This course covers a series of core practical aspects of archaeology, taking students through the processes of project design, discovery, survey, excavation, post-excavation and dissemination of results, with an emphasis on developing skills related to employability, and promoting critical thinking and reflexive practice.

10x 1hr lectures; 10x 2hr workshops per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

3x 3hr 'field' workshops over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Project Output (2200 word with creative output) - 50%

■ Portfolio 25%

■ Report 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the Project Output, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the portfolio or report, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to:

■ Develop skills in and knowledge of a range of archaeological practices and methods, from survey work to artefact and ecofact analyses;

■ Reflect on aspects of archaeological practice through engagement with various specialists, professionals and experienced practitioners;

■ Consider the important of objective recording ideals, while gaining a greater appreciation of the role of interpretation and subjectivity in archaeological fieldwork; 

■ Obtain an overarching view of the archaeological process, learning how different elements are linked together and inform one another, from project design and finding sites, through to final publication of fieldwork results, and stages in between;

■ Acquire knowledge of the structure of archaeology in Scotland, and where appropriate, beyond, and the ethical and social responsibilities of archaeologists within and beyond the profession;

■ Allow students to develop possible dissertation topics and future research interests, in particular related to material culture, and enhance employability.

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

■ Explain how an archaeological project is designed, showing knowledge of the basic elements and appreciation of how they are linked together, from conception to writing-up the final report;

■ Describe and evaluate techniques and methods employed by archaeologists;

■ Appraise the relationship between observation, description and interpretation;

■ Design basic critically informed strategies for the survey, excavation, post-excavation and publication of an archaeological site or group of sites;

■ Question their own practice in a reflexive manner;

■ Contextualise archaeological practice within the current profession, in terms of policy and legislation;