ARCH41200 Archaeology Field & Lab Tech I

Academic Year 2019/2020

This module is a co-requisite with ARCH41210 Archaeology Field & Lab Tech 2 and must be undertaken before ARCH40210.

In this module you will learn and apply key archaeological field and post-excavation recording and processing (e.g. the use of tape measures, levels, total stations and GPS). An emphasis is placed on applying skills in practice, including scale drawing, off-set survey, reducing levels, establishing grids, and understanding conventional forms of drawn representation. The course is divided into two modules:
ARCH41200 - Archaeology Field & Lab Tech 1 you undertake a series of practical exercises on campus in order to embed skills highlighted in formal lectures and assessed by the submission of an individual workbook.
ARCH41210 Archaeology Field & Lab Tech 2 can be undertaken as a field or a laboratory based project. Field survey projects can be completed in groups (max. 3 people) or as individuals while laboratory based projects will be undertaken on an individual basis. The projects are intended to allow you display the techniques acquired during the course and to independently explore areas of field or laboratory research. A presentation and portfolio are assessed for each project for which your group shares the grade or receive an individual grade where a solo project is completed.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module you should be able to:
- Perform basic project tasks using key pieces of archaeological equipment
- Establish a survey framework and execute drawings in the field
- Critically appraise the techniques utilized
- To work in groups to manage and undertake a field or laboratory project and to present the results appropriately

Indicative Module Content:

This module is designed to develop a set of fundamental archaeological field and laboratory skills that will be applied when undertaking you project in ARCH41210 - Archaeology Field & Lab Tech 2:
• Site grids and planning by off-sets
• Photography
• Archaeological Illustration
• Total Station Survey
• Laboratory Techniques
• Levels
• GPS and other Landscape Survey methods
• Health and Safety

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

20
Field Trip/External Visits

10
Specified Learning Activities

35
Autonomous Student Learning

55
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module features a range of approaches to teaching and learning. Classes are 2-3 hours in length and include traditional taught presentations, practical exercises, group work and the preparation and submission of an individual workbook. The module focuses on developing skills to undertake independent field or laboratory projects which are taken in the following linked module ARCH41210 - Archaeology Field & Lab Techniques 2. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: The assessment is based on a workbook completed following presentations and practical exercises. It is in seven sections that can be completed incrementally during the course. Week 9 n/a Graded Yes

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Some field exercise are shared tasks but each student submits their own workbook. Two hard copies with cover sheets must be submitted to the School Office on the assigned date. Feedback is on an individual basis structured on a graded assessment sheet to reflect the individual components of the workbook with additional comments given through the workbook. Comments are provided by the module coordinator and where relevant by a second marker.

Bettess, F. 1992. Surveying for Archaeologists. University of Durham, Durham.
Leach, P.E. 1994. The Surveying of Archaeological Sites. Archetype, London.
RCAHMS. 2011. A Practical Guide to Recording Archaeological Sites. Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh. http://www.scotlandsruralpast.org.uk/images/pdfs/SRP%20Manual%20single%20page.pdf

You may also wish to consult some of the following while completing ARCH41200 and ARCH41210:

