THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
CENTER FOR MEDIEVAL & BYZANTINE STUDIES
MDST 555: MEDIEVAL ARCHEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL: BAMBURGH CASTLE
Summer 2014
Credit hours: 3
Prerequisites: None.
Classroom: N/A
Location: Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria, UK
Time: May 15-May 28, 2014, with meetings
daily.
Instructor contact information:
Lilla Kopár, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English,
Director of the Center for Medieval & Byzantine Studies
Office: 132B Marist Hall
Phone: 202-319-5794
Email: kopar@cua.edu
Jennifer R. Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of History
Associate Director of the Center for Medieval & Byzantine Studies
Office: 132B Marist Hall
Phone: 202-319-5794
Email: davisj@cua.edu
Course description:
The course offers a hands-on introduction to the skills, methods, and principles of medieval archeology
through participation in an expert-led excavation of a multi-layered site at Bamburgh Castle in
Northumbria, UK. The excavation experience and on-site instruction will be further enhanced by lectures
and discussions as well as by faculty-led field trips to historic sites of early medieval Northumbria to
explore the historical and cultural context of the archeological site under excavation.
Instructional methods:
The majority of instruction will be conducted on site through participation in the excavation under expert
guidance. In preparation for the trip, students will read and discuss scholarship both on the history and
cultural context of the site and on the methods and principles of archeology. Faculty and expert talks and
MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
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demonstrations and student presentations will further enhance the educational experience. The course will
conclude with a research paper.
Required course materials/readings:
Renfrew, Colin and Paul Bahn. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. 6th ed. Thames &
Hudson, 2012.
Rollason, David. Northumbria, 500-1100: Creation and Destruction of a Kingdom. Cambridge
UP, 2003.
Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Ed. D.H. Farmer and R.A. Latham, trans. L.
Sherley-Price. Revised ed. Penguin, 1991.
Webb, J.F. and D.H. Farmer, eds. The Age of Bede. Penguin, 1998.
Hawkes, Jane. The Golden Age of Northumbria. Sandhill Press, 1996.
Project website:
http://bamburghresearchproject.co.uk
Further readings and bibliographies will be developed by students on their individual research
topics.
Course goals:
The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the field of medieval archaeology, its methods,
practices, and basic skills, through hands-on learning experience at an expert-led archeological
excavation. In addition, students will learn about the history, culture, and material remains of early
medieval Northumbria in order to be able to contextualize their potential finds and understand the
significance of archeological research.
Goals for student learning:
By the end of the course/field school, students will have developed a basic understanding of archeological
methods and principles, and learnt some skills of professional excavation and find processing. Special
emphasis will be given to understanding and interpreting the site and its finds in context, as well as to
developing an understanding of the significance of material culture and of archeology as a scholarly field
to the student’s primary area of research (history, literature, philology, etc.).
Assignments and grading / Course requirements and assessment:
The course will consists of preliminary readings and assignments in preparation for the field school; daily
instruction and tasks/assignments at the excavation site; student presentations related to historic sites
visited during the post-excavation field trip; and a final research paper. Undergraduate students will be
assigned a shorter research paper but they must complete all other assignments and readings.
MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
Assignments and due dates
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Assessment in
percentage points of
overall grade
Readings and assignments in preparation for the field school:
book reviews and preliminary bibliography on presentation topic and
research paper topic.
Due dates to be decided.
Active participation in field school activities, completion of assigned
tasks on site.
Every day during field school.
Presentation during field trips:
15-minute presentation with detailed handout on an assigned topic
related to one of the historic sites visited.
Due the night before or on the day of the relevant field trip.
Research paper with extensive bibliography and proper formatting.
Graduate students: 15-20 pages plus bibliography and notes.
Undergraduates: 10-12 pages plus bibliography and notes.
Due date: by mid June 2014 (date to be determined).
15%
40%
15%
30%
Equivalencies of course total points (percentages) to University grades:
Graduate scale:
93-100 A
90-92 A86-89 B+
81-85 B
76-80 B60-75 C
0-59 F
Undergraduate scale:
93-100 A
90-92 A87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C60-69 D
0-59 F
A report of grades will be available at the end of the term on http://cardinalstation.cua.edu.
Expectations and policies:
Academic honesty:
Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required to initiate the imposition
of sanctions when they find violations of academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a
student’s own work, cheating, and fabrication.
The following sanctions are presented in the University procedures related to Student Academic
Dishonesty (from http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm): “The
presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will be failure for the
course. There may be circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate
MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
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student’s past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be
appropriate. In the context of graduate studies, the expectations for academic honesty are greater,
and therefore the presumed sanction for dishonesty is likely to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. In
the more unusual case, mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction
than the presumed sanction.”
