Module description

This final year module is a forum for debate. It requires students to draw upon their knowledge and experience of previous core modules, options, fieldwork, extra-curricular experiences and interests to reflect upon the relevance of archaeological knowledge for wider debates about the past, present and future of humanity. A short lecture series will discuss some of the 'big themes' to which archaeology can contribute, for example: the tragedy of the commons, climate change, the contingency of civilisations. Students will then take themes of their choosing to explore how information and approaches learned in their previous work can illuminate those themes.

The purpose of this module is to help you develop your grasp of the ‘bigger picture’ and enhance your ability to communicate it. The ability to answer the ‘so-what’ question is vital for further academic development, but is also a valuable skill in many walks of life. A short lecture series will discuss the idea of ‘big’ or ‘deep’ history, ‘grand challenges’ and the role of archaeologists as public intellectuals, and will provide examples of some of the big themes to which archaeology can contribute. You will then take one of these themes or another of your choosing and explore how information and approaches learned in your 1st and 2nd year courses, fieldwork and extra-curricular experience can illuminate that theme. The course is taught using a combination of lectures, group discussion and some practical work. It is assessed via the construction of two written pieces that have a different (popular form), and you will be supported to develop the technical and writing skills necessary to achieve this. It is important to understand that during this we course we may revisit some topics that you have already encountered in the first or second year, but where that is the case we are expecting you to use the opportunity to explore how the ‘facts’ (which you may already know) connect to other topics and/or can be used to develop bigger narratives of potentially wide interest.

 

Module Aims

This module seeks to prepare you for graduation by providing a space in which you can draw together the various strands of archaeology that you have learned about and also reflect upon the relevance of archaeological knowledge for wider debates about the past, present and future of humanity. It aims to:

• Prepare you for higher-level academic study by providing additional intellectual training in how to use knowledge and understanding of particular cases to inform thematic research;

• Enhance your employability by preparing you to be able to draw on your archaeological knowledge and skills to address issues of wide concern to companies, NGO’s, local and national governments, policy ‘think tanks’, etc.;

• Inspire and equip you to be enthusiastic, thoughtful and articulate ambassadors for archaeology in wider society.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module you should:

• Possess knowledge of how archaeology can inform debate surrounding several major issues facing humanity;

• Posses knowledge of one particular big theme and be able to demonstrate how knowledge and skills you have acquired in other modules are relevant to it;

• Have enhanced your understanding of the potential and limitations of making inferences from the particular to the general;

• Be able to communicate the significance of archaeological findings to a non-specialist audience.

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Further information is available here https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/study/undergraduate/courses/archaeology-world