Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- specific types of geophysical survey equipment, and understand their application and limitations in the field.
- how to produce final survey plots and written interpretation to publication standard.
- current best practice in archaeological fieldwork.
- Ability to recognise sites and monuments, their relationship to one another and their landscape context.
- relevant computer software to process and publish survey results to publication standard.
- the basic theoretical concepts of geophysical survey techniques, and how these theories are applied practically in the field.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- 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
- 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
- Understand the basic theoretical and practical elements of geophysical survey in archaeology
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Undertake geophysical surveys using Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility methods
- 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
- Process and produce images of geophysical survey results
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
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 20 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Lecture | 20 |
| Fieldwork | 40 |
| Wider reading or practice | 20 |
| Supervised time in studio/workshop | 10 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
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..
Clark, A. J. (1986). Archaeological Geophysics in Britain. Geophysics, 51(7), pp. 1404-1413.
Schurr, M. R. (1997). Using the Concept of the Learning Curve to Increase the Productivity of Geophysical Surveys. Archaeological Prospection, 4, pp. 69-83.
Spoerry, P. (1992). The Archaeologist and Geoprospection. Archaeological Landscape, 18, pp. 115-119.
Textbooks
Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (2003). Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.
Clark, A. (1990). Seeing Beneath the Soil. London: Batsford.
Scollar, Tabbagh, Hesse, and Herzog (1990). Archaeological Prospecting and Remote Sensing. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
David, A (1995). Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation. English Heritage Research and Professional Services Guidelines 1.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Individual Oral Presentation | 40% |
| Field project | 60% |
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