Understanding the Landscape of Roman Britain

Module title	Understanding the Landscape of Roman Britain
Module code	ARC2400
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	15
Module staff	Professor Stephen Rippon (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	10

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

This module will explore how archaeologists go about investigating the landscape using a wide range of sources and techniques. It covers both the methods used in reconstructing what Romano-British landscapes looked like, and explores the major components of those landscapes such as its complex hierarchy of settlement and patterns of land-use. You are expected to already have a basic understanding of the principles and methods of archaeology for example through having taken ARC1020 ‘Essential Archaeological Methods’ and ARC1030 ‘Investigating British Archaeology’.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will develop an appreciation of the principles, methodologies and source material of landscape archaeology using examples drawn from Roman Britain. The module will consider the factors influencing the development of the Romano – British countryside in both time and space.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. Demonstrate understanding of the range of techniques available to the landscape archaeologists studying this period
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the major landscape components, regional variations and chronological developments within the Romano-British landscape, and understand how these came about.
3. Outline techniques most appropriate for studying the Romano British landscape in particular circumstances
4. Identify marked regional and temporal variations within the structure of the Romano British landscape within the context of major landscape concepts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

5. Produce a competent overview/synthesis of a particular issue
6. Evaluate case studies and use appropriate examples/case studies

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

7. Respond to comments in discussion
8. Demonstrate techniques of locating, organising and digesting material to produce, to a deadline, a piece of coherent analysis

Syllabus plan

Introduction
Landscape change
Landscape components
Mapping the Romano-British landscape
Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
Settlement hierarchies
Fields, roads and estates
Exploiting and managing the countryside
Change over time
Case-study
Conclusions/revision

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 Leaning and Teaching	20	11 x 2 hours - Lectures with group discussion of particular issues (eg interpreting an aerial photograph or distribution map)


Guided Independent Study	130	Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Interpretation of images such as aerial photographs and distribution maps	Feedback on class tests	1-4	Verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
40	60	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	40	2000 words	1-8	Written and verbal feedback
Examination	60	1.5 hours	1-8	Written and verbal feedback
	0
	0
	0
	0

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
Essay	Essay	1-8	Referral/Deferral period
Examination	Examination	1-8	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

Main course books:

Smith, A. et al. 2016: The Rural Settlement of Roman Britain. Britannia Monograph 29
Allen, M. et al. 2017: The Rural Economy of Roman Britain. Britannia Monograph 30
Smith, A. et al. 2018: Life and Death in the Countryside of Roman Britain. Britannia Monograph 31

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11722
Allen, M. et al. 2018: The Rural Settlement of Roman Britain: an online resource: https://doi.org/10.5284/1030449

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Branigan, K. and Miles, D. 1989: The Economies of Romano-British Villas (Sheffield)
Dark, K. and Dark, P. 1996: The Landscape of Roman Britain (London)
Hingley, R. 1989: Rural Settlement in Roman Britain (London)
Jones, B. and Mattingly, D. 1990: An Atlas of Roman Britain (Oxford)
Mattingly, D. 2006: An Imperial Possession (London)
Millett, M. 1990: The Romanization of Britain (Cambridge)
Millet, M. et al. 2016: Oxford handbook or Roman Britain, esp chapters 34-41 (Oxford
Rippon, S. 2006: Landscape, Community and Colonisation (York)
Rippon, S. 2018: Kingdom, Civitas and County (Oxford)
Taylor, J. 2007: An Atlas of Roman Rural Settlement in England (York)

Key words search

Archaeology, Landscape, Roman

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	Cannot also take ARC3400
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	09/03/2015
Last revision date	31/01/2024