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Life & Death in Iron Age Britain & Ireland - ARC00100M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Ian Armit
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This course will introduce students to the archaeology of Iron Age Britain and Ireland from around 800 BC to the Roman incursions of the 1st century AD (continuing to around AD 400 in northern Britain and Ireland, beyond the Roman frontier). It will focus on the study of identity, cosmology and social relations, examining the ways in which different communities across the British Isles express these ideas through objects, landscapes, monumental domestic architecture, and treatments of the dead. Students will become familiar with the evidence from key areas, including the hillfort-dominated landscapes of Wessex; the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland, with their monumental broch towers; and the uplands of East Yorkshire with their rich barrow cemeteries.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • Provide a critical examination of the archaeology of Iron Age Britain and Ireland, with a focus on identity, social relations and mortuary practice.
  • Allow students to critically examine the key forms of archaeological evidence (including monumental domestic architecture, hillforts, art styles and funerary practices) that have been variously deployed to formulate ideas concerning past social and cultural identities.
  • Introduce students to formative and current debates underlying studies of Iron Age Britain and Ireland.

Module learning outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the nature and development of Iron Age societies in Britain and Ireland
  • Critically evaluate the evidence for Iron Age domestic and funerary activity in Britain and Ireland with a focus on key regions
  • Critically evaluate the different interpretative and methodological approaches used to understand the Iron Age
  • Communicate complex research and scholarly debates concerning Iron Age Britain and Ireland through written work

Module content

This course will introduce students to the archaeology of Iron Age Britain and Ireland from around 800 BC to the Roman incursions of the 1st century AD (continuing to around AD 400 in northern Britain and Ireland, beyond the Roman frontier). It will focus on the study of identity, cosmology and social relations, examining the ways in which different communities across the British Isles express these ideas through objects, landscapes, monumental domestic architecture, and treatments of the dead. Students will become familiar with the evidence from key areas, including the hillfort-dominated landscapes of Wessex; the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland, with their monumental broch towers; and the uplands of East Yorkshire with their rich barrow cemeteries.

Teaching will be via lectures, seminars and discussion groups, based on particular readings. In seminars, students will be expected to contribute to discussion, as well as participating in short group and individual presentations. The module will be taught thematically,with topics including: the creation and expression of individual and collective identities; the social role of art and religion; changing gender roles; technological innovation, including iron-working and rotary technology; the complex and varied treatments of the dead; gift-giving, trade and exchange; and the role of conflict and violence.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Formative: oral feedback from module leaders

Summative: written feedback within the University's turnaround policy

Indicative reading

Armit, I. 2016. Celtic Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn. (3rd edition).

Cunliffe, B. 2004. Iron Age Britain. London: English Heritage.

Harding, D. W. 2015. Death and burial in Iron Age Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.