Anthropology and Archaeology

This mandatory module develops and supports students in attaining important skillsets in critical thinking, data collection, analysis and academic writing for their extended independent study project (dissertation) in year 3. The first section of the course concentrates on developing a critical awareness of key theoretical standpoints and positions in the humanities and social sciences with special reference to archaeology and anthropology. The second section of the course leads students through the process of research design and the skills required to deliver their dissertation project. Alongside this focused training in anthropological fieldwork and data collection techniques is provided.

This module explores identity categories such as gender, sexualities, race, ethnicity, language, age and disability from both a biological and social point of view. It will evaluate theories related to the evolution of human behaviour, and include discussion of how identity categories are constructed and contested in relation to specific cultures or geographic areas. There will be some practical demonstration on how we can determine aspects of the identity of past populations from their skeletons, such as age and sex determination and how pathological lesions can aid in interpretations of disability and care in the past. Focused exploration of identity categories in contemporary society will allow students to develop knowledge of the values, ethics and traditions of the specific cultural and geographic area under consideration.

The module comprises four weeks of archaeological fieldwork, to be undertaken on one of the field projects run by the Archaeology Department, within which the student might be involved in excavation or other field-based tasks. Students can expect to learn a variety of essential archaeological field skills, depending on the nature of the project they are participating in. These will most commonly include: heavy and light excavation; finds and environmental processing; archaeological recording (written and drawn records); and basic surveying. Students will also learn how archaeological projects are organised in the field and the procedure by which they take place. This will be followed by a post-excavation course that will explore methods of archive collation, analysis and dissemination.

Students can pick one of the following.

Death, Burials and Bioarchaeology - 30 credits

This module examines the themes of death, burial and bioarchaeology through an anthropological and archaeological lens. It will explore the development of funerary practice from prehistory to the ethnographic present. Burial sites from various locations, temporally and geographically, will be examined, together with the importance of grave goods. The analysis of human remains is a key specialism across the disciplines of archaeology and biological anthropology. This module introduces students to the key theories and methods needed for the analysis and interpretation of skeletal remains. Current debates include the ethics of the treatment of the dead and the interpretation of burials in relation to gender and inequality. This module will have a practical approach where students will work in small groups to learn the skills of human remains analysis, it is therefore paramount that practical sessions are attended to enable the assigned component of this module to be completed.

Exploring Art and Visual Culture - 30 credits

This module investigates art and visual culture from an archaeological and anthropological perspective to explore Western and non-Western approaches to art in the present and the past. It includes a focus on the role of museums in the production of knowledge about global art worlds, as well as a series of geographically-focused case studies that provide wide exposure to the art and material culture of small-scale and indigenous societies. The module also explores the production and use of visual culture like photography, film and television by both anthropologists and the communities they work with. The module critically explores the relationship between anthropology and the ethnographic museum in the present and the past and provides practical experience in researching and writing about cultural objects.

Global Religions: Spaces and Places - 30 credits

This module will explore a range of religions and spiritual traditions through the lens of material and visual culture in public (non-overtly religious) spaces such as museums, art galleries and in exhibitions and shops, and also examine how religions ‘work’ when in diaspora. The main religions explored across the module are Asian-originating religions, and the Abrahamic traditions, but traditional/indigenous religions feature strongly in the first part, and the development of new religious sub-traditions of global religions and Zoroastrianism, feature in the second part. Utilising a range of approaches this module will allow students to examine the various spaces and places where global religions can be found, and the other religions that can be found in them. This module will include two day trips, the first to a museum/art gallery and the second to a place where a religion in its diaspora context can be seen.

Students choose one of two tracks for this final-year module: 1. A 10,000 word dissertation on a topic or theme in social anthropology, biological anthropology or archaeology developed through independent research under the supervision of a member of staff; or 2. a project based alternative involving a period of prolonged practical experience of working within an external organisation. The dissertation track allows students to apply themselves to an anthropological or archaeological study of their choice in depth over a year, using the sources and methodologies of social anthropology,  biological anthropology or archaeology. The placement track is for those students who wish to gain prolonged practical experience of working within an external organisation. Students work with staff and the university Placements team to identify a placement with an external host organisation, ideally one with a specific interest to them and a connection to the disciplines of anthropology or archaeology, broadly defined.

This module will focus on the importance of migration and movement throughout human evolution and up to the present day from both biological and social perspectives. From the first hominins to move out of Africa we will explore the archaeological evidence for the migration of past populations, with a particular focus on scientific techniques such as ancient DNA, proteomics, and isotope analysis as aids in interpretations of migration, both on the population scale and for Individual skeletal remains. Through a focus on migration as a topic of study within social anthropology we will also develop in-depth ethnographic understanding of the issues surrounding migration and transnationalism in specific contexts. This will allow us to explore the contribution of an ethnographic approach to debates on migration in contemporary society.

This final-year module links social anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology. It brings together three broad themes: the public role of anthropology and its applications to real-world issues; how anthropological topics are communicated in a variety of public media; and in the second Term the multiplicity of archaeological interpretation on the basis of differing lines of evidence and varied approaches of study. Students will examine the wide range of contemporary issues to which anthropologists might contribute their expertise, and will explore the public communication of anthropological topics in a variety of media including, for example, newspapers, research blogs or television programmes. They will also explore the diversity of interpretation that can be applied to archaeological data from different perspectives and using different types of evidence. Throughout the module students will be encouraged to critically analyse the interpretations provided for anthropological and archaeological data in a variety of forms.

Students can pick one of the following. 

Rites, Religions and Rituals - 30 credits

This module examines the archaeological evidence for religion, ritual and belief, drawing on case-studies from a range of religious and spiritual traditions. Attention in particular will be paid to the links and contrasts between different classes of evidence from different periods and places, such as surviving monuments, artefacts, art, architecture and iconography. A fieldtrip to relevant archaeological site, monument or museum will form part of this module.

Themes in European Prehistory - 30 credits

This module will involve an in-depth exploration of themes in prehistoric Europe. The study may cover the prehistory of Europe from the Palaeolithic period through the development of an agricultural economy across the continent in the Neolithic, and the end of the Iron Age and the spread of the Roman Empire, in line with available lecturing staff’s research expertise. Within this time period, key concepts, controversies and problems will be considered and methodologies analysed. Themes and topics of relevance may include art, trade and exchange, settlement, monuments, religion, and burial practices, and the module will be structured around the integration of different materials: archaeological, linguistic, anthropological, genetic and sociological evidence will all be considered.

Alternative Spiritualities: New and Indigenous Religions - 30 credits

The first part of this module explores Indigenous religions where students explore the world of other-than-human people, deities and spirit(s), kinship and ancestors, appropriation, gender, place and environment, ceremonies, and language/terminology. With a focus on living traditions rather than just on their history we will examine the ways in which Indigenous peoples adapt and respond to the changed situation of the contemporary world, including the effects of colonisation. The second part of the module will explore issues connected with the study of New and Alternative Religions, including topics such as the role of the development of these religions, gender, leaders and followers, converts and those born into these religions, and abuse. We will examine terminology in depth and delve into some case studies including neo-paganism, and neo-tribalism. During the module a new religion will be developed by the class (or developed in small groups) so be prepared for lots of discussion.