Un

derg

radu

ate

stud

y20

11

Archaeology

Archaeology at Hull | 1

Applying forarchaeology at Hull:FAQs | 4

About the degreecourses | 6

Teaching andlearning | 8

Fieldwork | 12

Who’s who on theacademic staff | 14

Careers for archaeologygraduates | 16

Degree course UCAS code Standard offer

BA Archaeology and Medieval History VV41 BA/AMH 300 points

BA Art History and Archaeology VV34 BA/AHA 300 points

BSc Geography and Archaeology FF84 BSc/GeA 240–300 points

BA History and Archaeology VV14 BA/HA 300 points

BA Geography and Archaeology LV74 BA/GeA 240–300

We welcome applications from mature or overseas candidates and from those withqualifications other than A and AS levels.

Information and enquiries

Geography and ArchaeologyAdmissions TutorDepartment of GeographyUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 465575geog@hull.ac.uk

History or Art History and ArchaeologyKay NockAdmissions CoordinatorFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 466191k.e.nock@hull.ac.uk

BA Archaeology (part-time)Dr John WalkerPart-Time CoordinatorDepartment of HistoryUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 465490j.walker@hull.ac.uk

General enquiriesAny enquiries about the archaeological content of the courses should beaddressed to

Dr Helen FenwickDepartment of HistoryUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 465543h.fenwick@hull.ac.uk

Dates of semestersSemester 127 Sep – 16 Dec 2011

Semester 230 Jan – 11 May 2012

Key facts

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 1

Archaeology is a well-established area of research at the University of Hulland can be studied at degree level alongside geography, history or art history.These degree courses are taught by members of the successful Departments ofGeography and History, who have a wide range of archaeological interestsand experience, and by members of the wider archaeological community. Alldegrees are available full-time and part-time. A part-time degree inArchaeology is also available, and archaeology can be studied part-time tocertificate or diploma level via courses offered by the Department of History.

The modularised degree structure provides training in core areas of the subjects,while offering you a wide range of choice across the breadth of the disciplines.Whichever modules you choose, we aim to provide a stimulating and supportiveenvironment in which you can enhance your understanding of these fascinatingsubjects, and to provide you with both academic and practical skills that will bevalued by potential employers.

The Department of GeographyThe Department of Geography at Hull provides a wide range of courses andfacilities, and its staff have a diverse set of specialist skills and areas of expertiseencompassing most aspects of archaeology as well as geography.

The department is located in the attractive Cohen Building. It contains a wide rangeof modern, well-equipped teaching facilities, including lecture theatres and seminarrooms, laboratories and networked computer areas. The University Map Room,housed within the building, provides excellent facilities for private study and aninformation service for students.

The Department of HistoryThe department’s academic staff maintain the traditions of scholarship establishedby renowned historians such as A G Dickens, John Kenyon and Richard Vaughan.The department offers a diverse range of modules, including British, European,medieval, modern, economic, social, American and Asian history, along with arthistory and archaeology. Hull’s strong maritime past is reflected in the department’sMaritime Historical Studies Centre, which offers both undergraduate andpostgraduate courses.

The Department of History, with its computer suite and seminar rooms, is locatedon the main campus, while the maritime research centre is based at Blaydes Housein Hull’s Old Town.

Archaeology at Hull

Studentson

ourA

rchaeology

programmes

benefitfrom

ouron-campusWetland

ArchaeologyandEnvironm

entsResearch

Centre,w

hich

specialises

inpast

human–landscape

interactions

andthepreservatio

nofwaterlogged

buria

lenviro

nments.

Dig it

Naturally, fieldwork is an essentialcomponent of our degrees. Most modules

take advantage of regional archaeology withday fieldtrips as part of the teaching.

All students undertake fieldwork during thesummer vacation allowing them to developboth practical skills as well as social skillsmixing with other students and volunteers.No wonder our graduates gave our history

and archaeology programmes a 93%satisfaction rating in the 2009 National

Student Survey

Archaeology4

What archaeology degrees are offered at Hull?Six degree courses are currently offered:

• BA Archaeology and Medieval History• BA Art History and Archaeology• BSc Geography and Archaeology• BA Geography and Archaeology• BA History and Archaeology• BA Archaeology (part-time)

The three-year full-time courses can also be studied part-time over a longer period. The part-time BA Archaeologyis studied over six years.

