Course Catalogue

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This course explores the mutual dependencies, collaborations and conflicts between a wide range of landscape partners, including rock, soil, water, weather, plants, and animals - both human and non-human. It will use case studies from across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from the 17th to the 21st centuries, though with some earlier material where relevant. A key feature will be the integration of archaeological, historical, ethnographic and environmental data.

9 two-hour discussion seminars

1 day-long field trip

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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Type of Assessment

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ explore and explain archaeological and ecological landscapes in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from the 17th to 21st centuries;

■ stimulate students to interpret the landscape as an intricate web of socioecological relationships;

■ demonstrate ways of integrating social and ecological analysis of the landscape, using a range of interdisciplinary data.

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

■ identify a range of human and non-human agents in the landscape, and some of their interactions and interdependencies;

■ interpret social and ecological dynamics in landscapes in the Scottish Highlands and Islands in the 17th-21st centuries;

■ integrate archaeological, historical, ethnographic and environmental evidence to support their argument;

■ communicate their interpretations using different writing styles and an appropriate range of media.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.