The archaeology of cloth and clothing is a growing area of research, with renewed optimism that these perishable materials (textiles, leather, basketry) can be traced and investigated as part of broad research strategies. This course adopts a technological and thematic approach to examine the sources of archaeological evidence and emerging research questions in this field focusing primarily on prehistoric Europe with examples from later periods and further afield.

1x2hr session per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. (includes, lecture, seminar, practical classes/workshop and external visit.)

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.

None

None

Set exercise  - 10%

Essay (2500 words) - 40%

Examination (90 minutes) - 50%

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. 

In-class tests are not available for reassessment

This course will provide the opportunity to: 

■ Explore the key interpretive issues, research traditions and approaches to cloth and clothing in archaeology

■ Focus on the cloth and clothing of prehistoric Europe with examples from later periods and further afield

■ Learn to identify the principal technical features of cloth

■ Examine, and where appropriate handle, a range of relevant archaeological evidence

■ Engage with theories of cloth and clothing

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

■ Recognise and critically evaluate the key types of archaeological evidence for cloth and clothing

■ Be familiar with the chronological developments in fibre and weaving technology in prehistoric Europe

■ Summarise principal interpretive themes and debates in the subject

■ Identify a range of technical features of cloth

■ Appropriately handle relevant archaeological material

■ Present clear and well-supported written arguments

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