, 936.1 TIL (copies in General and Short Loan Collection).

Tilley C (2016) Interpreting landscapes: geologies, topographies, identities (Explorations of Landscape Phenomenology 3). Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press. UCD Library eBook.

Wiley J (2007) Landscape. London: Routledge. James Joyce Library, 304.2 WIL (copies in General and Short Loan Collection).

Name Role
Professor Joanna Bruck Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ryan Lash Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Helen Lewis Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Meriel McClatchie Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Barry Molloy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Tadhg O'Keeffe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Brendan O'Neill Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Aidan O'Sullivan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Anita Radini Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Jessica Smyth Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Samantha Tobias Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

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 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50