Archaeology explores how people in the past created and inhabited worlds that were often very different from our own. Archaeologists gain unique insights into the human condition by investigating the material remains from past societies, enabling new understandings of what it is to be a person in many different cultural contexts. This module will give you a general introduction to this exciting and engaging subject, enabling you to understand basic archaeological principles, methods and techniques. We will explore how archaeologists reveal the past – investigating how people lived, how they created and used objects, what they ate, what they looked like, and what happened at the end of their lives. The module is taught by 11 lively and well-illustrated lectures, 6 small-group tutorials, one compulsory class fieldtrip to a prehistoric landscape (held on Saturday, 29 September 2018**) and one visit to a museum (with class or self-directed), all providing you with practical opportunities to investigate ancient landscapes, objects and materials yourself. Exploring Archaeology is a useful module for students from across all subjects in the university, in particular social sciences, arts and humanities, earth and life sciences, medicine, veterinary studies, engineering and architecture.
**The fieldtrip on Saturday 29 September will help you complete your first assessment (1500-word project). If you cannot participate in the fieldtrip due to family/work/etc. commitments, please contact the Module Coordinator during Week 1, and alternative supports will be provided.
Fieldtrips:
(1) Compulsory class fieldtrip to Hill of Tara on Saturday, 29 September 2018.
(2) Optional class visit to National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street on Saturday, 20 October 2018 (two-hour visit). If you are unable to participate in this class visit to the Museum, you can undertake a self-directed visit on a date around this time.