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Courses / Modules / ARCH3034 Archaeology of Seafaring

Archaeology of Seafaring

When you'll study it
Semester 2
CATS points
15
ECTS points
7.5
Level
Level 6
Module lead
Rosemary Farr
Academic year
2024-25

Module overview

Seafaring lies at the heart of human activity across the world and has taken place from the earliest times to the present day. Reflecting this, in recent years the study of seafaring has become an increasingly important area in our understanding of the human past. Current research within the Archaeology Department takes place across a range of areas and periods and is reflected in the module content; from the prehistoric human colonisation of Australasia in c.50,000BC to the development and application of industrial processes for maritime technology in the globalising maritime world of the 18th and 19th century. These periods form part of the case studies, alongside archaeological examples from the ancient Mediterranean, early medieval north- west Europe and the Indian Ocean, which are central to the module. You will also be introduced to the basic ways in which seafaring is studied through the archaeological record and you will gain a thorough grounding in the understanding and interpretation of seafaring from a social, economic and environmental perspective. This, along with the case studies, will provide you with a developed appreciation of the global significance of seafaring activity and how it can greatly enhance our overall understanding of the past.

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