Overview

The later prehistoric archaeological record of the Irish Sea zone (primarily Ireland, Cornwall, Wales and Scotland) shares many common traits (e.g. the presence of megaliths) that suggest it might be considered a legitimate area of analysis. This module will explore the archaeological record of this region for the period 8000 - 1600BC, a period that saw major changes in climate, subsistence, settlement, and the treatment of the dead. The module draws from this rich prehistoric record to consider competing interpretations of interaction and isolation across both the Irish Sea, and along the western seaboard. Through seminars, based on set readings, the module will provide an intensive graduate-level induction to the prehistoric archaeology of the Irish Sea. The module will review recent interpretations of the archaeological evidence and examine key themes in current archaeology from a theoretical and comparative perspective.

Themes explored 1. The chronology of later prehistoric Britain and Ireland 2. The Irish Sea Zone as a unit of analysis 3. Mobility and sedintism 4. Monumentality 5. The nature of ritual practice 6. Prehistoric journeys 7. The nature of settlement 8. Materials and material culture 9. Mortuary practices and body-centred research

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Students in this band (C- to C+) will demonstrate a satisfactory range of achievement or depth of knowledge of most parts of the module, and will make successful, if occasionally inconsistent, attempts to develop those skills appropriate to the study of History at undergraduate level. In the case of the written assessments, the answers will attempt to focus on the question, although might drift into narrative, and will show some evidence of solid reading and research. The argument might lose direction and might not be adequately clear at the bottom of this category. Written work will be presented reasonably well with only limited errors in grammar, punctuation, and referencing, and not to the extent that they obscure meaning.

-good -Good students (B- to B+) will demonstrate a solid level of achievement and depth of knowledge in all the criteria in the C- to C+ range, and will in addition exhibit constructive engagement with different types of historical writing and historiographical interpretation. Ideas will be communicated effectively and written work will include a good range of sources/reading and demonstrate a clear understanding of the issues and of the existing interpretations expressed in a well-structured, relevant, and focused argument. Students at the top end of this band will engage with and critique the ideas that they come across, and synthesise the various interpretations they find to reach their own considered conclusions. Written work will be correctly presented with references and bibliography where appropriate.

-excellent -Excellent students (A- and above) will show strong achievement across all the criteria combined with particularly impressive depths of knowledge and/or subtlety of analysis. In written work, they will support their arguments with a wealth of relevant detail/examples. They will also demonstrate an acute awareness of the relevant historiography and give an account of why the conclusions reached are important within a particular historical debate. They may show a particularly subtle approach to possible objections, nuancing their argument in the light of counter-examples, or producing an interesting synthesis of various contrasting positions. Overall, the standards of content, argument, and analysis expected will be consistently superior to top upper-second work. Standards of presentation will also be high.

Learning Outcomes

• Be able to identify and review key themes and developments, drawing on relevant sites, projects and regional studies.

• Become familiar with a range important sites dating to the period and understand developments and changes in key regions of the study area.

• Demonstrate that they can relate the developments of the Later Prehistoric archaeology of the Irish Sea Zone to the wider frame of British and European prehistory.

• Gain a detailed understanding of the chronology of the Later Prehistory of the Irish Sea zone

• Gain a detailed understanding of theoretical debates relating to the Later Prehistoric archaeology of the Irish Sea zone and be aware of the most recent ideas and developments in the field.

• Recognise and understand differences between competing interpretations within Later Prehistoric archaeology.

• The ability to form and present arguments about ongoing discourses, differing interpretations and theoretical approaches.

• Understand the range of different societies, sites and material culture.