Archaeology and Social Anthropology (ARC3608)

StaffDr Marisa Lazzari - Convenor
Credit Value15
ECTS Value7.5
NQF Level6
Pre-requisitesNone
Co-requisitesNone
Duration of Module Term 1: 11 weeks;

Module aims

  • To provide you with the necessary skills to reach a deep understanding of the interdisciplinary connections between archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology.
  • To provide you with critical and interpretative skills to develop understanding of a range of contemporary issues in archaeological and anthropological research practice.
  • To enable you to understand the potential of this outlook to the understanding of broader issues in society.

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. Analyse and critique the different theories developed within socio-cultural anthropology
  • 2. Critically assess the application of anthropological frameworks in specific archaeological case studies
  • 3. Critically assess how archaeological perspectives can contribute to develop anthropological frameworks

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 4. Analyse and critique different theories developed within socio-cultural anthropology
  • 5. Integrate interdisciplinary approaches to build archaeological and anthropological interpretations

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 6. Engage in public discussion with colleagues in a seminar setting
  • 7. Make individual presentations using appropriate visual aids; adhere to deadlines
  • 8. Present well-developed written arguments

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Introduction: integrating archaeology and anthropology
  • Culture, society and nature: classic and new understandings
  • Agency, personhood and social practice
  • Material culture studies: anthropologists and archaeologists looking at things
  • Giving and receiving: exchange and social interaction
  • New intersections: landscape, embodiment, and the senses
  • Socio-cultural anthropological methods in archaeology: methodological & ethical issues
  • Indigenous archaeologies: History, memory, and colonialism
  • New encounters: tourism and performing culture

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
201300

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching189 x 2 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching2Seminars
Guided independent study130Independent study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Seminar discussion1 x 2 hours1-6Oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
60040

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Individual class presentation4015 minutes PowerPoint1-5, 7Oral and written class feedback
Essay602500 words1-5Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Individual class presentationWritten essay (2000 words)1-5, 7Referral/Deferral period
EssayEssay (2500 words)1-5Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

  • Bourdieu, P. (1990). Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge University Press.
  • Clifford, J. (1988). The Predicament of Cultures. Harvard University Press.
  • Ericksen, T. (1995). Small Places, Large Issues. An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology. Pluto Press.
  • Gosden, C. (1999). Archaeology and Anthropology: A Changing Relationship. Routledge.
  • Madden, R. Being Ethnographic. A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Ethnography. Sage.
  • Meskell, L., & R. Preucel. (2004). A Companion to Social Archaeology. Blackwell.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=91

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

27/05/2015

Last revision date

11/01/2019

Key words search

archaeology, methods, theory, research design