Unit information: Archaeological Survey in 2014/15

Unit name	Archaeological Survey
Unit code	ARCH20034
Credit points	10
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

This is a practice-based unit will establish the fundamentals of archaeological survey working from the whole to the part. Students will learn about establishing control frameworks, the use of different traverses and the creation of an accurate and precise survey area. It will refresh the knowledge already gained in practical archaeological survey at the Certificate level and will enhance the student's skills and confidence through reinforcing the basic methodologies and techniques previously learned, with the opportunity to participate in practical group exercises in the field.

You will learn about different types of survey used in archaeology including: • Earthwork survey; • Plough zone sampling; including fieldwalking, test pitting, shovel pitting; • Cartographic survey; • Levelling; including lines of collimation, temporary bench marks and the use of dumpy levels in survey.

You will be introduced to equipment used in archaeological survey: • Dumpy Level; • Compass, tapes and ranging poles; • Total Station Theodolite; • GPS

AIMS

You will become familiar with sophisticated survey strategies and methodologies and the use of equipment such as Total Stations and Differential GPS. The unit will give you experience in surveying principles, such as the use of angles and distance measurements, divorced and NGR referenced coordinate systems, and the establishment of a rigid control framework through the implementation of different types of traverse (principles that are not just used in archaeology, but also in engineering, architecture, construction etc). You will learn about control stations, the setup and positioning of tripods over new and existing points and the process of checking and double checking readings. You will also learn about coding and being able to set different graphical representations for different features.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

1. Undertake from scratch a complex holistic site survey and relate that to the modern map base;
2. Understand the different methodologies and techniques of survey work;
3. Troubleshoot problems associated with establishing a rigid control framework (traverse);
4. Produce an accurate scale plan to publication standard;
5. Interpret the field remains;
6. Complete a field report with earthwork survey plan and location map.

Assessment Information

ASSESSMENT – FIELD REPORT

1. A written account of the techniques and methodologies employed in the field and an interpretation of the earthwork surveys to be recorded in a Field Report. This will form 50% of the marks for this unit.
2. A completed plan of the surveyed earthworks to be included in the Field Report. This will form 50% of the marks for this unit.
3. In addition, records and notes taken in the field of the survey methodology, field results, instrument measurements, height readings, etc (which may include levels sheets, earthwork record sheets, etc.) should be included in the Field Notebook.

Reading and References

Bannister, A., Raymond, S. and Baker, R. 1998. Surveying (7th ed). Harlow: Longman.

Bettess. F. 1998. Surveying for Archaeologists. (3rd ed). Durham: University of Durham.

Bewley, R.H., Crutchley, S.P. and Shell, C.A. 2005. ‘New light on an ancient landscape: Lidar survey in the Stonehenge World Heritage Site’, Antiquity 79: 636-47.

Bowden, M. 1999. Unravelling the Landscape: an inquisitive approach to archaeology. Stroud: Tempus.

Cherry, J. Gamble, C. and Shennan, S. 1978. Sampling in contemporary British Archaeology. BAR 50.

Clarke. A. 2000. Seeing beneath the Soil. London: Batsford (revised edition).

Clancy, J. 1981. Site Surveying and Levelling. London: Edward Arnold.

Collins, J.M. and Molyneaux, B.L. 2003. Archaeological Survey. Archaeologist's Toolkit 2. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira.

Crawford, O.G.S. and Kieller, A. 1928. Wessex from the air. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

David, A. 1994. ‘The role of geophysical survey in early medieval archaeology’, in W. Filmer-Sankey and D. Griffiths (eds). Anglo Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History 7. Oxford University Committee for Archaeology.

Drewett, P. 1999. Field Archaeology: An Introduction. London: Routledge.

Francovich, R. and Patterson, H. 1999. Extracting Meaning from Ploughsoil Assemblages. Oxford: Oxbow Books.

Gaffney, C.F. and Gater, J. 2003. Revealing the past: geophysics for archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.

Gaffney, C., Gater, J. and Ovenden, S. 1991. The use of geophysical techniques in archaeological evaluations. Institute of Field Archaeologists, Technical Paper 9.

Howard, P. 2006. Archaeological Surveying and Mapping: Recording and Depicting the Landscape. London: Routledge. [Electronic version available].

Kipfer B.A. 2007. The Archaeologists Fieldwork Companion. Oxford, Blackwell.

Leach, P. 1988. Surveying of archaeological sites. London: Institute of Archaeology.

Oswin, J. A field guide to geophysics in archaeology. New York: Springer Verlag.

Tabor, R. 2004. Regional Perspectives in Archaeology: from strategy to narrative. BAR International Series 1203.

Tabor, R. and Johnson, P. 2000. ‘Sigwells, Somerset, England: regional application and interpretation of geophysical survey’, Antiquity 74: 319-25.

Taylor, C.C. 1974. Fieldwork in Medieval Archaeology. London: Batsford.

Wilson, D.R. 2000. Air Photo Interpretation for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.