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Artefacts and Materials

Module description

This module will introduce you to the fascinating subject of material culture as applied in archaeology. Teaching is done through a combination of introductory lectures and hands-on activities. Some of the work and assignments are done as small group exercises. The module will develop your skills in recognising artefacts and materials and an understanding of how archaeologists deal with them. Along with learning about artefacts as objects you will also learn about how they were made, their place in time and how they contribute to our understanding of the past. You do not need any prior experience with these materials and the module is appropriate within interdisciplinary studies. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will develop skills in recognising common types of artefacts and principal categories of materials. Artefacts are a category of archaeological evidence that will be encountered in all archaeological and heritage work, and it is important to understand how archaeologists categorise, catalogue and describe them. The module will provide an introduction to manufacturing methods, observational recording and drawing techniques, and point towards resources for researching artefacts. Teaching will be through practical assignments and classes (including hands-on exploration of artefacts), live demonstrations and lectures in a variety of presentation formats.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Recognise key features relating to the properties and different purposes of materials, and the processes of manufacture
• 2. Know appropriate methods for recording, describing and analysing archaeological finds
• 3. Identify artefact types and use appropriate terminology to describe them

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Appreciate the significance of physical materials and traditional technologies in interpreting the past
• 5. Draw observations and interpretations from real objects and groups or assemblage of artefacts

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Assimilate evidence from a combination of physical observation and published resources
• 7. Contribute as an individual within group work
• 8. Produce clear and concise work in a variety of written and presentational formats

Syllabus plan

This module is arranged as a series of themed elements linked to artefact and material categories. Each element will include introductory presentations, supported by physical learning resources practical exercises for individual and group study. Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction to artefacts
• Stone artefacts
• Ceramics and clay
• Metals and technological waste
• Organic and composite materials and artefacts
• Perishable materials

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

Re-assessment for in-class based test will be coursework.

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

• Caple, C. (2006) Objects: Reluctant Witnesses to the Past. London: Routledge
• Grant, J. et al. (2015) The Archaeology Coursebook: An Introduction to Themes, Sites, Methods and Skills. London: Taylor and Francis (Chapter 3)
• Hodges, H. (1989) Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology. London: Duckworth
• Hurcombe, L.M., 2007: Archaeological Artefacts as Material Culture. London: Routledge.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11090

Key words search

artefacts, materials, stone, ceramics, organics, metals