Unit information: Methods and Theory in Landscape Archaeology in 2012/13

Unit name	Methods and Theory in Landscape Archaeology
Unit code	ARCHM0057
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Gardiner
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides the methodological and theoretical background to the study of landscape archaeology. It will consider in detail how landscapes have been studied by archaeologists, as well as within cognate disciplines such as social anthropology and social geography; the kinds of evidence that can be recovered from historic and archaeological landscapes; and the methods used in landscape investigation (e.g. earthwork survey, aerial photographs, Geographical Information Systems).

Aims:

• to introduce the methodological and theoretical background to the study of landscape archaeology;

• to familiarise the student with primary field evidence;

• to enable the student to interpret past human activity within the landscape through a variety of theoretical perspectives.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this Unit students will:

• have acquired an understanding of the research approaches used by landscape archaeologists;

• be familiar with the kinds of evidence that can be recovered from historic and archaeological landscapes;

• be conversant with current interpretive approaches to landscapes within archaeology and, to a lesser extent, anthropology and social geography;

• have practical familiarity with landscape survey techniques (manual and electronic, remote sensing), Geographical Information Systems, the use of aerial photographs, Sites and Monuments/Historic Environment Records, and map evidence.

Teaching Information

Lectures, fieldtrips, museum visits and practice-based fieldwork (NB. The number of hours as reflected below are required in order to cover the subject sufficiently and approximately half of the hours are either fieldtrips (6 hours per day) or relate to student fieldwork (6 hours per day).

Assessment Information

SMR Enhancement (This is an enhancement of the Sites and Monuments Record, more recently referred to as the Historic Environment Record).

The assessment requires the primary research of a selected site or monument that requires further fieldwork in order to enhance the current record. The assessment includes practical research, such as site visits and the carrying out of an earthwork survey and/or a geophysical survey. It includes documentary research in the National Monuments Record Office, local Historic Environment Offices and Public Record Offices, and is much more practice-based than is generally required for MA Archaeoology essays, therefore, a range within a word limit of 3000 - 5000 words is necessary.

Reading and References

• Ashmore, W. & Knapp, A.B. (eds) 1999. Archaeologies of Landscape. Oxford: Blackwell

• Aston, M. 1985. Interpreting the Landscape. London: Batsford

• Bender, B. (ed.) 1993. Landscape: politics and perspectives. Oxford: Berg

• Bowden, M. (ed.) 1999. Unravelling the Landscape. Stroud: Tempus

• Thomas, J. 2001. Archaeologies of place and landscape. In I. Hodder (ed.), Archaeological Theory Today, 165-86. Oxford: Polity Press

• Wheatley, D. & Gillings, M. 2002. Spatial Technology and Archaeology. London: Taylor & Francis.