Unit information: Archaeological Practice in 2023/24

Unit name	Archaeological Practice
Unit code	ARCH10016
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Prior
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

This unit will introduce the methods and techniques that archaeologists commonly use to identify and record archaeological sites, features, structures and monuments.

The unit will provide a broad understanding of the range and nature of archaeological sites and monuments in the UK, and the ways in which archaeologists find, investigate, excavate and record them.

The main techniques of archaeological investigation and recording will be introduced including the use of maps, documents, digital resources and aerial photographs, earthwork survey, geophysical survey, excavation, levelling and standing building recording.

Aims:

• To introduce the range and nature of archaeological sites and monuments present in the UK.
• To introduce the range of features that archaeologists frequently work on, such as buried remains, monuments, earthworks, standing buildings and landscapes.
• To provide the basic field skills employed by archaeologists to investigate, excavate and record archaeological features, sites, monuments and landscapes.

Your learning on this unit

Completion of this unit will enable students to successfully:

1. Identify the range and nature of archaeological sites and monuments present in the UK.
2. Identify the range of features that archaeologists frequently work on, such as buried remains, monuments, earthworks, standing buildings and landscapes.
3. Describe and employ the basic field skills currently used by archaeologists to investigate and record archaeological features, sites, monuments and landscapes.
4. Identify and explain the range and nature of British archaeological sites and monuments.
5. Practice key archaeological field techniques, and explain the results of fieldwork clearly.
6. Synthesise and assess various sources of evidence that relate to archaeological remains and/or monuments, including previous archaeological work, aerial photographs, documentary sources and historic maps.
7. Identify the appropriate technique to be used in the field.
8. Complete context sheets, section and planning drawing and basic matrices.
9. Describe and explain the chronological relationships between various archaeological deposits.
10. Keep a complete, organised and well-presented notebook.

How you will learn

Weekly two-hour lecture (x1 two hour block).

Weekly two-hour practical session (lab & field).

Participation in training excavation/lab sessions during term time

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

• None

Tasks which do not count towards your unit mark but are required for credit (zero-weighted):

• A series of practical tasks during the excavation/fieldwork [0%,Required for Credit] (ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

• Notebook [50%] (ILOs 1-10)
• Essay, 2000 Words [50%] (ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)

When assessment doesn’t go to plan

When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCH10016).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.