ARCH41350 Thinking about Things

Academic Year 2022/2023

Archaeology is the discipline of things, but what are those "things", and how do archaeologists think about them? This module will provide students with an introduction to the identification, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological material culture (i.e. objects produced and used by past peoples), otherwise known as "stuff" or things. We will look at the “archaeology of things”, and investigate how we observe, describe and analyse things as archaeologists. While standard approaches to object analysis and interpretation have tended to emphasise their finished form, style, or aesthetic characteristics, this module will add to this by examining the evidence for production, making and use, and their meanings for us. We will seek to understand how different types of things came to be made / used. We will use the principles of object biography and the reconstruction of the sequence of making (from raw materials to finished things), but also both practical and scientific analytical methods, artefact photography, illustration, etc - vital skills for anybody wishing to engage with "things” in their career.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Identify and clearly describe some of the more common archaeological materials and objects.

2. Identify and critically assess the use of various approaches to material culture in different research projects

3. Be able to select what techniques might be used for different materials and objects

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Specified Learning Activities

80

Autonomous Student Learning

80

Total

184

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active/task-based learning; peer and group work; online lectures; critical reading and writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning; student presentations, etc 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: You will choose an archaeological object from a list provided and prepare a conference style (i.e. one slide) poster about it. Week 5 n/a Graded No

30

Project: Your will prepare a project proposed how you would go about investigating a particular object, or class of objects, using archaeological methods. Week 12 n/a Graded No

70


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
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?

Feed back on Brightspace and one-to-one via Zoom

Name Role
Dr Neil Carlin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Barry Molloy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Brendan O'Neill Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Rob Sands Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Graeme Warren Lecturer / Co-Lecturer