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 |
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.
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
ASSESSMENT – FIELD REPORT
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Bettess. F. 1998. Surveying for Archaeologists. (3rd ed). Durham: University of Durham.
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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.
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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.