ARA2004 : Animals, Plants and People: an Introduction to Environmental Archaeology
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Dr Eric Tourigny
- Lecturer: Dr Francesco Carrer
- Technician: Dr Eline Van Asperen
- 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 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce key concepts in the methods and themes of environmental archaeology and how it links with related discplines
To introduce students to practical skills in analysis of environmental proxies and data
To introduce students to the concept of multi-proxy approaches in the reconstruction of past human-environment interactions
Outline Of Syllabus
The natural environment provides the backdrop to human activity, and understanding the relationship between people and their environment is fundamental to understanding the development of societies. How did people interact with the environment and use natural resources? What influence did the environment have on cultural and economic development? This module introduces key themes in environmental archaeology including the origins of domestication and agriculture, the developments and impacts of pyrotechnology, and the links between climate change and human development. It provides an introduction to the major methods of environmental archaeology and the reconstruction of past environments, including the analysis of microfossils, plant remains and animals bones. We will examine and critique ideas such as environmental determinism and the Anthropocene, and look at the relationship between archaeology and geography. Case studies may be drawn from current research and span a wide range of geographic and temporal scales, from early prehistory to post-medieval periods.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 70 | 1:00 | 70:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Pre-recorded video lecture (part of contact hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 64 | 1:00 | 64:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lab practicals |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Seminar |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Computer cluster sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 33 | 1:00 | 33:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lecture materials provide the background information and overviews of the subject material, intended as a starting point for independent reading and research and introduction for the practical and workshop activities.
Practical and workshop activities provide training in the application of the methods and how they are used in archaeology and instruction for the assessments.
Structured research and reading activities guide students through key reading and activities to reinforce learning.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | A | 50 | A portfolio of lab reports and reflective log based on the weekly workshops (equivalent to 1800 words) |
| Report | 1 | A | 50 | Technical report 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab exercise | 1 | M | 7 x lab exercises: 1. Excel exercise Vostok data 2. Pollen analysis 1,2,3 3. Phytolith reference slides 4. Zooarchaeology exercise 5. Seeds and cereal grains exercise 6. Wood thin section exercise 7. Archaeobotanical fact finder |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The practical portfolio will allow students to reflect on the skills they learn in the weekly laboratory practical sessions, and provide them with the ability to recognise and interpret key environmental proxies studied in the module.
Formative assessments in the form of practice exercises provided in laboratory and computer practical sessions are designed to test skills in presenting and interpreting environmental data in preparation for the practical portfolio.
The technical report will test students in writing in a technical style, while providing them with experience in analysing and interpreting environmental data. The report will have students engage with plant and animal remain data to reconstruct past human-environment relationships and meet a key aim of this module whilst gaining employability skills necessary in the archaeology sector and beyond (e.g., report writing; bringing together disparate types of data).
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/
- ARA2004's Timetable