Understanding the Landscape of Roman Britain
Module title | Understanding the Landscape of Roman Britain |
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Module code | ARC2400 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Professor Stephen Rippon (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 10 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
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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 |
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20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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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 |
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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 |
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40 | 60 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Essay | 40 | 2000 words | 1-8 | Written and verbal feedback |
Examination | 60 | 1.5 hours | 1-8 | Written and verbal feedback |
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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 |
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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)
Credit value | 15 |
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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 |