Ainsworth, S., Bowden, M., McOmish, D. & Pearson, T. 2007. Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes: A guide to good recording practice. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/understanding-archaeology-of-landscapes/
Ainsworth, S. & Thomason, B. 2003. Where on Earth are We? The Global Positioning System (GPS) in archaeological field survey. English Heritage, Swinton. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/gps-in-archaeological-field-survey/
Alcock, N.W., Barley, M.W., Dixon, P.W. & Meesom, R.A. 1989. Recording Timber-framed Buildings: an illustrated glossary. CBA Practical Handbook in Archaeology 5. Council for British Archaeology, York.
Alcock, N.W. & Hall, Linda. 1994. Fixtures and Fittings in Dated Houses 1567–1763. CBA Practical Handbook in Archaeology 11. Council for British Archaeology, York. (reprinted 2002)
Andrews, D., Bedford, J., Blake, B., Bryan, P., Cromwell, T. & Lea, R. 2009. Measured and Drawn: Techniques and practice for the metric survey of historic buildings. English Heritage, Swindon. (second edition) https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/measured-and-drawn/
B.A.J.R. 2007. Short Guide to Field Survey, Field Walking and Detecting Survey. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. BAJR Practical Guide 15. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/15.%20Field%20Survey%20-%20Land%20Survey,%20Fieldwalking%20and%20Metal%20Detecting/ShortGuidetoFieldSurvey.pdf
Bedford, J., Pearson, T. & Thomason, B. 2011. Traversing the Past: the total station theodolite in archaeological landscape survey. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/traversingthepast/
Bowden, M. 1999 (ed). Unravelling the Landscape: an inquisitive approach to archaeology. Tempus, Stroud.
Bowden, M. 2002. With Alidade and Tape: graphical and plane table survey of archaeological earthworks. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/with-alidade-and-tape/
Cocke, T., Findlay, D., Halsey, R. & Williamson, E. 1996. Recording a Church: an illustrated glossary. CBA Practical Handbook in Archaeology 7. Council for British Archaeology, York.
Connolly, D. [no date]. Beginners Guide to Aerial Survey and Rectification. BAJR Practical Guide 7. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/7.%20Aerial%20Survey%20-%20short%20guide%20to%20transcibing%20by%20hand/7AerialSurvey.pdf
Connolly, D. 2005. Survey Laying out Trenches and Levelling Basics. BAJR Practical Guide 10. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/10.%20Basic%20Survey%20-%20Setting%20Out%20and%20Levelling/BasicSurvey.pdf
Souterrain Archaeological Services. 2004. A Short Guide to GPS. BAJR Practical Guide 4. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/9.%20A%20Short%20Guide%20to%20GPS/AShortGuidetoGPS.pdf
Crutchley, S. & Crow, P. 2010. The Light Fantastic: using airborne laser scanning in archaeological survey. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/light-fantastic/

Currie, C. 2005. Garden Archaeology: a handbook. CBA Practical Handbook in Archaeology 17. Council for British Archaeology, York.
Drewett, P. 2011. Field Archaeology: an introduction. Routledge, Oxford. (second edition)
Egan, U., Byrne, E., Sleeman, M., Ronan, S. & Murphy, C. 2005 (comp.). Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo Vol. I: South Sligo. The Stationery Office, Dublin.
Farrelly, J. & O'Brien, C. 1997 (comp.). Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. I-North Tipperary. The Stationery Office, Dublin.
Foley, C. & McHugh, R. 2014. An Archaeological Survey of County Fermanagh Volume 1 (Parts 1 & 2). Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast. (available from CMcD)
Harris, E. 1989. Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy. Academic Press, London. (see Module Resources in Blackboard for PDF)
Hawker, J.M. 2001. A Manual of Archaeological Field Drawing. RESCUE British Archaeological Trust, Hertford.
Historic England. 2018. 3D Laser Scanning for Heritage: advice and guidance on the use of laser scanning in archaeology and architecture. Historic England, Swindon. https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/3d-laser-scanning-heritage/
Major, J.K. 1975. Fieldwork in Industrial Archaeology. B.T. Batsford Ltd., London.
National Monuments Service. 2006. Guidelines for Authors of Reports on Archaeological Excavations. Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin. https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/excavation-reports-guidelines-for-authors.pdf
Neill, K. 2009. An Archaeological Survey of County Armagh. Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast.
O'Sullivan, A. & Sheehan, J. 1996. The Iveragh Peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry. Cork University Press.
Roskams, S. 2001. Excavation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Spence, C. 1994 (ed.). Archaeological Site Manual. Department of Urban Archaeology, Museum of London, London. (third edition) (see Module Resources in Blackboard for PDF)

