BSc Archaeology with Forensic Science

ARC1007: Archaeological and Forensic Science Practicals

Archaeologists and forensic scientists utilise a range of scientific approaches, techniques and methods within the field and laboratory. Mostly, both disciplines have adopted these from developments that have occurred within science generally. However, there are some approaches, techniques and methods that have been established primarily for the purposes of archaeology and then adopted by forensic science, and visa versa. There is general awareness that use of archaeological approaches is essential when police are investigating buried crime scenes but the methodological links between archaeology and forensic science are far much more widespread. In this module you will be introduced to those connections and a range of techniques for identifying, extracting and analysing evidence. You will have the opportunity to engage with a number of shared techniques and methods in both field and laboratory practical contexts. To get the most out of this module, some science at A level (or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.

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ARC1008: Forensic Archaeology

This module will introduce you to the way in which archaeologists are employed by law enforcement agencies to find and recover buried evidence. You will be introduced to key scientific approaches that are of common value to both traditional and forensic archaeology as well as techniques for the search, location, recovery and recording of buried forensic evidence.

The aim is to:

• Introduce you to the key scientific approaches and theories that are of common value to both traditional and forensic archaeology.
• Provide you with a good understanding of the techniques used to find, recover, record and interpret buried forensic evidence.

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ARC1013: Archaeological Fieldschool

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ARC1014: Investigating Archaeology

Investigating Archaeology explains how archaeology is done. It will introduce the business of finding archaeology, whether in the form of individual sites or as interconnected landscapes, and how we then investigate archaeology through survey and excavation, including the importance of stratigraphy. After gathering data, the archaeological process progresses to the analysis of materials and evidence. The fundamentals of chronology and the use of historical, typological and scientific dating methods are an important element of the process. The investigation of biological evidence that tells us about natural as well as human environments in the past will be introduced. In-class exercises and assignments will familiarise you in more detail with some of these methods.

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ARC1080: Archaeology and Heritage: Past and Futures

In this module you will explore how studying the past can often be influenced by contemporary social and political concerns. We will explore the history of the discipline, chartering the development of how we have thought about the past, from the first antiquarians to current theoretical approaches. We will look at case studies to understand how knowledge about the past is generated, consumed and contested in a variety of settings, from museums to landscapes and the protection of heritage sites. The module will introduce you to debates surrounding repatriation, metal detecting and the display of human remains, as well as exploring broader areas such as public engagement, heritage and decolonisation. Understanding the role of archaeology in the modern world is essential to contextualise the rest of your studies, and thinking about the present and future of the discipline will equip you for the world of employment and future careers. The objective is to help you understand how archaeologists investigate and write about the past, with the second half of the module focusing particularly at presenting the past (heritage sites and museums), accessing the past (physically and digitally), and engaging people with the past. You will learn, through lectures, seminars, group work and independent study about important challenges in the world of archaeology and heritage, and explore them by engaging with diverse forms of evidence and group discussions.

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ARC1011: Medieval Society to Globalisation

The module will i to the chronology of British archaeology from the medieval to modern periods, understood within its wider European and global context. It will introduce you to how archaeological evidence and approaches contribute to our understanding of life, lifestyle and landscape between c. AD 400 and the present day. The syllabus covers a wide range of different types of archaeological evidence, including excavations, settlements, buildings, fortifications, monuments, landscapes, objects, scientific samples of human and animal remains, textual references and artworks. The module also engages in aspects of historic heritage and its presentation through a case study of sites in historic Exeter.

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ARC1012: Evolution to Empire

Who are we and how did we evolve? Who made the first tools and when was the earliest art? How did complex and unequal societies develop? In this module we will chart the history of humans from our earliest Palaeolithic ancestors to the Roman Empire, including the domestication of plants and animals, the introduction of metalworking and the emergence of cities. Sessions will tack between exploring major global changes and looking in detail at how these developments played out in Britain. You will explore a range of different types of archaeological evidence, including artefacts, monuments, landscapes and settlements.

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ARA1030: Introduction to Islamic Archaeology

In this multidisciplinary module you will be introduced to the importance of material culture as a way of understanding Muslim societies of the past, and of better understanding Islam in the present. The module aims to familiarise you with the rich diversity of Islamic culture through archaeological, historical and ethnographic evidence.