Please review the complete texts of the University policy and procedures regarding Student
Academic Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals, at
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm
Other policies and expectations:
Attendance of preparatory meetings prior to the field school is mandatory.
Assignments are due on the dates indicated on the syllabus or as previously agreed. No make-ups
or late submissions.
Library resources:
The CUA Libraries’ wide range of resources and services, including databases, online journals, and FAQs
are available on the main web site (http://libraries.cua.edu/). For assistance with assignments, consult the
research guides (http://guides.lib.cua.edu/) or schedule an appointment with a subject librarian
(http://libraries.cua.edu/about/subjlibs.html).
Accommodations for students with disabilities:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should
contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at
202-319-5211 or in room 201 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students
with documented disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please visit the website:
http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu (or http://dss.cua.edu).
MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
Course Schedule
I. Overview:
I. Preliminary meetings prior to field school:
Meeting I: Medieval Archeology: A Brief Introduction. Jennifer Davis.
Date to be determined.
Readings:
 Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology.
 Excavation/project website.
Meeting II: Early Medieval Northumbria. Lilla Kopár.
Date to be determined.
Readings:
 Rollason, Northumbria, 500-1100.
 Hawkes, The Golden Age of Northumbria.
 Readings by Bede (Ecclesiastical History; Life of the Abbots; Life of Cuthbert)
II. Bamburgh Research Project Archeology Field School
Instruction days: 5/17-5/23 (7 days, morning and afternoon)
See itinerary below.
On-site instruction in excavation, find recording and processing.
III. Field trips: 5/23-5/27.
See itinerary below.
Presentations topics and schedule to be developed in consultation with students.
IV. Post-trip evaluation and discussion
Date to be determined.
V. Submission of research papers: mid-June 2014.
II. Study-Abroad Trip/Field School Itinerary:
Day 1 (Thu, 5/15)
Travel to Bamburgh, Northumbria, UK. Flights arranged individually.
Day 2 (Fri, 5/16)
Arrival in the UK, local travel from airport to accommodation, arranged individually.
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#1)
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MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
Day 3 (Sat, 5/17): Excavation Day 1
Breakfast: individually
AM: General introduction and safety instructions; excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under
professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#2)
Day 4 (Sun, 5/18): Excavation Day 2
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#3)
Day 5 (Mon, 5/19): Excavation Day 3
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#4)
Day 6 (Tue, 5/20): Excavation Day 4
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#5)
Day 7 (Wed, 5/21): Excavation Day 5
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#6)
Day 8 (Thu, 5/22): Excavation Day 6
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: provided (packed lunch)
PM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
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MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#7)
Day 9 (Fri, 5/23): Excavation Day 7 & Lindisfarne
Breakfast: individually
AM: Excavation work at Bamburgh Castle under professional supervision with instruction
Lunch: packed individually
PM: Guided tour of Holy Island, Lindisfarne (English Heritage museum visit plus tour of recent
excavation sites in the village with Graeme Young). Transportation provided.
Dinner: individually
Accommodation: Cottages at Bluebell Farm, Belford (#8)
Day 10 (Sat, 5/24): Hexham & Bede’s World at Jarrow
Breakfast: individually
AM: Coach transportation from Belford to Hexham (ca. 1.5 hours; provided); Hexham Abbey (tour of
church and crypt; visit to leather worker); travel to Jarrow (ca. 1 hour; coach provided)
Lunch: individually
PM: Bede’s World (museum tour) & St. Paul’s Church, Jarrow
Ca. 6 pm: coach travel from Jarrow to Durham (ca. 30-45 minutes)
Dinner: individually
Accommodation in Durham (Premier Inn Durham City Centre recommended)
Day 11 (Field trip 2) (Sun, 5/25): Durham
Breakfast: at hotel
AM: Durham Cathedral
Lunch: individually
PM: City tour, museums
Dinner: individually
Accommodation in Durham (Premier Inn Durham City Centre recommended)
Day 12 (Field trip 3) (Mon, 5/26): York (Day 1)
Breakfast: at hotel
AM: Visit to Durham University’s archaeological conservation labs to learn about post-excavation find
processing
Travel from Durham to York via train (direct, max. 1 hour)
Lunch: individually
PM: York Minster official and behind-the-scenes tour; meeting with stone mason at conservation yard;
tour of the city walls
Dinner: individually
Accommodation in York (Premier Inn recommended)
Day 13 (Field trip 4) (Tue, 5/27): York (Day 2)
Breakfast: at hotel
AM: Yorkshire Museum & York Museum Gardens
Lunch: individually
PM: Jorvik Viking Centre & York Castle Museum
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MDST 555 / Kopár & Davis, Summer 2014
Dinner: individually
Accommodation in York (Premier Inn recommended)
Day 14 (5/28)
Breakfast: at hotel
Travel to US: flight and local transportation arranged individually
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