| Unit name | Professional Practice |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCHM0067 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Prior |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will provide essential knowledge of professional practice in archaeology and will introduce key practical skills such as aerial photography, topographic and geophysical survey, GIS and excavation. The unit will also cover the identification and interpretation of a variety of sites, landscapes and seascapes.
On completion of this unit a successful student will be expected to:
1. Know where to access information about sites, monuments and landscapes (HERs, NMR, on-line resources, etc);
2. Interpret Aerial Photographs;
3. Apply the principles of map regression analysis;
4. Critically assess historical sources;
5. Understand the principles and practice of archaeological excavation
6. Undertake topographical archaeological survey;
7. Undertake geophysical survey;
8. Summarize the principles and methods of geographical information systems;
9. Explain where and how archaeology is conducted as a profession.
Lectures Practicals x2 fieldtrips
A Desk-Based Assessment of an Archaeological Site or Landscape, or an Earthwork Survey or Geophysical Survey with accompanying report (5000 words = 100% assessment for unit).
The Desk-Based Assessment comprises a detailed documentary (historic and contemporary), cartographic and photographic study of a site in order to assess its archaeological potential and is commonly used in the commercial sector. Those wishing to undertake a more practical approach can carry out either a geophysical or earthwork survey and produce an accompanying report.
Bettess, F. 1992. Surveying for Archaeologists. Durham: University of Durham.
Bowden, M. (ed.) 1999. Unravelling the Landscape: an inquisitive approach to archaeology. Stroud: Tempus
Brophy, K. & Cowley, D. 2005. From the Air: Understanding Aerial Archaeology. Stroud: Tempus
Chapman, H. 2006. Landscape Archaeology and GIS. Stroud: Tempus
Gater, J. & Gaffney, C. 2003. Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus
Greene, K. & Moore, T. 2010. Archaeology; An Introduction. Routledge.
