Archaeology 4: Archaeology and Society

The first part of this module will provide students with a clear understanding of the history of antiquarian and archaeological thought and the development of the discipline of archaeology in its historical context, particularly in Ireland and Britain. The second part of the  module shows why anthropology (the study of present day non-Western societies) is closely allied to archaeology (the study of societies in the past through material culture). Through focusing on such topics as ritual, houses, gender, political organisation and the material world, the variety between different cultures will be discussed, along with the ways in which anthropologists interpret them.

1. Trace the historical development of archaeology as a discipline

2. Comprehend the ways in which we interpret the past

3. Have gained an introduction to the variety of human social practices, and the implications of this for archaeologists.

4. Have learned how cross-cultural comparisons of ancient civilizations have led to insights regarding the emergence of cultural complexity, city life, social classes and other modern social phenomena.