ARA3031 : Historical Archaeology of Britain 1500-Present
- Offered for Year: 2017/18
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jane Webster
- Lecturer: Dr Caron Newman
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
|Semester 2 Credit Value:||20|
This module focuses on the archaeology of the period 1500-present within the British Isles. It begins with an examination of the ‘consumer revolution’ after 1500, and looks at the role of archaeology in studying artefacts and consumer tastes in the early modern period. We then move on to look at archaeological approaches to key changes in British landscapes and townscapes from 1500-1800, and include here an examination of the impact of the dissolution of the monasteries, the Civil War, and colonial expansion ‘at home’ in Britain.
The middle section of the course looks at the Industrial era (c.1750-1900), exploring the aims and methods of industrial archaeology (an archaeological discipline in its own right), and looking at the social changes resulting from industrialisation. The final part of the course explores the archaeology of the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on changing attitudes to death after 1900, the First and Second World Wars, and the emerging archaeology of modern mass consumerism.
Throughout this module we make use of contemporary documentary sources (from probate inventories to factory inspectors reports), examining the ways in which historical archaeologists utilise these documents alongside excavation data in writing the history of the recent past. We also examine the relationship between archaeology and heritage presentation, exploring the sometimes contentious issues that surround the public presentation of recent historical phenomena.
The aims of this module are:
1. To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the material culture of the period 1500-present
2. To expand students’ understanding of the relationship between documentary sources and archaeological data that characterises historical archaeology as a discipline
3. To examine and engage in debates about the range of interpretative frameworks available for modelling cultural change in Britain after 1500
4. To foster an understanding of the role of archaeology in studying the very recent past
Outline Of Syllabus
Part 1: From medieval to modern: the changing face of Britain c.1500-1750
Part 2: The Industrial era c.1750-1900
Part 3: The 20th and 21st centuries
|Guided Independent Study||Assessment preparation and completion||55||1:00||55:00||1/3 of guided independent studies|
|Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities||Lecture||18||1:00||18:00||N/A|
|Guided Independent Study||Directed research and reading||55||1:00||55:00||1/3 of guided independent studies|
|Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities||Practical||6||2:00||12:00||N/A|
|Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities||Small group teaching||6||1:00||6:00||Seminars|
|Guided Independent Study||Independent study||54||1:00||54:00||1/3 of guided independent studies|
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures offer a broad overview of the historical archaeology of one of four selected case-studies areas. Seminars examine one aspect of that week’s overview in greater depth. These sessions always involve some group work, and are designed to tie in to, and support, the set written work. Advance (group) preparatory work is required for the seminars. The 6 practical sessions involve ‘hands on’ study of artefacts in museum collections, and/or historical documents.
The lectures provide a broad overview of the historical archaeology of the period/theme under study. The seminars and practical sessions will examine one aspect of that week’s overview in greater depth. These are designed to tie in to, and support, the set written work.
Seminars encourage independent study and promote improvements in oral communication, problem-solving skills and adaptability.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
|Essay||2||M||50||Assessed Essay (2,000 words)|
|Written exercise||2||M||50||Assessed 20th Century Artefact Biography (2,000 words)|
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Assessment 2 (20th Century Artefact Biography) comprises a study of 20th century artefacts, and in most cases will involve oral interviews with grandparents, parents, elderly friends etc. Students study a ‘display group’ (for example, items on a windowsill, or a mantelpiece) and undertake research (including where possible the recording of oral memories) on the identity and transmission histories of the items, and the associated memories of those who have owned/known them.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
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 List Website : rlo.ncl.ac.uk