Course Catalogue

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This thematic course examines major methods and issues pertaining to the application of scientific methods to answer archaeological questions, e.g. of diet, chronology and human migration.

2x1hr sessions per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. (includes lecture, seminar and practical classes/workshop.)

This is one of the Honours options in Archaeology and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Archaeology, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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Essay (1500 words) - 30%

Oral Presentation (500 words) - 10%

Portfolio of Practical Assignments (2000 words, including visual & numerical material) - 60%

This course aims to:

■ examine the theory underpinning the application of the scientific method in archaeology

■ gain an overview of commonly-used techniques in scientific archaeology and their applications to questions of diet, mobility, chronology and environment

■ investigate the advantages and limitations of the various techniques discussed, using examples from the archaeological record, predominantly over the past 8,000 years

■ explore contemporary public understandings and media reporting of archaeological science

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ critically evaluate the major techniques used in the archaeological sciences and how these are applied.

■ apply the theory underpinning the application of scientific methods in archaeology.

■ summarize research findings and present these to others.

■ use archaeological science to gain new insights into human diet, plant and animal domestication, and human-environment interactions.