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Archaeometallurgy

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will outline the discovery and development of metallurgy from the earliest use of native metals and the impact of metallurgy on cultural dynamics. Important technological developments in both ferrous and non-ferrous will be highlighted. The focus of the module will be on the metallurgical process – including ore mining, smelting, refining and object manufacture – and evidence for technological processes in the archaeological record. Practical exercises in assessing debris from early metalworking processes will be conducted and students will examine the microstructures of ancient metal artefacts.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Understand the role of metallurgy in cultural development in ancient and more recent history
• 2. Understand the development of metallurgy from its origins in the Western Asia
• 3. Know the technological processes of metal production
• 4. Assess the types of datasets commonly encountered in archaeometallurgy
• 5. Be aware of analytical and interpretative techniques for the assessment of archaeometallurgical evidence

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Research a topic guided by a reading list
• 7. Understand and critically evaluate archaeological information from a wide range of sources
• 8. Organise information synthetically to address key thematic issues

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Synthesise and share information with peers, giving and receiving constructive criticism
• 10. Self-reflect on progress within a co-operative group environment
• 11. Contribute to group tasks and assignments
• 12. Develop competence in word processing and report presentation

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:

1. Origins of metallurgy 
2. The metallurgical process: ore to artefact
3. Copper and bronze 
4. Iron and steel 
5. Ores and mining: techniques and archaeological evidence 
6. Pioneering metallurgy: major events in the development of metallurgy 
7. Metallurgy in the archaeological record: furnaces, smelting, crucibles, refining, forging and casting 
8. Working histories: analysis of artefacts and waste (practical) 
9. Experimental and ethno- metallurgy

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Craddock, P.T., 1995. Early metal mining and production, Edinburgh University Press. 
• Craddock, P.T. and J. Lang (eds), 2003. Mining and Metal Production through the ages, The British Museum Press. 
• Hodges, H., 1989. Artifacts, Duckworth, London. 
• Tylecote, R.F., 1992. A history of metallurgy (2nd edition), The Insitute of Metals, London. 
• Tylecote, R.F., 1990. The prehistory of metallurgy in the British Isles, The Institute of Metals, London.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=81

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• www.hist-met.org.uk is the web page of the Historical Metallurgy Society and has useful links to other web sites
• Journals
• Historical Metallurgy
• Journal of Archaeological Science
• Archeometry