BSc (Hons) Archaeological Practice University of Winchester

Program Description

The degree focuses on the current practice of archaeology, including the methods used for prospecting new sites, excavation techniques, analysis of finds and preparation of reports and publications. Our three-year programme places emphasis on skills acquisition - partly during  fieldwork undertaken both during term time and in the summer vacation - but also includes the academic study of different periods and cultures, from the earliest humans to the start of the twentieth century. Year 1 provides an introduction to different sub-disciplines of archaeology, including fieldwork, resources, material culture and archaeological science. To make sure you leave no stone unturned during fieldwork in the UK and abroad, you will use state of the art field equipment - including ground penetrating radar, magnetometers, magnetic susceptibility meters, differential GPS instruments and total stations.In addition, you will learn how to use industry standard computer software such as ArcGIS and Geoplot. In addition our department has a geoarchaeological consultancy (ARCA), whose staff will also teach you. The consultancy offers valuable laboratory work experience and an opportunity to combine your academic expertise with reporting for a professional audience. In Year 2, you will study geographic information systems, methods of measured survey and a variety of approaches to remote sensing. You are prepared by modules on theory and method for your dissertation. There is also a range of optional modules that explore the whole human story from Early Prehistoric Europe, through Ancient Greece to Medieval, post-Medieval and Modern Eurasia, as well as Human Bioarchaeology, The Archaeology and Anthropology of Death and Burial, and a multi-day fieldtrip module in which you visit sites in another region of Britain. In Year 3, you write a dissertation based on applied research that you carry out, usually in a field setting or the laboratory, and undertake more fieldwork. There is an option to do a short industry placement instead of the dissertation, many of which have led to employment with the archaeological company providing the placement. Archaeological Project Management is tailored to those students wanting to work in commercial archaeology. Public Archaeology and Careers concerns the wider role of archaeology and how graduates fit in to it. You can also branch out into examining the archaeology of ancient Europe and further afield and from a range of perspectives, including religion, society and conflict.

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