ARMMNEO-Interpreting the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Britain

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Duncan Garrow
Email: d.j.garrow@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module will introduce students to, and enable them to develop their understanding of, the archaeology of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain. It will focus in particular on how we interpret the archaeological record of this period, looking at how theoretical ideas have developed especially over the past twenty years. The module is taught through a combination of introductory lectures, directed reading-based discussion seminars, and a field trip to Wessex.

Aims:
To enable students to develop their knowledge of the archaeology of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Britain; to develop a critical understanding of many of the key theoretical ideas which have arisen within archaeology in recent decades; and to assess the impact of those ideas on our interpretations of archaeological sites.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

1. Discuss key aspects of the chronological and geographical development of communities in Britain from c. 4000 to 800 BC.


2. Situate these changes within the context of north-west Europe more widely.


3. Discuss the merits of many of the key theoretical shifts which have taken place within archaeology of the past 25 years, not just in abstract terms but through a series of concrete archaeological examples.


4. Present archaeological arguments in written form, and be able to support them with relevant case studies.

Additional outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to:

1. Synthesise arguments and data from published material.


2. Make critical judgements about the relative strengths and weaknesses of key theoretical approaches and assess the viability of their practical application.


3. Work collaboratively in order to summarise information and convey this effectively to others.


4. Assess the importance of theoretical issues which are of relevance not just to European prehistory but to the discipline of archaeology more broadly

Outline content:
This module focuses on the archaeology of Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain. The sorts of issue it will cover are: monumentality and landscape, architecture and the temporality of occupation, attitudes to death and the body, identity and personhood, hoards and ritual deposition, and food, climate and the environment. While the module focuses primarily on evidence from Britain, examples from Ireland and north-west Europe more widely will also be drawn upon where appropriate.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module focuses on the archaeology of Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain. The sorts of issue it will cover are: monumentality and landscape, architecture and the temporality of occupation, attitudes to death and the body, identity and personhood, hoards and ritual deposition, and food, climate and the environment. While the module focuses primarily on evidence from Britain, examples from Ireland and north-west Europe more widely will also be drawn upon where appropriate. As a 20 credit modu le, ‘Interpreting the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Britain’ should involve 200 hours of study time: attending lectures and seminars, general background reading, preparing for seminars, reading for your essay, and essay writing. You should therefore expect the following sort of workload:

• 30 hours: Contact hours in formal teaching sessions (lectures & seminars)


• 60 hours: General background reading and note-taking from key texts for ea ch week’s topic (i.e. 6 hours per week)


• 50 hours: Reading for, preparation of, and writing your essay


• 60 hours: Reading and note-taking for seminar topics (i.e. 6 hours/week)

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		11
Seminars		9
Fieldwork		8
Guided independent study:		172
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
One essay of 5,000 words (100%)

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50%

Reassessment arrangements:
Resubmission of coursework by 1st September, but it cannot carry forward more than a pass mark

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books:


2. Specialist equipment or materials:


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:


4. Printing and binding:


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification:


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 14 August 2023