A Certificate in Archaeology and a Diploma inArchaeology and the Landscape are also offered by theUniversity. Both are studied part-time over two years.Modules from these can also lead to a part-time degree inHistory and Archaeology or in Archaeology.

What qualifications will I need?Offers for entry to the degree courses usually lie in therange of 240–300 UCAS tariff points either from three Alevel subjects or from two A level subjects plus one ortwo AS subjects. Geography at A level is not aprerequisite for the Geography and Archaeology courses,though we do prefer Geography at AS level. It is notnecessary to have any qualifications in History for thehistory programmes.

Do you encourage applications from overseascandidates and from those with qualificationsother than A and AS levels?Yes, the University encourages applications from peopleof all backgrounds. We consider applicants on the basisof academic qualifications at Level 3 (A level orequivalent) and/or on the basis of other relevantknowlege and skills. If you lack the usual academicqualifications, you are encouraged to contact therelevant department for informal discussion beforesubmitting an application.

Will I be interviewed and may I visit thedepartments?Provisional decisions on most applications are madewithout interview, on the basis of information shown inthe UCAS application. Applicants are then invited toattend one of the regular open days. The open day allowsapplicants and their parents to meet and talk with staffand students informally and to tour the departments, theUniversity campus and student accommodation.

How many places are available on the degreecourses?We aim to admit up to around 20 students to each of thedegree courses.

Who do I contact for further information aboutadmissions?For the Geography and Archaeology courses, contact

Admissions TutorDepartment of GeographyUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 465575geog@hull.ac.uk

For the BAs with history or art history, contact

Kay NockAdmissions CoordinatorFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 466191k.e.nock@hull.ac.uk

If you have a UCAS personal ID, please quote it in allcorrespondence.

For the part-time BA Archaeology or the Certificate orDiploma in Archaeology, contact

Dr John WalkerDepartment of HistoryUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 465490j.walker@hull.ac.uk

Applying for archaeology atHull: FAQs

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 5

Archaeology6

ModularisationAll courses at the University of Hull are modular andteaching takes place under a semester system, theacademic year being divided into two semesters of 14and 16 weeks. Students take 120 credits each year.Archaeology modules are taught in both the GeographyDepartment and the History Department, and studentsmake selections across departments. All first-yearstudents on the joint courses take the same two corearchaeology modules in the first year.

BSc or BA Geography and ArchaeologyThe integration of geography and archaeology offers younumerous opportunities to pursue careers inarchaeology, environmental arenas and geography.

The lively mix between geography and archaeologyensures that students benefit from involvement in anexpanding department with an exciting research culture.The courses emphasise practical skills, thereby ensuringthat graduates enter their professional life equipped witha wide range of abilities and a positive approach to bothindividual and team-based activities.

The three-year BSc Joint Honours Geography andArchaeology degree is aimed at students with an interestin the environmental and ecological sciences. The courseincorporates the essential elements of both disciplines ina way that ensures students gain a practical-baseddegree focusing on wetlands (both archaeological andecological), landscape evolution processes and theeffects of natural and human agencies on the landscape.

The three-year BA Joint Honours Geography andArchaeology course is designed for students who havean interest in the human elements of geography.

BA History and ArchaeologyThis course allows great flexibility, offering a wide rangeof choices within the History Department. In the firstyear you undertake core modules introducing you toskills within history and archaeology, and can thenchoose from a list of more specific modules. In thesecond and third years the wide choice of modulesallows you to gain insights into different periods anddiverse geographical areas. In your third year youundertake a dissertation on a topic of your own choice.You can also choose one of the free elective modulesoffered by other departments, although you may studyonly history and archaeology modules if you prefer.

BA Archaeology and Medieval HistoryThis course allows you to specialise in one particulararea of history, the medieval period, in conjunction witharchaeology. It offers the same wealth of archaeologymodules as the BA History and Archaeology course, butthe other half of your course is built from the wideselection of medieval history options available in thedepartment. You can opt in your final year to take aSpecial Subject which allows you the opportunity toundertake an in-depth study of a particular period andtheme in medieval history.

