British Battlefields: Analysis and Cultural Resource Management ARCH5009

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will provide an introduction to battlefield sites across the UK, spanning a wide time range. Using a number of case studies, the main focus will be on the investigation, interpretation, conservation and management of these complex landscapes which are now regarded as key elements of Britain's cultural heritage.

Timetable

1 hr lecture with 1 hr seminar once a week over 10 weeks

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College level.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Two 2,500 word essays, 50% weighting each

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ provide an outline military history of the British Isles as it pertains to an understanding of battles as culturally important sites and part of the archaeological resource.

■ provide a full overview of cultural resource management of conflict sites from the earliest times until the 18th century. This will include issues such as monuments and memorialisation, and the historiography of battlefields as represented by battlefield guides and other works.

■ explore the various ways in which the British landscape has influenced the nature of the battles fought within it.

■ provide a full overview of other relevant types of the military built environment in Britain. Sites of interest will include castles and forts and military installations from the modern period such as WWII coastal defences, POW camps and cold war airfields.

■ introduce the public context relating to the Cultural Resource Management of British battlefields - consideration of planning issues, conservation, public presentation, etc.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ Evaluate the military history of the British Isles as expressed through its cultural remains

■ Analyse battlefields and other conflict-related sites to produce evaluation reports for cultural resource management

■ Apply a range of disciplines to the presentation of battlefields and other conflict-related battlefields

■ Analyse the relationship between landscape and military behaviours

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

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