Module overview
Fieldwork is an integral part of the archaeological process and we want all our students to experience directly the generation of primary data by means of field and related practical activities. At the core of this module, therefore, is participation in at least three weeks of fieldwork and/or related activities, by means of a field school, research projects in the UK and/or overseas, and in certain cases post-excavation or similar activities. By these means, you will master the key skills of field and practical archaeology, and understand how new insights into past societies are generated 'at the trowel's edge'. You will be asked to consider the relationship between research designs for projects, and the methods they/you employ, and to put these skills to use in the design of a project of your own.
It is a requirement of all Archaeology degrees at Southampton, both single and joint honours, that you participate in at least three weeks of archaeological fieldwork, normally on a project organised by the University of Southampton. The objective of the fieldwork requirement is to ensure that you gain direct experience of the primary archaeological record, how it is discovered and recorded. At the same time, we expect that you will gain a range of transferable skills from your participation in a fieldwork project and will develop your personal skills in areas such as problem solving, decision making, teamwork and personal responsibility.