Archaeology

This course looks at the history and archaeology of London, from its Roman foundation as Londinium in the 1st century AD, through its collapse and re-foundation as the new settlement of Lundenwic in c. AD 600, its relocation in c. AD900, and its subsequent dramatic development through to its destruction in the Great Fire of AD 1666. The majority of classes take the form of field trips in the London area. Students obtain a solid overview of the development of London from AD50-1700 and a familiarity with the layout of the historical city, its physical remains, monuments, and museum displays. Students are also encouraged to consider the ways in which such remains are uncovered and presented to the public. 

This is a special studies course with projects arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific topics of study vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. The number of units varies with the student's project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student's special study project form.

The course consists of practical work combined with formal lectures and seminars. It involves six weeks of field work with a focus on the various methods and techniques ethnographers employ to gather primary data. The course explores ethnographic and other anthropological field survey methods, which involves the collection of oral accounts. Activities include training in data processing, recording, analysis, and interpretation, and in photography and videography.

The course surveys the art and archaeology of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age (c. 3000-1100 B.C.) to the early Roman imperial period (1st century AD). The chronological sequence of lectures considers the physical remains of ancient Greek life and society, including religion, domestic life, civic spaces, burial practices, social practices, the military, and interactions with other cultures.

This course gives students an insight into the full cycle of the post-excavation process of artefact analysis. By combining theoretical approaches to material culture with practical experience, this it provides an understanding of how to approach artefact assemblages, how to carry out detailed analysis, and the production of comprehensive written summaries both of the contents of assemblages and of their potential to answer research questions. Students will be given an option to develop specific knowledge of different categories of material (e.g. ceramics, lithics, glass, metalwork, building materials).

This course critically examines the archaeology of Ireland during the high medieval period from c.1100 until the second half of the 14th century. The background to the coming of the Anglo-Normans to Ireland in 1169 and the impact they had on the landscape are discussed in depth in the first part of the course. Themes for this section of the course include the role of castles, the manorial economy, trade, the foundation of villages, rural boroughs, and towns by mostly English immigrants and the growth of certain cities. Dispersed settlement in Anglo-Norman parts of eastern Ireland are also explored. In particular, in the first part of the course, the interplay between castle, town, and countryside in Anglo-Norman Ireland is examined in detail.