Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand the basic theoretical and practical elements of geophysical survey in archaeology
- 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
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- relevant computer software to process and publish survey results to publication standard.
- current best practice in archaeological fieldwork.
- the basic theoretical concepts of geophysical survey techniques, and how these theories are applied practically in the field.
- Ability to recognise sites and monuments, their relationship to one another and their landscape context.
- how to produce final survey plots and written interpretation to publication standard.
- specific types of geophysical survey equipment, and understand their application and limitations in the field.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use key geophysical survey equipment in an archaeological context
- 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
- Be able to interpret the archaeological significance of anomalies located in your survey results
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Process and produce images of geophysical survey results
- Place your results within the context of map data using computer applications
- Produce archaeological interpretations of data, and write full reports on the findings of geophysical surveys
- Undertake geophysical surveys using Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility methods
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 20 |
| Wider reading or practice | 20 |
| Fieldwork | 40 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Supervised time in studio/workshop | 10 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 20 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
Clark, A. J. (1986). Archaeological Geophysics in Britain. Geophysics, 51(7), pp. 1404-1413.
Spoerry, P. (1992). The Archaeologist and Geoprospection. Archaeological Landscape, 18, pp. 115-119.
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..
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
Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (2003). Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.
Scollar, Tabbagh, Hesse, and Herzog (1990). Archaeological Prospecting and Remote Sensing. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Clark, A. (1990). Seeing Beneath the Soil. London: Batsford.
Bowden, M. (Ed.) (1999). Unravelling the Landscape.. Stroud: Tempus.
Telford, W. M. (1990). Applied Geophysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assessment tasks | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External