Photography:
Lectures in Digital Photography. Marc Levoy, Stanford University. https://sites.google.com/site/marclevoylectures/home
Connolly, D. 2006. Digital Photography in Archaeology: A Basic Guide. BAJR Practical Guide 12. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/12.%20A%20Short%20Guide%20to%20Digital%20Photography%20in%20Archaeology/DigitalPhotography.pdf
Fisher, L.J. 2009. Photography for Archaeologists. Part I: Site specific record. BAJR Practical Guide 23. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/25.%20Site%20Specific%20Photography/25PhotographyforArchaeologists.pdf
Schlitz, M. Archaeological Photography Workshop Field Archaeology ARCH1003. Flinders University. http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/resources/photography/archphoto_1003web.ppt

The follow give considerably more detail on the techniques and principles for archaeological illustration that can be accommodated in the class:

Allen, S.J. 1994. The Illustration of Waterlogged Wood: an introduction and guide to the depiction of wooden objects. Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors Technical Paper 11. AAI&S, Oxford. http://www.gag-cifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/11-wood.pdf
Griffiths, N., Jenner, A. & Wilson, C. 1991. Drawing Archaeological Finds: a handbook. Archetype Publications Ltd., [London].

Hodgson, J. 2000. Archaeological Reconstruction: illustrating the past. The Institute of Field Archaeologists & Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors Technical Paper 5. IFA & AAI&S, Reading.
Martingell, H. & Saville, A. 1988. The Illustration of Lithic Artefacts: a guide to drawing stone tools for specialist reports. The Lithics Study Society Occasional Paper 3/Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors Technical Paper 9. LLS & AAI&S, Northampton. http://www.gag-cifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/flint-paper-digital.pdf
Small, T. 2013. Archaeological Illustration: Small Finds. BAJR Practical Guide 32. British Archaeological Jobs Resource. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/32.%20Archaeological%20Illustration%20-%20Small%20Finds/Guide32.pdf
Steiner, M. 2005. Approaches to Archaeological Illustration: a handbook. CBA Practical Handbook in Archaeology 15. Council for British Archaeology, York.

The follow give considerably more detail on the laboratory techniques:

Ayala, G., Canti, M, Heathcote, J., Sidell, J. & Usai, R. 2007. Geoarchaeology: using earth sciences to understand the archaeological record. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/geoarchaeology-earth-sciences-to-understand-archaeological-record/
Bayley J., Dungworth, D. & Paynter, S. 2001. Archaeometallurgy. English Heritage, London. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/archaeometallurgy/
Brunning, R. & Watson, J. 2010. Waterlogged Wood: Guidelines on the recording, sampling, conservation and curation of waterlogged wood. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/waterlogged-wood/
Campbell, G., Moffett, L. & Straker, V. 2011. Environmental Archaeology: a guide to the theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to post-excavation. English Heritage, Swindon. (second edition) https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/environmental-archaeology-2nd/
Kenward, H., 1991. Rapid recording of archaeological insect remains―a reconsideration. Circaea 9(2), 81–88. (available on Blackboard).
Duller, G.A.T. 2008. Luminescence Dating: guidelines on using luminescence dating in archaeology. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/luminescence-dating/
English Heritage. [1998]. Dendrochronology: guidelines on producing and interpreting dendrochronological dates. English Heritage, London. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/dendrochronology-guidelines/
Hodson, J. 2006 (ed.). Archaeomagnetic Dating: guidelines on producing and interpreting archaeomagnetic dates. English Heritage, London. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/archaeomagnetic-dating-guidelines/
Karsten, A., Graham, K., Jones, J., Mould, Q. & Walton Rogers, P. 2012. Waterlogged Organic Artefacts: guidelines on their recovery, analysis and conservation. English Heritage, Swindon. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/waterlogged-organic-artefacts/
McClatchie, M., OCarroll, E. & Reilly, E. 2015. NRA Palaeo-environmental Sampling Guidelines: Retrieval, analysis and reporting of plant macro-remains, wood, charcoal, insects and pollen from archaeological excavations. National Roads Authority, Dublin. http://www.tii.ie/technical-services/archaeology/resources/NRA_Palaeo-environmental-Sampling_Guidelines_rev-4.pdf
Murphy, E.M. & Whitehouse, N.J. 2007 (eds). Environmental Archaeology in Ireland. Oxbow Books, Oxford.