Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment (ARCM225)

Staff	Professor Stephen Rippon - Convenor
Credit Value	15
ECTS Value	7.5
NQF Level	7
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Duration of Module	Term 2: 11 weeks;

Module aims

On completion of the module, you will understand the major sources and techniques used in the study of the historic landscape. You will be able to critically assess which methods are appropriate for studying particular landscapes and periods. The module’s focus on the historic landscape reflects one of Exeter’s major research strengths in this field, and also reflects the growing emphasis on this area within a wide range of professions including archaeology, planning and countryside management.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the range and application of techniques within landscape archaeology
2. Define and engage with the key concepts and philosophies that underpin our understanding of landscape change

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

3. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, making sound judgement in the absence of complete data
4. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the basic chronological development of the British landscape in the past two millennia as well as an awareness of aspects of continental European historic landscapes.

ILO: Personal and key skills

5. Present to a high level clearly structured, well written and appropriately illustrated arguments
6. Take part in group discussions, and ask pertinent questions at the forefront of the subject
7. Learn constructively from verbal and written feedback

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: a landscape approach to studying the past
Data collection: field archaeology
Data collection: maps and documents
The Romano-British landscape, The Roman-medieval transition, and the reorganisation of landscapes in the late first millennium
The High Middle Ages, the late medieval period and beyond
Continental perspectives: The Roman to medieval transition
Continental and British perspectives: Early medieval centres, Part 1
Continental and British perspectives: Early medieval centres, Part 2
Continental perspectives: Rural settlements of the early Middle Ages

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	22	Lecture content, critical discussion and groupwork
Guided independent study	128	Including reading and preparation for lectures, seminars and assessments

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Interpretation of map (group work)	15 minutes in-class exercise	1-2, 6-7	Oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Critique of published landscape archaeology project focussing on the techniques used	40	1500 words	1-5,7	Written feedback
Essay on a key period of landscape change	60	2000 words	1-5,7	Written feedback

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Critique (1500 words)	Critique (1500 words)	1-5,7	Referral/Deferral period
Essay (2000 words)	Essay (2000 words)	1-5,7	Referral/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 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Key periodicals: Landscape History; Landscapes

Key books (including e-books)

Aston, M. 1985: Interpreting the landscape. London. [e-book]
Bowden, M. 1999: Unravelling the Landscape. Stroud.
Creighton, O.H. 2009: Designs upon the Land: Elite Landscapes of the Middle Ages. Woodbridge.
Hamerow, H. 2002: Early medieval settlements: the archaeology of rural communities in Northwest Europe 400–900. Oxford. [e-book]
Muir, R. 1999: Approaches to Landscape. London. [e-book]
Muir, R. 2000: The NEW Reading the Landscape. Exeter. [e-book]
Rippon, S. 2004: Historic landscape Analysis. York. [http://www.archaeologyuk.org/books/Rippon2004]
Rippon, S. 2008: Beyond the Medieval Village. Oxford. [e-book]
Rippon, S. 2012: Making Sense of An Historic Landscape (Oxford) [e-book]
Roberts, B. and Wrathmell, S 2002: Region and Place: A Study of English Rural Settlement, London.
Smith, A. et al 2016: The Rural Settlement of Roman Britain. Britannia Monograph 29.
Williamson, T 2003: Shaping Medieval Landscapes. Macclesfield.

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=11478

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

01/11/2011

Last revision date

28/10/2020