- Overview
- Module description
Understanding the Landscape of Medieval Britain (ARC2401)
| Staff | Professor Stephen Rippon - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 15 |
| ECTS Value | 7.5 |
| NQF Level | |
| Pre-requisites | ARC1020; not done ARC3401 |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
The module will develop an appreciation of the principles, methodologies and source material of landscape archaeology using examples drawn from medieval Britain. The module will consider the factors influencing the development of the medieval countryside in both time and space.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Outline techniques most appropriate for studying the medieval landscape in particular circumstances.
- 2. Identify marked regional and temporal variations within the structure of the medieval landscape within the context of major landscape concepts.
- 3. Understand the range of techniques available to the landscape archaeologists studying this period.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. Produce a competent overview/synthesis of a particular issue.
- 5. Evaluate case-studies and use appropriate examples/case-studies.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 6. Produce clear and concise written work.
- 7. Adhere to deadlines.
Syllabus plan
Introduction: the concepts of landscape archaeology (2 hrs)
Historic landscape characterisation and regional variation (2 hrs)
Methods: archaeology and palaeoenvironmental evidence (2 hrs)
Methods: maps and documents (2 hrs)
The Roman/Medieval transition (2 hrs)
Landscape reorganisation (1 hr)
Fields and estates (1 hr)
Landuse and resource exploitation (1 hr)
The late medieval period (1 hr)
Case-study: coastal wetlands (2 hrs)
Conclusions/revision
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | 112 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 32 | |
| Seminar | 4 | |
| Tutorial | 2 |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 40 | 2000 Words | 1-7 | written and verbal |
| Exam | 60 | 1 hour | 1-6 | written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-7 | Referred/deferred period |
| Exam | Exam | 1-6 | Referred/deferred period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Astill, G. and Grant, A. 1988: The Countryside of Medieval England (Oxford)
Aston, M. 1985: Interpreting the Landscape (London)
Cantor, L. 1982: The English Medieval Landscape (London)
Rackham, O. 1986: A History of the Countryside (London)
Rippon, S. 1997: The Gwent Levels: landscape evolution and wetland reclamation (York)
Taylor, C. 1983: Village and Farmstead (London)
The Agrarian History of England and Wales
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Available as distance learning?
No
Last revision date
May 2009
Key words search
Medieval, landscape, Britain
