ARCH2231: Themes in Historical Archaeology

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• * All modules marked with this symbol form part of an Accredited CIfA pathway
• to present and debate the concepts and theories relevant to historic period and contemporary archaeologies across the world and the material evidence for the development of the modern world.
• To analyse and discuss key themes, building on L1, including: medieval to modern transitions, religious change and beliefs; migration and diasporas; knowledge and technological change; diversity, identity, materiality and gender; the body, social class; poverty; tensions of materiality and text; technologies; networks; industrialisation; colonialisation; the rise of capitalism; consumption and consumerism

• The module offers students training in the theoretical and applied aspects of methods employed in historical and contemporary archaeology drawn from the following topics using case-studies ranging from the North East England to China, Africa and North America: transitions, religion, conflict, disaster, mobility, transience, social inequalities, waste, diasporas, slavery, protest, trade, the body and the life-course, commercialisation, shopping, diet and food, disease and health etc.
• The module explores the relationship between the theoretical principles and their application to datasets from historical archaeology (defined here as the last 2000 years of human activity to the modern day) across the world, together with the different types of data obtained and approaches to their analysis.
• These aspects are examined in the context of current applications of the method as presented in the current research literature.
• The module is taught by lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module the student will:
• have an understanding of the theoretical basis of several key areas of historical and archaeological methods and their application to historic period and contemporary archaeological problems in specific global contexts;
• be able to describe and comment on the balance between theory, observation and interpretation in the selected areas of historical and archaeological research.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Gain core skills pertaining to historical and contemporary archaeology in a global setting including the selection of appropriate methods for analysing archaeological sites and materials from the historic period.
• Gain core skills pertaining to historical and contemporary archaeology including the integration and interpretation of written data, material culture, environmental, architectural and philosophical approaches.

Key Skills:

• Develop competence in transferable skills such as independent research and effective written communication of complex archaeological issues from the historical era across the world.

• The module is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, a formative essay, seminars and self-guided learning.
• It is assessed through two summative essays.
• Lectures will ensure the effective communication of key information and theoretical ideas, supported by reading lists and written summaries of follow-up notes posted on the VLE, enabling students to gain up-to-date knowledge, as well as guidance on further reading.
• Tutorials will focus on discussion and feedback between tutors and students in small groups, in a relatively informal learning environment, enabling students to enhance, discuss, question and receive feedback on their knowledge and to gain experience in oral communication and collaborative group-work.
• Seminars comprise structured oral and visual presentations and discussions of archaeological material, methods and theories, within medium-sized groups, enabling students to deepen their knowledge, to take responsibility for independent study.
• Self-guided learning comprises personal study, research, revision and evaluation associated with classes and assignments; guided by lecturers, tutors and reading lists of specialist books, articles, web-sites and digital learning materials e.g. MOOC.
• Research is embedded into the teaching of this module through the expertise of the lecturers and tutors. The examples and topics chosen within the curriculum will derive from the specialist research interests of the staff teaching the module. The module also enables students to explore how archaeologists produce evidence about the past and contemporary world, develop theories to explain it, and how historic period and contemporary -archaeological evidence may subsequently be reinterpreted.
• Lectures may consist of pre-recorded videos and/or live presentations from tutors, and integrate break-out discussions, study exercises and other learning activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.

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