AR2FSC: Archaeology Field School and Professional Practice

Module code: AR2FSC

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Summer / Semester 1 / Semester 2

Module convenor: Ms Amanda Clarke, email: a.s.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module offers a practical hands-on introduction to the field techniques and site recording methods used on both urban and rural excavations. You will spend 4 weeks on a departmental excavation, and during this time you may be able to participate in many aspects of site work, including excavation, finds and sample processing, geophysics, survey and aspects of geoarchaeology. There will be dedicated training sessions and the opportunity for you to focus on particular fieldwork and transferable skills. In Semesters 1 and 2 this module will also encourage you to consider the possible career paths open to you based upon the skills and experience gained as part of your Archaeology degree, and your individual interests, aspirations, values and motivations.

You will be assessed by a combination of continuous assessment (including regular formative feedback on practical and transferable skills), a Blackboard Test on practical skills gained on site, an Employability Portfolio and a Media Assignment. The training excavation aims to provide you with an experience of field archaeology in which a basic knowledge of field techniques (both intrusive and non-intrusive) and site recording methods will be acquired. An introduction to finds management and the scientific techniques used on an excavation will be given, as a well as the opportunity to develop communication skills. Knowledge of the associated material culture, and the biological and environmental evidence will be gained, which will provide an insight into the lives of the people living at the time. Additionally, insight will be gained into the setting up and running of a large archaeological field project, including Health and Safety awareness. This module will also prepare you to transition into the world of work, either within the field of Archaeology or in other employment sectors by supporting you to reflect on your employability. The module will provide the chance to recognise and be in a position to apply for placements, work experience and other opportunities within the Department, School and University, which will enhance your employability.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate practical and theoretical knowledge about the techniques and processes of archaeological excavation, including, geophysical survey, stratigraphy and digital recording
2. Work effectively in a group and independently
3. Effectively communicate aspects of archaeological fieldwork using different media
4. Reflect on their employability and career interests and think critically about career development and employability, and opportunities offered by the university’s Careers Centre

Module content

During the Summer (at the end of Part 1) you will spend 4 weeks on the training excavation, to gain skills and knowledge of excavation and recording systems which can be translated to excavation projects all over the world. At the start of the Field School, you will take part in an on-site training session offering short talks on site Health and Safety, the use of archaeological tools, finds recording methods and systems, and environmental sieving and sorting. You will then be assigned a site supervisor, and will learn to take responsibility for the excavation and recording of archaeological features under their guidance. It is expected that you will participate in every aspect of site work during your time on the Field School, with the possibility of concentrating on a particular aspect of fieldwork during your final week on site. You will be kept up to date with site progress by means of a weekly site tour, and by regular reports from your supervisor.

During the Field School, you will be encouraged to keep a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) log to record and reflect on vocational and transferable skills developed during the Field School. You will be encouraged to undertake UROP, RIS, Thrive and the RED award throughout your undergraduate years, according to your employability needs.

In Semester 1, you will be required to take at least one option from a package of training events delivered centrally by the Careers Centre, and to reflect on their usefulness as part of the Portfolio which will make up part of the summative assessment for this module. You will be required to attend a 1:1 CV feedback session with a member of the Careers Centre, and as part of this process, will then have to produce a ‘before’ and ‘after’ CV, with reflection on how the ‘after’ CV has been improved through interaction with the Careers Centre (Semester 2).

In Semester 1 there will also be a practical session which will provide you with the opportunity to network with archaeology and other graduates and to learn about their career options and pathways, and their experience of the world of work.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

You will be assigned to a team at the outset, and this team will form the basis of your teaching and learning experience on site. You will be given a copy of the Field School Handbook at the start of the excavation, outlining aims and results of the excavation, methods and details of recording, Health and Safety regulations and the processes of assessment. Subsequently you will receive instruction and guidance throughout the working day. There will be dedicated training sessions each week on individual aspects of the excavation. During the excavation you will be expected to reflect on your learning experience by constant reference to a skills checklist. This will allow you the opportunity not only to monitor the different archaeological skills gained whilst on site, but also to assess critically your own site performance. You will be given an Archaeology Skills Passport at the start of the Field School, and you will map the skills gained throughout the Field School, with the help of feedback from your Supervisors. The working week will be complemented by formal lectures delivered to large groups, and smaller interactive, and hands-on sessions to enrich the learning experience. After 2 weeks you will have an informal feedback session in order to monitor your progress.

Study hours

At least 160 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

During the course of the Field School you will take part in a variety of on-site activities, and will gain a number of skills, as described in the Field School Handbook. You will be expected to keep a field notebook, using the Archaeology Skills Passport, and to refer to the skills checklist in their Handbook. The notebook and skills’ checklists will contribute to your Continuing Professional Development and will act as a CPD log. Throughout your time on site, you will be provided with oral feedback on your site skills, and this continuous on-site practical assessment will form the basis of regular feedback sessions about skills gained. You will be assigned to a team for the duration of the Field School, and within this team you will take part in a number of team-based formative learning experiences, which will allow you to apply the knowledge gained throughout the Field School.

Reassessment

Additional costs