Landscape archaeology is the study of landscapes as highly synthetic expressions of human - environment relationships through time. The field is highly interdisciplinary, integrating archaeology, geography, ecology, history, environmental studies, remote sensing, landscape architecture and more. This course is designed to develop the fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding essential to careers related to the study of and engagement with the landscape in the research, environment and heritage sectors. Participants on this course are afforded the opportunity to learn about current and emerging thinking and practice in landscape archaeology, with an emphasis on practice-based and research-led learning.

8x1hr seminars; 8x1hr workshops; 6 hours of fieldwork

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Essay (3,000 words) - 40%

Practical Exercise (1-3 hours per exercise equivalent to 500 words each exercise) - 30%

Portfolio on fieldwork trips (1,500 words equivalent) - 20%

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:

■ Provide a graduate-level introduction to past and current theoretical frameworks for interpretation in archaeological landscape research, from antiquarian through post-modern approaches and beyond.

■ Introduce a series of practical methodological skills central to current archaeological landscape practice including field observation, analytical description, image interpretation, and data integration.

■ Build confidence in the practice of landscape archaeology field, lab, and desk methods through hands-on practical sessions and supervised lab sessions.

■ Familiarise students with the diverse data sources drawn upon in landscape archaeology, covering topics such as paleo-entomological evidence, written records of land value, and ceramic scatters.

■ Create an environment for students to mobilise archaeological theory and data in the interpretation of specific landscape contexts

■ Provide opportunities for students to develop transferable skills of analysis, problem-solving, presentation and communication

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

■ Formulate and express, orally and in writing, their own views on the development of archaeological landscape theory and practice.

■ Illustrate knowledge of the data sources commonly used in the practice of landscape archaeology and the contexts in which they may be deployed

■ Select and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods in order to synthesise and analyse diverse data sources.

■ Effectively apply a theoretical approach of their choice to a specific dataset to produce an interpretation of a landscape area.

■ Design, plan, and execute practical tasks in data collection and analysis

■ Articulate complex ideas and nuanced debates clearly in oral, visual and written form.

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