Experimental Archaeology Design & Practice - ARC00074M

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Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module will equip students with the practical skills required to design, conduct and critique experiments related to material culture.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

Subject content

• Apply an understanding of why experimentation is a key aspect of artefact studies

• Use skills in experimental project design and implementation, with clearly stated aims, methods and consideration of variables

• Demonstrate developed skills that will enable them to make a distinction between good and poor quality reporting

• Grasp the application of different analytical techniques employed to study the use life of objects

• Apply basic hands on practical experience in the methods of microwear and residue analysis

• Make and use experimentally produced reference collections

• Present an experimental research project to the wider public/research community as a short documentary-style film

Academic and graduate skills

• Apply skills in oral presentation, discussion and debate

• Use transferable team working skills in small group work and oral presentations

• Utilise their project and time management skills

• Demonstrate skills in producing powerpoint presentations and digital methods of documentation through the production of a short film

• Be equipped with curation, public outreach/impact skills

 

Module content

During this module students will get hands on practical experience through the implementation of an archaeological experiment based on an outstanding question relating to a specific form of material culture. Practical work will be undertaken outdoors, fireside, at the YEAR Centre. Teamwork involving the production of a short documentary film based on their experimental research, and requiring close consideration of target audience, will be exhibited and judged at the end of the course. By which time students will be have acquired the theoretical and planning skills required to design, implement, record and critically reflect on their own experimental research project. An introductory presentation on the microscopic techniques of microwear and residue analysis, followed by a practical workshop involving microscopy will provide basic skills in these methods

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Oral presentation/seminar/exam	100

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Module feedback

Timing of written and verbal feedback is published on our deadlines pages:

Formative assessment

Summative assessment

 

Indicative reading

Reading accessible via module web page and VLE