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ARCH30920

Academic Year 2024/2025

Communicating Archaeology (ARCH30920)

Subject:
Archaeology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Archaeology
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ryan Lash
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

From Netflix documentaries to podcasts to conspiracy theories circulated on social media, public interest and engagement with archaeology – and pseudo-archaeology – has never been more dynamic or potentially toxic. Now more than ever, archaeologists must consider public perceptions of the discipline, confront the legacies of its colonial past, and strive to make research more collaborative, engaging, and accessible to broad audiences.

This module explores how archaeology is used and abused to make claims about human history, diversity, and potential. Through analysis of a variety of media, we will learn to identify and critique common stereotypes, misleading assumptions, and sources of bias in presentations of archaeology in the public sphere. Readings, activities, guest lectures, and round table discussions will introduce students to science communication strategies and develop capacities to explain archaeological methods, theories, and discoveries in compelling and accessible formats.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognize how archaeology is used and abused for myth-making to serve a variety of political and ideological agendas

2. Identify, critique, and counteract sources of bias, misleading tropes, and rhetorical strategies in popular accounts of
archaeology in various media (online, print, film, TV & museums)

3. Communicate archaeological research to diverse public audiences in accessible and compelling ways

Indicative Module Content:

Public perceptions of archaeology and archaeologists; Confronting pseudo-archaeology; Decolonising archaeology; Communicating archaeology to broad public audiences

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

16
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Small Group

8
Tutorial

8
Field Trip/External Visits

8
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; Class discussion and critique of popular media; Museum trip; Guest speakers; Peer-review

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Video Presentation (4 mins)
Produce a short video (in the format of a YouTube short or TikTok) that identifies and debunks a popular stereotype or misconception about archaeology or archaeologists.		 Week 5 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Accessible Archaeological Writing (2500 words)
Produce a write-up of recent archaeological research that will be accessible and compelling to broad audiences of non-specialists.		 Week 12 Graded Yes
70
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback within 4 weeks after submission deadline. Feedback contains feed-forward details, which will help you think about how you could improve your approach in future assignments. The initial project will help you develop your ideas, and feedback from the project is intended to help you construct your final essay. In class peer-review of drafts of the final assessment will help refine your essay prior to submission. NOTE: You may choose to use generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) to find, learn about and understand suitable resources (i.e. for background research). You must avoid AI for writing of assessments.

Name Role
Professor Joanna Bruck Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Anita Radini 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 Tues 10:00 - 11:50
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