ARA1028 : Prehistoric Britain
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Professor Chris Fowler
- Lecturer: Dr Nicky Garland, Professor Chantal Conneller
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
This course is designed to introduce you to the material, sites and communities that characterize the prehistoric archaeology of the British Isles. We will study these remains period by period, from the earliest human occupation in the British Isles to the Roman invasion.
This module aims:
•to provide a general grounding in the prehistoric archaeology of the British Isles;
•to emphasise the role of landscapes, archaeological sites and monuments, and material culture in how archaeologists interpret life in prehistoric Britain.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module may cover the following topics
-Introduction to British prehistory
-Palaeolithic Britain
-Mesolithic Britain
-The Mesolithic/Neolithic transition
-Neolithic Britain
-Chalcolithic Britain
-Bronze Age Britain
-Iron Age Britain
-Overview: Social organization
-Overview: Cosmology
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | PiP lectures, can be synchronous online if needed |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 80 | 1:00 | 80:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Pip seminars - could be moved to synchronous online if needed |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 7:00 | 7:00 | Fieldtrip - PIP; online replacement activity can be offered instead if necessary |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 58 | 1:00 | 58:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will provide a weekly introduction to each period, plus focus on individual sites, artefacts and mortuary evidence. This will be supplemented with some online learning materials. A key theme in British Prehistory will be explored each week through seminar activities, enabling students to understand different perspectives on debates and how archaeologists use evidence to create interpretations.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 1750 words |
| Essay | 1 | A | 50 | 1750 words |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Essay plan to be submitted for brief feedback via Canvas. c. 400 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The first section of the module (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) is assessed by a single essay. This is supported by a formative assessment involving submission of an essay plan and bibliography, followed by discussion with module leader. The second essay question will cover the Bronze Age or Iron Age.
The above arrangements provide for a structured progression through the module content and a close connection between the material covered, the learning outcomes, and the assessment.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. Where an exam is present, an alternative form of assessment will be set and where coursework is present, an alternative deadline will be set. Details of the alternative assessment will be provided by the module leader.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ARA1028's Timetable