You will develop critical skills in the following areas: the theory of material culture and archaeology with particular reference to Islamic cultures; the treatment of Islam and Islamic societies within the history of art, archaeology and material cultural studies; the use ethnography as a tool of research; and the methodologies and practices of archaeology.

Beyond the use of archaeology to merely understand historical phenomena, you will be introduced to innovative approaches to the study of Islamic societies, in particular, to the combined use of textual documentation, ethnological analogies, and the archaeological record.

This multidisciplinary module is designed to introduce students to the importance of material culture as a way of understanding Muslim societies of the past, and of better understanding Islam in the present. The module aims also to familiarise students with the rich diversity of Islamic culture through archaeological, historical and ethnographic evidence.

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ARC1040: Artefacts and Materials

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.

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 to describe, draw and analyse 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) and lectures in a variety of presentation formats.

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ARC2130: Discovering the Past with Molecular Science

On this module you will focus on the application of analytical techniques in archaeological research, including the investigation of stable and radioactive isotopes, residues, genetic evidence and biological minerals. You will explore how the development of cutting-edge techniques and methods have transformed our understanding of the past and, how they now constitute an essential part of the toolkit available to archaeologists in their studies, particularly in areas of dating and, reconstruction of diet, migration and climate. You will be introduced to techniques from first principles, assuming no prior knowledge, to provide you with a solid foundational knowledge of specific techniques. Case study examples, from a wide range of time periods and geographic locations, are used to illustrate the range of questions that can be addresses by different techniques. These will help you to gain an understanding of the application of the techniques in archaeological research. You will gain skills in the interpretation and critique of relevant published datasets.

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ARC2514: Forensic Anthropology

This module establishes the framework of the parent field, biological anthropology (with emphases on human anatomy and human biology) in order to explore the parameters by which to establish the personal identity (bio-profiling) of the deceased, a procedure that lies at the base of both forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology.

This module provides an introductory survey of the basic principles of the study of human remains to establish personal identity with emphases on the metric and non-metric characterisation of skeletal shape and size, and application of demographic reference standards for age and sex determination and population affinity. It also introduces pathological and anatomical variation applied to establishing human identity and the place of such studies within the discipline of biological anthropology.

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BIO2068: Forensic Science

Term 1:

Teaching in term 1 allows non-scientists to gain knowledge of the basic scientific principles associated with forensic investigation.

Chemistry:- Emphasis on analytical techniques, the identification of materials and the determination of their composition. The underlying physical principles and the individual limitations of the techniques, as well as the chemical interactions taking place.

Biology:- Molecular biology and biochemistry (with particular emphasis on nucleic acids, proteins, enzymes and biochemical processes, molecular genetics and principles of inheritance), anatomy, organ systems.

Physics:- Elementary optics (including principles of microscopy), classical mechanics (as relevant to projectiles, ballistics and explosions), physical properties of matter, radiation and its effects.

Term 2:

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ARC2003: Archaeological Fieldwork Project

This module will enable you to put into practice the archaeological skills you have gained in your first year. You will complete at least 15 days of placement in archaeology/museum/heritage work either in the UK or abroad, allowing you to demonstrate and build on your practical competence in archaeological techniques, recording methods, collections documentation and management, and/or post-excavation work. The experience will be assessed through a host placement form, and a reflective journal about your work. This practical experience will provide invaluable employability skulls, particularly for those pursuing archaeological careers. You will develop these skills and gain a broader understanding of how archaeological research projects and consider aspects of research design.

This module aims to provide practical experience of field archaeology/museum/heritage work, giving competence in archaeological techniques, recording methods, collections documentation and/or post-excavation work. These workplace skills will be invaluable in future careers and will provide experience of archaeology both in the field and beyond (e.g. in post-excavation, conservation, public interpretation). You will consolidate methods and experience gained during the fieldschool to research, and reflect upon the work including consideration of future research plans.

