Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Learning Methods

Lecture

Off Site

Placement

Practical

Workshop

Module Offerings

7116NATSCI-JAN-CTY

Aims

The aim of this module is to immerse the students in archaeological fieldwork methods and post-excavation analyses. By the end of the module students will have a thorough understanding of excavation and field research design, the interpretation of archaeological landscapes, site surveying techniques, interpretation of site formation processes, best excavation practices and writing up final reports for research and commercial excavations. Sampling strategies and post-excavation analyses for archaeological and environmental materials will also be taught. The aim of the practice component of this module is for students to gain competency in archaeological excavation.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Evidence professional competence in archaeological excavation techniques
2.
Demonstrate the ability to set up an archaeological excavation to commercial and research standard.
3.
Conduct an excavation, produce stratigraphic report, take and accurately record finds and samples.
4.
Perform specialist post-excavation analyses of samples collected in the field.
5.
Produce post-excavation report suitable for funding bodies, commercial and public sector organisations.

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:Topic 1: Excavation planning Topic 2: Landscape archaeology and GIS Topic 3: Pre-excavation techniques Topic 4: Excavation methods Topic 5: Excavation sampling strategies Topic 6: Case studies in archaeological excavation Topic 7: Three-day training excavation Topic 8: Sieving and flotation, Sediment analysis Topic 9: Micromorphology Topic 10: Pollen, charcoal and phytolith analyses Topic 11: Artefact materials analysis: pottery, lithics, XRF Topic 12: Residue analyses Topic 13: Isotope analysis Topic 14: Faunal analyses Topic 15: Synthesising specialists’ analyses Topic 16: Production of the final excavation report
Module Overview:
This module covers excavation planning, execution and reporting. It includes assessed fieldwork and a compulsory competency placement comprising of at least two weeks excavation of an archaeological site.
Additional Information:This module is compulsory for Human Evolution MSc students and optional for Forensic Anthropology MSc students. For the Human Evolution students, the module is well integrated with the other modules on the programme. For the Forensic Students, dating and chronology and thematic overviews will be covered in the 7201NATSCI Ancient DNA and Proteomics, and GIS will be further explored in the 7117NATSCI Virtual Methods in Bioarchaeology module. All students will gain experience in the excavation and post-excavation of human and other bioarchaeology remains, thus providing insights into the forensic and archaeological contexts in which such remains are found and in the post-depositional processes that have shaped their preservation.

Assessments

Report

Practice

Competency