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Module

ARA8234 : Landscape Archaeology: Theory and Practice

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Sam Turner
  • Lecturer: Professor Lisa-Marie Shillito, Dr Louise Rayne, Dr Francesco Carrer
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module aims:
• To provide students with an in-depth understanding and critical awareness of key themes in landscape archaeology
• To provide students with an in-depth understanding and critical awareness of methodologies used in landscape archaeology for research, analysis and management

Outline Of Syllabus

The course will address key approaches for landscape archaeology.
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of seminars and practical activities.

• Key themes in research in landscape archaeology
• Data and methods for landscape archaeology
• Management of landscape archaeology and heritage in landscape

An integral part of the course will also be fieldtrips aimed at fostering key skills in understanding and analysing historic and multi-period landscapes

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials111:0011:00Additional lectures and related activities, available online (not contact hours)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion761:0076:00Assessment preparation
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching72:0014:00Seminars. Present in person teaching is preferred mode of delivery.
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities103:0030:00Advance preparation for seminars and practicals, including preparation of seminar presentations
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops12:002:00Workshop to be scheduled in computer lab. Present in person teaching is preferred mode of delivery
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork14:004:00Learn identification/observation skills (rqd in field as not possible in classroom setting).
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork17:007:00Learn identification/observation skills (rqd in field as not possible in classroom setting).
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study551:0055:00Independent learning
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00Module introduction. Present in person teaching is preferred mode of delivery.
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Seminars will provide advanced knowledge and critical understanding of themes through presentation and in-depth discussion of detailed case-studies.
2. Structured guided learning will provide additional knowledge (lectures and related materials) and assist preparation in advance of seminars and practical sessions, including preparation of seminar presentations.
3. Guided Independent Study to provide in-depth understanding through background reading, identification/collation/analysis of further data and perspectives to inform assessments.
4. Fieldwork will enable students to acquire practical skills that cannot be delivered in class (e.g. on-site identification of archaeological features and landscape analysis). 11 hours allowed is max time foreseen needed for two fieldtrips (one of 7 hours, one of 4 hours, including travel time to site/s).

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Practical/lab report2M301000 words
Essay2A702500 words
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Poster2MFormative assessment leading onto preparation of Essay 1
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Practical/Lab report 1 will test students’ competence in practical skills, as well as the ability to analyse data gained through fieldwork and practical exercises.

Essay 1 will assess ability to analyse data and published interpretations critically and display mastery of a complex and specialised area of knowledge, advanced skills relating to key themes in landscape archaeology, and data for a particular case study landscape. Students will conduct research using methods and techniques taught through seminars and practicals. Essays will be assessed according to established MA criteria in the degree programme handbook.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, and develops key skills in critical argument, research, reading and writing.

Formative work (poster) provides opportunity to develop advanced skills relating to key themes in landscape archaeology; and receive feedback on work in progress towards Essay 1.

This module can be made available to Erasmus students only with the agreement of the Head of Subject and of the Module Leader. This option must be discussed in person at the beginning of your exchange period. No restrictions apply to study-abroad, exchange and Loyola students.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will take the form of an alternative assessment, as outlined in the formats below:

Modules assessed by Coursework and Exam:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be one essay in addition to the other coursework assessment (the length of the essay should be adjusted in order to comply with the assessment tariff); to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Exam only:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 2,000 word written exercises; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Coursework only:
All semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be expected to complete the standard assessment for the module; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.

Reading Lists

Timetable