Archaeology and Heritage: Past and Futures
| Module title | Archaeology and Heritage: Past and Futures |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARC1080 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Susan Greaney (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to provide you with a broad understanding of the discipline of archaeology, as well as up-to-date knowledge of contemporary issues and debates. Understanding the role of archaeology in the modern world is essential to contextualise the rest of your studies, and thinking about the present and future of the discipline will equip you for the world of employment and future careers. The objective is to help you understand how archaeologists investigate and write about the past, , with the second half of the module focusing particularly at presenting the past (heritage sites and museums), accessing the past (physically and digitally), and engaging people with the past. You will learn, through lectures, seminars, group work and independent study about important challenges in the world of archaeology and heritage, and explore them by engaging with diverse forms of evidence and group discussions.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Appreciate the history of archaeology as a scientific and humanities discipline.
- 2. Outline some of the key debates about how archaeology is presented and debated by the public.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand the basic elements required to make informed judgements about contentious issues relating to museum and heritage ethics, including the ability to identify relevant laws and sector guidance.
- 4. Identify the key ways in which knowledge about the past can provide value but can also be a source of conflict
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyse and critically evaluate a variety of viewpoints from different types of sources, including academic texts but also blogs, videos, press coverage, exhibitions and social media.
- 6. Research and present on a topic as part of a small group
- 7. Produce clear and concise work, taking on board a variety of viewpoints, in a variety of written and presentational formats
Syllabus plan
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 | 16 | Eight lectures (2hrs each) to include discussion-based learning |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 4 | Two seminars (2hrs each): small group discussion and activities; group presentations |
| Guided Independent Study | 130 | Reading, researching case studies, preparing presentation and completing assignment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation | 10 min group presentation (max 5 slides) | 3-4, 5-7 | Class 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay | 100 | 2,500 words | 1-5, 7 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay (2,500 words) | (2,500 words) (100%) | 1-5, 7 | 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 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
Core reading:
Johnson, M. (2019) Archaeological Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
Harris, O. J. T. and Cipolla, C. N. (2017) Archaeological Theory in the New Millennium: Introducing Current Perspectives. London: Routledge.
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (2020) Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. Oxford: Thames and Hudson.
Moshenka, G. (ed.) (2017) Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. London: University College London.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 30/06/2014 |
| Last revision date | 07/02/2025 |