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ARC2004: Archaeological Fieldschool

This module will enable you to put into practice the archaeological skills that you have gained in your first year modules. It will provide you with practical experience of field archaeology work (usually excavation and survey) on a project run by the department. As a fieldschool, the experience will include onsite training and continuous assessment of your field and general work skills, as well as the completion of a reflective journal. This practical experience will provide invaluable employability skills, particularly for those pursuing archaeological careers. You will work as part of a team on a real research project. You will develop these skills and gain a broader understanding of how archaeological research projects and consider aspects of research design.

This module aims to provide practical experience of field archaeology work, giving competence in core techniques, recording methods and interpretation. Students will gain an understanding of how methods studied at Level 1 are put into practice to meet the aims of a particular archaeological project. You will consolidate methods and experience gained during the fieldschool to research, and reflect upon the work including consideration of future research plans.

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CRI2010: Forensic Science, Conflict and Justice

In this module you will critically engage with the sociology of forensic science in conflict and post-conflict scenarios in the Global South. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the innovations in forensics that are emerging from spaces of protracted conflict, and the challenges to find justice in these scenarios. You will have access to a research-led teaching, looking at current projects developed in Mexico and Colombia, and will critically appraise historical experiences of conflict, disappearance and human rights violations in Srebrenica, Argentina, Congo and other contexts in the Global South.

This module is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students and has no pre-requisites. However, it will require you to engage with sensitive materials that describe human rights atrocities, violent acts and the treatment of corpses. Throughout the course you will use the sociological and criminological literature to analyse the role that science has in shaping society, human rights and justice.

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CRI2014: Crime Science

As society undergoes huge social-political and technological changes, new methods for detecting and tackling both traditional and new forms of crime have become necessary. This module will introduce you to the foundations of Crime Science, an interdisciplinary field that predominately focuses on scientific methods to detect, prevent, and solve crimes instead of social theory for studying individual criminals. Drawing upon fields such as policing, computer science, psychology, economic, and law, this module will introduce you to a number of methods used in this new area through practical-based sessions; such as data science, probability, use of intelligence sources, and systems thinking.

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CRI2022: Forensics in Policing

In this research-led module you will learn about the place and role of forensics in criminal investigations and the criminal justice system from sociological and criminological perspectives. You will examine the socio-political and cultural factors that have shaped the development, use and understanding of different forensic methods and technologies, from fingerprinting and DNA profiling to digital forensics. You will also explore various social science aspects of forensics, from media representations to issues of professionalisation, public understandings of forensic science and debates around its effectiveness. The module does not have any pre-requisites, and it is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways and for non-specialist students. This module aims to help you develop the critical tools to engage with and assess the relevance and importance of forensics in policing. You learn about the interface between traditional and digital forensic fields and gain familiarity with the current challenges in the adoption and application of forensic methods to investigations. The module will help you develop an analytical stance and an ability to scrutinise and question understandings of forensic science and evidence as infallible.

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HAS3999: Study Abroad

The Study Abroad programme enables you to undertake a year-long study placement at a partner university outside of the UK, as part of your degree programme.

This module serves as the administrative mechanism for recording the Study Abroad assessment results of students within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS). Students participating in the Study Abroad programme and based in a HASS department (except for the Law School, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Modern Languages, and the School of Education) will be registered on this module during their Study Abroad placement year.

The Study Abroad programme widens the range of modules available to you during Stage 3 of your degree programme; enables you to broaden your academic horizons by studying in a different learning culture and (where relevant and appropriate) in languages other than English; and aims to promote resilience, independence, cultural awareness, and communication skills.

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HAS3998: Employment Experience

This module allows you to undertake and to learn from an extended work placement during the third year of a four year “with Employment Experience” programme. You will use one or more work placements to gain skills that equip you to work in the employment market and to improve your knowledge of the work environment. You are encouraged to think about the intercultural competence and the employability skills that you acquire during your year.

To progress to this module, you will have secured a suitable placement for a minimum of 26 weeks.

Having developed the skills necessary to find relevant roles and apply for roles in the graduate labour market, this is an invaluable opportunity to develop work-related skills and experience that will further enhance your success in the graduate labour market and support your future career choices.

During your placement year you will be supported by the Module Convenor and Placement Team.

