Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment
| Module title | Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARCM225 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Stephen Rippon (Convenor) Dr Hajnalka Herold (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
You will examine the sources and methods used when studying the origins and development of the ‘historic landscape’ (present-day patterns of settlements, communications, field-systems and other land-uses), and explore key themes in the evolution of Britain’s landscape in the past two millennia.
The content will be strongly interdisciplinary covering field archaeology, historic landscape analysis, palaeoenvironmental evidence, the analysis of maps and documents, place- and field-names, and vernacular architecture. Although there are no pre-requisite modules, you will need to have a basic understanding of the techniques of archaeology and the major developments in the archaeology of Britain in the past two millennia (equivalent to undergraduate modules ARC1000A ‘Interpreting Sites and Landscapes’, ARC1000B ‘Analysing Archaeological Evidence’, and ARC1003B ‘Discovering Historic Archaeology’).
Module aims - intentions of the module
On completion of the module, you will understand the major sources and techniques used in the study of the historic landscape. You will be able to critically assess which methods are appropriate for studying particular landscapes and periods. The module’s focus on the historic landscape reflects one of Exeter’s major research strengths in this field, and also reflects the growing emphasis on this area within a wide range of professions including archaeology, planning and countryside management.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the range and application of techniques within landscape archaeology
- 2. Define and engage with the key concepts and philosophies that underpin our understanding of landscape change
- 3. Learn constructively from verbal and written feedback
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, making sound judgement in the absence of complete data
- 5. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the basic chronological development of the British landscape in the past two millennia
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Present to a high level clearly structured, well written and appropriately illustrated arguments
- 7. Take part in group discussions, and ask pertinent questions at the forefront of the subject
- 8. Learn constructively from verbal and written feedback
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction and historiography
- Philosophy of landscape archaeology: landscape change in time and space
- Regionality and landscape character
- Data collection: remote sensing and field archaeology
- Data collection: maps and documents
- Data collection: place- and field-names
- Data collection: standing buildings
- Techniques of analysis: retrogressive analysis, historic landscape characterisation and GIS
- Concepts and interpretations: core and margin
- The Roman landscape
- The Roman-medieval transition: concepts and sources
- The Reorganisation of landscapes in the late first millennium
- The high medieval period: a new order?
- The high medieval period: prosperity and expansion
- The Late Medieval Period: crisis or continuity?
- The post medieval period: enclosures and polite landscapes
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 10 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 9.5 | Seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 0.5 | Group work |
| Guided independent study | 130 | Including reading and preparation for lectures, seminars and assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interpretation of aerial photograph and map (group work) | 15 minutes in-class exercise | 1, 6-7 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critique of published landscape archaeology project focussing on the techniques used | 40 | 1500 words | 1, 3, 5 | Written feedback |
| Essay on a key period of landscape change | 60 | 2000 words | 1-5 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critique | Critique (1500 words) | 1,3,5 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Essay | Essay (2000 words) | 1-5 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Key periodicals:
- Landscape History; Landscapes
- Astill, G. and Grant, A. 1988: The Medieval Countryside of England. Oxford.
- Aston, M. 1985: Interpreting the landscape. London.
- Bowden, M. 1999: Unravelling the Landscape. Stroud.
- Creighton, O.H. 2009: Designs upon the Land: Elite Landscapes of the Middle Ages. Woodbridge.
- Muir, R. 1999: Approaches to Landscape. London.
- Muir, R. 2000: The NEW Reading the Landscape. Exeter.
- Rippon, S. 2004: Historic landscape Analysis. York.
- Rippon, S. 2008: Beyond the Medieval Village. Oxford.
- Roberts, B. and Wrathmell, S 2002: Region and Place: A Study of English Rural Settlement, London.
- Williamson, T 2003: Shaping Medieval Landscapes. Macclesfield.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4832
- Aston, M. 1985: Interpreting the landscape. London (e-book)
- Rippon, S. 2004: Historic landscape Analysis. York (ERIC)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/11/2011 |
| Last revision date | 14/01/2019 |