ANCIENT HISTORY IN YEAR 1
APPROVED LIST OF MODULES IN COGNATE SUBJECTS: 2010/2011
Here are summaries, only, of the modules concerned. For the full details, including
teaching and assessment methods, consult the website of the School of Geography,
Archaeology and Palaeoecology, GAP [www.qub.ac.uk/schools/gap]; click ‘Student
Information’ on its homepage, then ‘Archaeology and Palaeoecology UG modules for
2010-2011’.
Students entering any Joint AHY pathway must choose one of these modules.
Students entering any Major AHY pathway must choose two of these modules.
Note: AHY students on pathways with Archaeology/Palaeoecology itself must avoid
overlap, for this purpose, with the modules they are taking anyway as part of that
subject-area. (See also below, under Semester 2, ARP 1004.)
SEMESTER 1
ARP 1001 Introduction to Archaeology
This module introduces the discipline of Archaeology and its many current facets. Archaeology
is about ideas and theories, fieldwork and methods, cultures and objects, analysis and scientific
explanation; it focuses on the development of human society in different times and places, but
employs methods and approaches that have universal application. Themes explored in the
module include discovery, dating, ancient societies, excavation and sites, landscape(s),
archaeological science, heritage and conservation, museums and the environment. Lectures,
tutorials, study-skills seminars, visit to the National Museum in Dublin.
ARP 1002 Prehistoric Europe
This module explores the emergence of human societies in Europe, from the end of the
Neanderthals c.40,000 years ago to the Celts and the expansion of Rome. The module is an
introduction not only to the story of human cultures across Europe but to the methods and
research questions that archaeologists have applied to explanations of social, technological,
environmental and economic change. Topics covered include: Iron-Age hunters and their art,
megaliths, Mediterranean palace-cultures, Celtic warriors. Lectures, small-group seminars, field
trip.
GAP 1001 Human Evolution and Ancient Bodies
Who are we? How did we get here? How do we know? This module deals with some of the
most fundamental questions about the human race. Its first half traces the development of
modern humans and Neanderthals from earlier hominids and then the replacement of the
Neanderthals by modern people; it examines the dispersal of humans around the world. The
second half focuses on mummies from many different time periods and geographical locations;
related topics covered are archaeological context, methods of preservation, associated rituals,
the scientific techniques that can be used for the study of ancient bodies, and what can be
learned about past health and disease from these bodies. Includes practicals.
SEMESTER 2
ARP 1003 Historic Europe
The period covered in this module is the 1500 years from the height of the Roman Empire to the
end of the Middle Ages. The module spans the whole of Western Europe and the Near East,
from Ireland and southern Spain to northern Russia and east as far as Palestine. The first of its
major themes is the changing idea of Romanitas (‘Roman-ness’); archaeology shows that
Roman ideas of architecture etc. profoundly affected European culture long after the Roman
Empire had ended. The second is is the military, political and cultural expansion of western
Europe; topics arising include the Crusades, the Christian re-conquest of Islamic Spain, the
German repression of the ‘heathen’ Slavs, the limits of technology. Basic archaeological
methods such as the interpretation of stratigraphy and the analysis of buildings are discussed.
GAP 1002 Reconstructing Past Environments
An introduction to the principles and techniques used to reconstruct past environments and
detect environmental change, mostly during the last 2.6 million years (the Quaternary Period).
Major topics covered: the underlying theories and ecological principles that enable the
interpretation of information from ancient deposits; the principal dating methods and their
limitations. Case studies are used to show how some techniques have been applied to build up a
picture of how and why the environment has changed through time.
ARP 1004 Archaeology and the Heritage of Rome
THIS MODULE IS OPEN ONLY TO AHY STUDENTS WHOSE OTHER PATHWAY SUBJECT
IS ARCHAEOLOGY.
The module involves a week’s stay in Rome (scheduled this session for 11-18 April = week 11 of
the semester) and is limited to 40 students. Priority is given to Single Hons students in
Archaeology/Palaeoecology; however, Joint AHY/Arch. students may bid for places in it, either
as one of their Archaeology modules or, by special permission, one of their “cognate” Ancient
History modules.
Any AHY student contemplating the module must look at, and think about, the full details of it as
set out on the School of GAP website. Note especially the (subsidised) fee, payable in advance.
Any questions arising, including the realistic likelihood of gaining a place in the module, should
be taken up with the module convenors in GAP.