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Practical Skills in Archaeology

Module description

What do professional archaeologists do and what sorts of skills do they need to develop? Using a local case study that encourages students to write, research and think as professionals working in the field, this module covers many of the key  skills needed specifically in the world of heritage and cultural resource management and in a wider range of other careers.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will develop understanding in the application of key archaeological principles and use these in a case-study that will be set within current professional archaeological practice. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Use basic archaeological techniques under guidance
• 2. Develop skills in linking data with site interpretation
• 3. Produce a report conforming to standard formats applicable in contemporary professional archaeology
• 4. Work within health and safety regulations

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 5. Plan group based data collection

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Contribute to working as a team
• 7. Develop basic mapping skills
• 8. Produce clear and concise written work, following guidelines and deadlines

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:

• Professional context of British archaeology; PPG16 and the planning process.
• Introduction to case study; health and safety in fieldwork.
• Introduction to archaeological survey equipment.
• Site visit: field observations; preliminary archaeological survey.
• Understanding maps: historic maps; ordnance survey maps; grid referencing; using on-line mapping resources.
• Understanding aerial photographs: vertical and oblique photographs.
• Sites and monuments records: collation and analysis.
• Analysis of data and writing an archaeological desk-based assessment.
• Summary and conclusions. 

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

• Bowden, M. 1999: Unravelling the Landscape. Tempus
• Drewett, P. 1999: Field Archaeology: An Introduction. London.
• Flatman, J. 2011: Becoming an Archaeologist: A Guide to Professional Pathways. Cambridge.
• Institute of Field Archaeology 1999: Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk Based Assessment. Reading, CIfA
• Wilson, D. 2000: Air Photo Interpretation for Archaeologists. London.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11092
• Institute for Archaeologists Website: http://www.archaeologists.net/

Key words search

Archaeology, field work, survey