Approaching Global Challenges: Archaeology and Heritage - ARC00078H
Module summary
This module introduces students to the ways in which archaeology and heritage interact with contemporary global challenges. We will consider how the unique transdisciplinary nature of archaeology and heritage provide imaginative solutions to complex global challenges. Thematic issues covered include climate crisis and climate mobilities, concepts of the anthropocene, environmental pollution, health and well-being, social injustice and inequality, crime and conflict, decolonisation, disaster cultures and dark heritage. These are all connected through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This exciting module draws on the wide range of research and practice undertaken by staff in the Department including through the Leverhulme Centre for Heritage for Global Challenges Research. We consider examples and case studies of the ways in which archaeology and heritage is uniquely entangled to provide solutions to Global Challenges
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Introduce students to the range of contemporary Global Challenges within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Provide students with an understanding of the unique transdisciplinary nature of archaeology and heritage in providing imaginative solutions to complex Global Challenges.
- Evaluate case studies and examples that demonstrate the role of archaeology and heritage in practice and in research in providing solutions to Global Challenges in an international context.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students should:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the range of contemporary Global Challenges within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the unique transdisciplinary nature of archaeology and heritage in providing imaginative solutions to complex Global Challenges.
- Be able to describe and comment upon a range of case studies and examples that demonstrate the role of archaeology and heritage in practice and in research in providing solutions to Global Challenges in an international context.
Module content
This module introduces students to the ways in which archaeology and heritage interact with contemporary global challenges. We will consider how the unique transdisciplinary nature of archaeology and heritage provide imaginative solutions to complex global challenges. Thematic issues covered include climate crisis and climate mobilities, concepts of the anthropocene, environmental pollution, health and well-being, social injustice and inequality, crime and conflict, decolonisation, disaster cultures and dark heritage. These are all connected through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We will reflect on our roles as archaeology and heritage students, as practitioners and researchers, and as policy entrepreneurs in shaping responses. We will focus on smaller changes that can be made that can contribute towards a better future, considering what can be done in actual practice that can incrementally improve and address Global Challenges.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Formative: written feedback from module leaders
Summative: written feedback within the University's turnaround policy
Indicative reading
Richer, S., Stump, D. and Marchant, R. 2019 Archaeology has no Relevance, Internet Archaeology 53. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.53.2
Schofield, J., Wyles, K. J., Doherty, S., Donnelly, A., Jones, J. and Porter, A. 2020. “Object narratives as a methodology for mitigating marine plastic pollution: multidisciplinary investigations in Galápagos,” Antiquity. Cambridge University Press, 94(373), pp. 228–244. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2019.232.
Woodward, S and Cooke, L. 2022. World Heritage: Concepts, Management and Conservation. Routledge.