Palaeobotany
Module title | Palaeobotany |
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Module code | ARC3512 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Professor Jose Iriarte (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
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Module description
The module will outline the theory and practice of archaeobotany, giving basic practical competence in the techniques and a practical appreciation of observation, recording and interpretation issues. You will attain basic competence in the identification and recording of plant remains. The module is mainly focused on plant microfossils (phytoliths and starch grains), but you will also learn basics of macrofossil botanical analysis (plant remains visible to the naked eye). Particular emphasis will be given to plants of economic and ecological importance.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will gain an understanding of how to identify, count, and statistically manipulate such data. By the end of the module, you will be acquainted with how plant assemblages can be interpreted to give us a fuller picture of past economies and human-environment interactions in different archaeological periods.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate basic competence in identification of the plants from some common plant species on low and high power microscopes and/or on-line resources, digital reference collections and on-line exercises; prepare and interpret primary archaebotanical data under guidance
- 2. The ways in which ancient plant assemblages can tell us about past economies and human-environment interactions in different archaeological periods
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Have a competent overview of the use and acquisition of practical data
- 4. Interpret a variety of information forms and assimilate/manage numerical and graphical data
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Manage data and display it graphically
- 6. Acquire a range of observational and analytical skills which are applicable in the wider world
- 7. Contribute to group discussions, ask pertinent questions and co-operate with and learn from peers
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:
- Introduction to archaeobotany, different classes of plant remains, field sampling, and plant recovery techniques.
- Plant macrofossil identification.
- Phytolith morphology of grasses (Poaceae).
- Wood, fruits, and seed phytoliths.
- Plant domestication I: Phytoliths from wild and domesticated plants.
- Plant domestication II: Starch grain analysis.
- Quantification, presentation, and interpretation of archaeobotanical data.
- Integrating paleoecological methods in the study of past agricultural systems.
- Human impact on past environments.
- Case studies
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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30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled learning and teaching | 30 | Made up of approximately 15 hours of lecture and live discussion content, approximately 8 hours of guided data analysis exercises and 7 guided practical engagement with archaeological plant material |
Guided independent study | 120 | Independent study for assignments and use of computer aided learning and reference resources regarding plant identification |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 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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Project one | 50 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Project two | 50 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Written 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 |
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Project one | Project one | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Project two | Project two | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
A new title will be set for both projects.
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
- Balick, M. J. and Cox, P. A. (1996). Plants, People, and Culture. New York: Scientific American Library.
- Fahn, A. 1982. Plant Anatomy. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
- Hastorf, C. A. and Popper, V. S. (1989). Current Paleoethnobotany: Analytical Methods and Cultural Interpretations of Archaeological Plant Remains . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Martin, A. C. and Barkley, D. W. (1961). Seed identification manual. London : University of California Press.
- Pearsall, D. M. (2000). Paleoethnobotany: A Handbook of Procedures. San Diego: Academic Press.
- Piperno, D. R. (2006). Phytoliths: A Comprehensive Guide for Archaeologists and Paleoecologists. New York: Altamira Press.
- Piperno, Dolores R., and Pearsall Deborah D. 1998. The Origins of Agriculture in the Lowland Neotropics. Academic Press: New York.
- Simpson, B. and Ogorzaly, M. (2000). Economic Botany. Plants in Our World. New York: Mc-Graw Hill- Science.
- Smith, B. D. 1998. The Emergence of Agriculture. New York: Scientific American Library.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | Must NOT have taken ARC2512 |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 6 |
Available as distance learning? | Yes |
Origin date | 2009 |
Last revision date | 18/08/2020 |