School of Archaeology & Ancient History. Methods in Archaeology. Module AR1009 Practical Aims and. Academic Year:

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1 School of Archaeology & Ancient History Module AR1009 Practical Aims and Methods in Archaeology Academic Year: Semester: 1 Time and location: Tuesday, SAAH Bone Lab (some weeks meet on Wednesday please check the schedule) First meeting: Module coordinator: 6 October Dr Alasdair Brooks amb72@le.ac.uk Room: 106 Office hours: Your individual appointments (e.g. tutorials, seminars): Tuesday 2:00-4:00 (Fridays by appt.) n/a document prepared by: Alasdair Brooks, 28 September 2009

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3 1 AR1009 Practical Aims and Methods in Archaeology Weighting: 10 credits Coordinator: Dr Alasdair Brooks Other tutors: Dr. Mark Gillings, Ian Reeds, Dr. Ruth Young, Debbie Miles Williams, Dr. Audrey Horning, Dr. Richard Thomas Module outline: Aims: This first year module is designed to dovetail with AR1007 and provide practical experience across a broad spectrum of archaeological activities. This course covers a range of techniques required in the survey, excavation and study of an archaeological site. It begins with an introduction to contract archaeology, introduces surveying and geophysical prospection and provides experience excavation and the techniques required to record archaeological deposits. 1. Highlight how archaeological excavations are planned and undertaken 2. Introduce students to the techniques required in surveying and geophysical prospection 3. Introduce the principles of archaeological excavation 4. Demonstrate the skills required to excavate and record a site Intended learning outcomes: 5. Highlight the techniques required during post excavation. By the end of the module students should: 1. Understand the decision making processes and logistic considerations required in the planning and undertaking of an archaeological excavation 2. Carry out some basic surveying 3. Participate in a geophysical survey 4. Interpret excavated features from an archaeological site Method(s) of teaching: Method of assessment: 5. Demonstrate how different forms of archaeological evidence are recorded and what information they can provide Lectures, site visits, fieldwork & discussion The module will be assessed through coursework. The students must complete a report outlining how they would approach the survey and excavation of an archaeological site. This report, which constitutes 100% of this module, is to be words long and submitted to the School Office by 5pm on Monday 7th December 2008.

4 2 Teaching schedule Week Course introduction & tour of Leicester Museum store (part OUT): AB Week Different roles in archaeology & tour of ULAS AB Week :00PM Week :00PM Introduction to fieldwalking (OUT) MG and IR. Note this is a Wednesday afternoon; meet in the School foyer, not the bone lab. Introduction to geophysical survey (OUT) MG and IR Note this is a Wednesday afternoon; meet in the School foyer, not the bone lab. Week Dating techniques in practice RY Week READING WEEK Week Context recording and the Harris Matrix AH Week & Archaeological illustration (DRAWING OFFICE) DM W This week the class will be divided into two groups, one on the 25 th, the other on the 26 th, as the drawing office is too small for the entire group. Week Introduction to the archaeology of standing remains (OUT) DO S Week Interpreting environmental data (LAB) RT

5 3 Reading The below list of readings can also be found on Blackboard. The Blackboard list includes additional readings that you may read to learn more about specific topics. This is particularly true of finds analysis, where there are many detailed texts available on specific areas of specialisation. General archaeology Adkins, L. and Adkins, R A Thesaurus of British Archaeology. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. Bahn, P. (ed.) Collins Dictionary of Archaeology. Glasgow: HarperCollins. Barker, G. (eds.) Companion Encyclopaedia of Archaeology (2 vols). London: Routledge. Bray, W. and Trump, D The Penguin Dictionary of Archaeology (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin. Champion, S A Dictionary of Terms and Techniques in Archaeology. London: Phaidon. Gamble, C Archaeology. The Basics. London: Routledge. Greene, K Archaeology: an Introduction (4th edn). London: Routledge. Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (4th ed.). London: Thames and Hudson. Whitehouse, R The Macmillan Dictionary of Archaeology. London: Macmillan.

6 4 Surveying and geophysics Bettess, F Surveying for Archaeologists. Durham: Department of Archaeology: University of Durham. Bowden, M Unravelling the landscape: an inquisitive approach to archaeology. Stroud: Tempus. Clark, A Seeing Beneath the Soil: Prospecting Methods in Archaeology. London: Batsford. Farrar, R Survey by Prismatic Compass. London: Council for British Archaeology. Gaffney, C. and Gater, J Practice and method in the application of geophysical teachniques in archaeology. In Hunter, J. R. and Ralston, I. B. M. Archaeological Resource Management in the UK: an Introduction. Stroud: Alan Sutton. Gaffney, C. and Gater, J Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus. Excavation techniques Barker, P Techniques of Archaeological Excavation. London: Batsford. Barker, P Understanding Archaeological Excavation. London: Batsford. Brown, A Fieldwork for Archaeologists and Local Historians. London: Batsford. Collis, J Digging up the Past: an Introduction to Archaeological Investigation. Stroud: Sutton. Drewett, P Field Archaeology: an Introduction. London: Routledge. Harris, E Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy (2nd edn.). London:

7 5 Academic Press. Roskams, S Excavation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Spence, C. (ed.) Site Manual. London: Museum of London. The archaeology of standing buildings Morris, R.K The Archaeology of Buildings. Stroud: Tempus. Stephens, W.B Sources for English Local History. Phillimore. Conservation and archive management Anon Packaging and Storage of Freshly Excavated Artefacts from Archaeological Sites. London: U.K. Institute for Conservation Walker, K Guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives for Long Term Storage. London: UKIC Archaeology Section Wilkinson, D., Neal, V. and Leigh, D First Aid for Finds. London : Rescue and the Archaeology Section of the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation with the Museum of London Finds Analysis Adams, W.Y. and Adams, E.W Archaeological Typology and Practical Reality. A Dialectical Approach to Artefact Classification and Sorting. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Andrews, K. and Doonan, R Test Tubes & Trowels: Using Science in Archaeology. Stroud: Tempus Publishing.

8 6 Brothwell, D Digging up Bones. London: British Museum. Cox, M. and Mays, S. (eds.) Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science. London: Greenwich Medical Media Davis, S The Archaeology of Animals. London: Batsford. Henderson, J The Science and Archaeology of Materials: an Investigation of Inorganic Materials. London: Routledge. Mays, S The Archaeology of Human Bones. London: Routledge. O Connor, T. P The Analysis of Urban Animal Bone Assemblages: A Handbook for Archaeologists. York: Council for British Archaeology for the York Archaeological Trust. Orton, C., Tyers, P. and Vince, A Pottery in Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pollard, A. M. and Heron, C Archaeological Chemistry. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. Rackham J Animal Bones. London: British Museum Press. Reitz, E. J. and Wing, E. S Zooarchaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press Rice, P. M Pottery analysis: a Sourcebook. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Roberts, C. and Manchester, K The Archaeology of Disease. Stroud: Sutton Publishing.

9 7 Shopland, N Archaeological Finds: an Introduction. Stroud: Tempus. Archaeological illustration Adkins, L Archaeological Illustration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Steiner, M Approaches to Archaeological Illustration: A Handbook. London: Council for British Archaeology.