Ar2046: Earth Science Applications to the Archaeological Record: Geoarchaeology Assignment, UCC

Assessment

The assessment for this module will be in the form of a geoarchaeological project. This will have six components, following the structure of the online delivery (see below), which will include Panopto lectures, PDF papers, and other relevant material that will be made available through CANVAS. Do not use any other online resources unless recommended by BG. If you do find something you think may be suitable or relevant, check with me first!

Your project will follow this general structure; word count should be c. 5- 6000 words total. Whilst this may seem quite a lot of writing, think it as six essays of around 1000 words each. The project write up will be based on your lecture notes and recommended reading, I strongly advise that you complete the reading before moving onto the next part of the lecture schedule. Further details concerning the assessment will follow as the week progresses.

1) Introduction – Geoarchaeology – earth science applications to the archaeological record

a) General overview
b) Geoarchaeology in practice
c) Methods and techniques
d) Integrating records

2) Wetland geoarchaeology: peatland formation processes, geoarchaeological implications

a) Peatland formation processes: an overview
b) Lowland and upland peatlands
c) Geoarchaeological importance

3) Case study 1: lowland Irish peatlands – Lisheen

4) Case study 2: upland Irish blanket bogs – Barrees valley

5) Case study 3: rivers and fluvial processes: alluvial geoarchaeology

6) Conclusions and reflections