The module assessment structure provides opportunity and support for you to evaluate your skills and achievements using personal development techniques.  You will also write an Employer Report to showpiece the culmination of your academic and business skills.

This module aims to:

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ARC3000: Archaeological Dissertation

In this module you will research independently a topic of your choice in the field of Archaeology and write up your research in a dissertation. You will start preparing for your dissertation during the second term of year 2, deciding on an appropriate topic which must be approved by your dissertation supervisor.

The module will develop the ability to define a field of enquiry, undertake a sustained period of research into it and produce a dissertation upon it. It will encourage the application of knowledge, principles, skills of enquiry and (where appropriate) illustrative skills. It will develop the ability critically to evaluate the issues relating to the subject area.

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ARC3013: Practicing Archaeological, Forensic and Heritage Science

This module provides an opportunity to put into practice, the skills learned during previous years of study along with newly acquired knowledge of analytical techniques that are applied in both archaeology and forensic science. There is a strong focus on team working, collaborating with other students to demonstrate a range of professional and technical skills relevant for a career as a practitioner in archaeological, heritage or forensic science, in both commercial and academic contexts. Students work in groups to carry out analyses of real archaeological/ heritage assemblages or generate/work with forensic relevant data and produce a group-written report in the format of an archaeological journal manuscript.

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ARC3137: Funerary Archaeology

Funerary archaeology is the study of funerary contexts in the past and the treatment and commemoration of the dead. It aims to link the funerary (archaeological) contexts with biological data for the most comprehensive interpretations possible, with reference to the social, political and cultural context. Burials often contain a wealth of social information, but this can be difficult to interpret due to the complexity and variability of human funerary behaviour. By examining archaeological contexts and physical human remains it is possible to learn about interactions with the dead, past belief systems, social organisation, and the perceived importance of monumentality. This module highlights directions and trends in recent scholarship in funerary archaeology and draws upon ethnographic examples to develop contextual interpretations about prehistoric and historic funerary practices.

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CRI3010: Forensic Science, Conflict and Justice

In this module you will critically engage with the sociology of forensic science in conflict and post-conflict scenarios in the Global South. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the innovations in forensics that are emerging from spaces of protracted conflict, and the challenges to find justice in these scenarios. You will have access to a research-led teaching, looking at current projects developed in Mexico and Colombia, and will critically appraise historical experiences of conflict, disappearance and human rights violations in Srebrenica, Argentina, Congo and other contexts in the Global South.

This module is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students and has no pre-requisites. However, it will require you to engage with sensitive materials that describe human rights atrocities, violent acts and the treatment of corpses. Throughout the course you will use the sociological and criminological literature to analyse the role that science has in shaping society, human rights and justice.

View an example full module specification

CRI3014: Crime Science

As society undergoes huge social-political and technological changes, new methods for detecting and tackling both traditional and new forms of crime have become necessary. This module will introduce you to the foundations of Crime Science, an interdisciplinary field that focuses on scientific methods to detect, prevent, and solve crimes instead of relying solely on social theory for studying individual criminals. Drawing upon fields such as policing, computer science, psychology, economic, and law, this module will introduce you to a number of methods used in this new area through practical-based sessions; such as data science, probability, use of intelligence sources, and systems thinking.

View an example full module specification

CRI3022: Forensics in Policing

In this research-led module you will learn about the place and role of forensics in criminal investigations and the criminal justice system from sociological and criminological perspectives. You will examine the socio-political and cultural factors that have shaped the development, use and understanding of different forensic methods and technologies, from fingerprinting and DNA profiling to digital forensics. You will also explore various social science aspects of forensics, from media representations to issues of professionalisation, public understandings of forensic science and debates around its effectiveness. The module does not have any pre-requisites, and it is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways and for non-specialist students. This module aims to help you develop the critical tools to engage with and assess the relevance and importance of forensics in policing. You learn about the interface between traditional and digital forensic fields and gain familiarity with the current challenges in the adoption and application of forensic methods to investigations. The module will help you develop an analytical stance and an ability to scrutinise and question understandings of forensic science and evidence as infallible.

View an example full module specification