Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Confidently approach to the scientific and archaeological dating literature.
- Collate, synthesise and present chronological information
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The major chronological issues in archaeology and how they relate to, for example, the origins of modern humans, the human colonization of Australia, or the extinction of Neanderthals
- The scientific principles behind the major dating methods
- When, and on which material particular dating methods are appropriate (e.g. suitable material or environments)
- The circumstances in which particular dating methods are considered controversial or inaccurate
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Incorporate dating evidence into archaeological arguments.
- Interpret dating evidence in terms of archaeological chronologies.
- Design and plan practical dating projects.
- Take a critical approach to dating and chronology and appreciate where dating may be inappropriate or inaccurate.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Improve your scientific and archaeological essay writing and know how to structure an argument incorporating scientific data
- Engage better with scientific data
- Research and discover sources
- Improve your presentation skills
- Manage your time to meet assignment deadlines
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Independent Study | 126 |
Teaching | 24 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
Grün, R. (2006). Direct dating of human fossils. American Journal of physical Anthropology, 43, pp. 2—48.
Pike, A.W.G. & Pettitt, P.B (2006). Other Laboratory Dating Methods. A Handbook of Archaeology, pp. 337-372.
Pike, A.W.G. & Pettitt, P.B. (2003). U-series dating and human evolution. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 52, pp. 607-630.
Schwarcz, H. P. (1980). Absolute age determination of archaeological sites by uranium series dating of travertines. Archaeometry, 22(1), pp. 3—24.
Clark, A.J., Tarling, D.H. and Noël, M. (1988). Developments in archaeomagnetic dating in Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 15, pp. 654-667.
Grun, R. (1991). Potential and problems of ESR dating. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurement, 18(1), pp. 143-153.
Bar-Yosef, O (2000). The impact of radiocarbon dating on old world archaeology: past achievements and future expectations. Radiocarbon, 42(1), pp. 23-39.
Textbooks
Aitken M.J.; Stringer, C.B. and Mellars, P.A. (eds.) (1993). The Origin of Modern Humans and the Impact of Chronometric Dating. Princeton University Press.
Aitken, M.J. (1990). Science-Based dating in Archaeology. London: Thames and Hudson.
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (1991). Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (Pages 129- 37). London: Thames & Hudson.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Seminar presentation | 15% |
Essay | 50% |
Written assignment | 35% |
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