Unit information: British Pre-History in 2014/15

Unit name	British Pre-History
Unit code	ARCH20035
Credit points	30
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Mr. Paul Driscoll
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

The unit is designed to explore the major advances and changing understanding of British Prehistory over the last 150 years. It will examine the evidence for human settlement in Britain and Ireland from c.800,000 BP to the end of the Iron Age. The unit looks at early human occupation of Britain within an evolutionary framework; elucidating models of hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies and territorial movement; Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, together with emerging trade, social and economic systems, the technological changes brought about by the introduction of metal and the social organisation of the Iron Age up to the beginning of “proto-urbanism”.

The course introduces you to the material culture of prehistoric Britain and shows how our interpretations are constantly re-written by new discoveries and new techniques. The excavation of the Amesbury Archer at Stonehenge has revised our interpretation of Beaker culture and the recent discovery at Happisburgh in Suffolk has suggested that the earliest hominid occupation in Britain was more than 700,000 years ago.

You will look at the data that is available to understand and interpret British Prehistory. This is derived from palaeo-environmental studies, excavation reports, artefacts, landscape settlement patterns and monuments. Although the unit is taught chronologically, it will take a thematic and landscape perspective by looking at sites in their wider context.

Aims:

• Understand the basic data that comprises British Prehistoric archaeology.
• Be aware of the chronological changes that occur throughout the period.
• Recognise the complexities of the transitions between the chronological periods.
• Explore the developmental models that are required to understand the topic.
• Evaluate the current models and debates for sites and monument interpretation.
• Be aware that new discoveries can always alter current interpretations or dating.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will :

1. Have an accurate basic, factual knowledge of sites, monuments and artefacts;
2. Be aware of the chronological changes that occur throughout the period;
3. Recognise the complexities of the transitions between the chronological periods.
4. Explore the developmental models that are required to understand the topic.
5. Evaluate the current models and debates for sites and monument interpretation.
6. Be aware that new discoveries can always alter current interpretations or dating.

Assessment Information

ESSAYS You are required to write two essays of 2750 words each. The two essays together will count towards 60% of the marks for this unit.

MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST The test will last 50 minutes and will test your factual knowledge through 75 multiple choice questions. There will be at least 20 pictures of artefacts or sites, which you must recognise and identify (these will mostly be from lectures you have been given). The test comprises 40% of the marks for this unit.

Reading and References

Bradley, R. 2007. The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. But see also Electronic Version in the library.

Cunliffe, B. 2001. The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Cunliffe, B. 2001. Facing the Ocean. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cunliffe, B. 2010. Iron Age Communities in Britain (4th ed). London: Routledge.

Darvill, T. 2010 2nd Edit. Prehistoric Britain. New York: Routledge.

Hunter, J. and Ralston, I. 2009. (2nd ed). The Archaeology of Britain. London: Routledge.

Pollard, J. (ed) 2008. Prehistoric Britain. Oxford: Blackwell.