This course explores various aspects of the human life-cycle from birth to the final rite of passage, death.  An anthropological and embodied perspective is adopted that acknowledges the importance of age in the construction of social identity.

2 hrs per week comprising lectures, assigned readings and class discussions. This is one of the honours optional courses in Archaeology and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

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Written examination (50%; two questions 90 minutes); essay or self-directed essay/project on topic agreed with and approved by course convenor (c.2500 words, worth 30%); oral presentation to class and short (1000 word) written report (20%) on assigned readings.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which 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:

■ present a series of case studies that situate and explore rites of passage in the archaeological record

■ outline theoretical and interpretative approaches to the human life cycle

■ challenge notions of legitimate knowledge and outline alternative agendas

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

■ Have an understanding and appreciation of anthropological and biographical approaches to the past. This will be assessed by the self-directed project, and in the final exam.

■ Evaluate critically the contribution archaeology can make to writing about the human life-course and be knowledgeable about rites of passage and their archaeological expression. These will be primarily assessed in the final exam.

■ Understand the value of different interpretative stances. This will be assessed in the seminar sections and self-directed project.

■ Gain experience of presenting research topics to others and participate in group discussion. This will be assessed in the seminar presentation.

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