Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the basic theoretical concepts of geophysical survey techniques, and how these theories are applied practically in the field.
- specific types of geophysical survey equipment, and understand their application and limitations in the field.
- Ability to recognise sites and monuments, their relationship to one another and their landscape context.
- current best practice in archaeological fieldwork.
- how to produce final survey plots and written interpretation to publication standard.
- relevant computer software to process and publish survey results to publication standard.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Assess the nature and extent of particular sites or monuments within their landscape context, and calculate the most suitable survey method to discover more about the nature, dimensions and structure of a site
- Produce a final report on a survey, together with recommendations for future assessment based on valued reasoning from the results of your work and your background knowledge of the techniques used and their implications
- Understand the basic theoretical and practical elements of geophysical survey in archaeology
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Process and produce images of geophysical survey results
- Produce archaeological interpretations of data, and write full reports on the findings of geophysical surveys
- Place your results within the context of map data using computer applications
- Undertake geophysical surveys using Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility methods
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use tapes or a total station to grid out a survey area
- Be capable of assessing the most appropriate method for survey of a site
- Use key geophysical survey equipment in an archaeological context
- Be able to interpret the archaeological significance of anomalies located in your survey results
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 40 |
| Supervised time in studio/workshop | 10 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 20 |
| Lecture | 20 |
| Wider reading or practice | 20 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (1993). Development of Remote Sensing Part II: Practice and method in the application of geophysical techniques in archaeology. Archaeological Resource Management in the U.K..
Spoerry, P. (1992). The Archaeologist and Geoprospection. Archaeological Landscape, 18, pp. 115-119.
Clark, A. J. (1986). Archaeological Geophysics in Britain. Geophysics, 51(7), pp. 1404-1413.
Schurr, M. R. (1997). Using the Concept of the Learning Curve to Increase the Productivity of Geophysical Surveys. Archaeological Prospection, 4, pp. 69-83.
Textbooks
Bowden, M. (Ed.) (1999). Unravelling the Landscape.. Stroud: Tempus.
Telford, W. M. (1990). Applied Geophysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Scollar, Tabbagh, Hesse, and Herzog (1990). Archaeological Prospecting and Remote Sensing. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Clark, A. (1990). Seeing Beneath the Soil. London: Batsford.
Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (2003). Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.
Gaffney, C., Gater, J., Ovenden, S. (1991). The Use of Geophysical Survey Techniques in Archaeological Evaluations. Institute of Field Archaeologists.
David, A (1995). Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation. English Heritage Research and Professional Services Guidelines 1.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback Monitoring and feedback on work produced during lectures and practicals Tuition, assessment and feedback on elements of practical survey during field weekSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Field project | 60% |
| Individual Oral Presentation | 40% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External