The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR3004 | Classics and Archaeology | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- CLAR3004
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The module explores the archaeological evidence for the creation and nature of Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian societies in England, from the withdrawal of the Late Roman imperial administration until the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest. A range of themes is explored. These include: the creation of Anglo-Saxon societies in different parts of England, from a combined heritage derived from northern Germany, southern Scandinavia and Britain itself; evidence of pagan beliefs and the conversion to Christianity; reflections of social hierarchy in rural settlement and cemetery evidence; transformations from central places to towns; political developments from the heptarchy to the unified Kingdom of England; the Viking impact on England in the ninth and tenth centuries; and eleventh-century England from the Danish to Norman conquests.
Target Students
Available to all Undergraduate level 2 and level 3 students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, Liberal Arts, exchange and subsidiary students, and Natural Sciences students on the Archaeology pathway.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 8 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
- One 1-hour laboratory each week for 2 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: 3500-words essay.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge of the archaeological reflections of societies in England, between 400 and 1100 CE. These crucial centuries, commonly referred to as the Anglo-Saxon period, provided the social foundations of English society still evident in the present day. The module will enable a detailed appreciation of the complexities of the social, political and economic transformations of the period.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
A student who completes this programme successfully should be able to:
•Explore in detail the material reflections of the creation of Anglo-Saxon societies in England, between 400 and 1100 CE.
•Show extensive knowledge of the forces which transformed societies in fifth- to eleventh-century England, through a thematic approach to analysis.
Intellectual
•Promote awareness of the complexities of interpreting information generated from archaeological remains, and to a certain extent, biological, textual and linguistic sources of evidence.
•Enable exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of current frameworks of interpretation relating to the perceived social foundations of England.
Professional or Practical Skills
•Students gain a practical appreciation of the methodological approaches taken to the archaeological evidence.
•Students are also introduced to artefacts, monuments and buildings that are of immediate relevance to anyone continuing to work in British archaeology professionally.
Transferable (Key) Skills
•Collation and synthesis of diverse sources of information through development of library skills and interrogation of web sites.
•Interpretation of graphical material and numerical data.
•Development of verbal presentation skills.
•Promotion of independent research skills, and presentation of critical argument and analysis through written assignments.