BA Art History and ArchaeologyThis course brings together two of the specialistdisciplines found within the History Department. In thefirst year you undertake a range of core modules, both inart history and in archaeology. These provide afoundation for your selections from a range of options inthe second and third years. Art history modules includeLeonardo, Michaelangelo and Raphael; Art and Life inRenaissance Venice; Modern Art and the ModernistDebate; and The Pre-Raphaelites and Pre-Raphaelitism.The archaeology modules are explored later in thisbrochure.

BA Archaeology (part-time)This course builds on the established Certificate inArchaeology and Diploma in Archaeology and theLandscape, allowing you to study archaeology over sixyears, within a framework which allows you to take allclasses during the evening or at weekends.

The first two years of the course provide core moduleswhich introduce you to the methods and theories ofarchaeology and to the main periods within archaeology.From Year 3 onwards you can select a range of modulesfrom those available in the evening, and, if yoursituation allows, this range can be extended by selectionof modules offered during the daytime. All studentscomplete a dissertation in their sixth year of study.

About the degree courses

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed mytime at Hull and have adaptedwell to academic work, withsupport from the friendly staff.Archaeology has become sucha passion that in between myfirst and second years I spentthe entire summer onexcavations. Meeting studentsfrom other universities, I foundthat the course at Hullprovides a good grounding inmany theoretical and practicalperspectives which are notalways covered in largerdepartments. I feel that thesmaller groups at Hull haveallowed a much more in-depthapproach to learning and haveengaged students in importantcurrent debates. If you’reinterested in the past and wantto learn in a supportiveenvironment, then Hull is theplace.’

DaneWrightBA History and Archaeology

Archaeology 7

As well as receivingsupport from tutors,each student isassigned a supervisorwho looks after theiracademic andpersonal well-beingthroughout theduration of theirdegree.

Archaeology8

Teaching methodsWe use a variety of teaching methods – lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussiongroups, practical classes and fieldwork. All students can attend practical classes incomputing as part of the transferable skills programme, and all are involved infieldwork.

Assessment methodsMost modules are assessed by exercises, essays, seminar presentations or projectreports. In all the courses these account for approximately 50% of the total marksavailable, depending on the year of study and the modules taken, withexaminations making up the remainder of the assessment.

ResourcesThe departments’ teaching rooms and laboratories are complemented by theUniversity Map Room, within the Cohen Building, which provides resources and aprivate study area for students. The Brynmor Jones Library (the University’s mainlibrary, situated close to both departments) has an extensive range of archaeology,geography and history books and periodicals, and provides around 300 computersfor student use. Both departments also have dedicated computer rooms, and thereis a specialist GIS lab located within the Cohen Building.

An archaeology resource room is available for students. Located within the HistoryDepartment, this allows access to excavation reports, drawing facilities andreference collections.

Student supportThe work of both departments is based on close personal contact between staff andstudents. As well as receiving support from tutors, each student is assigned asupervisor who looks after their academic and personal well-being throughout theduration of their degree course. Students also benefit from the support of technicalstaff and postgraduate teaching assistants. Although supervisors are sympatheticand experienced in dealing with students’ concerns, the University also provides aprofessional and confidential Counselling Service. Other sources of assistanceinclude the students’ union Advice Centre and tutors in halls of residence.

Study areasThe modules offered reflect the varied research interests of the academic staff andcover a wide range of subjects across the whole spectrum of archaeology, asillustrated by the list below. Details of the Geography and History modules can befound in their own subject pamphlets and on their websites.

The modules offered may change from time to time in accordance with changingstaff interests and availability, but the list provides a useful indication of thebreadth of areas currently available for study.

First yearBritish ArchaeologyThis module introduces you to the main archaeological periods and the types ofassociated features and sites, drawing on examples from across the British Isles.

Teaching andlearning

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 9

Archaeology: History, Theory and MethodBefore you undertake your first training excavation in the summer vacation at theend of the first year, this course introduces you to the different archaeologicalmethods and the theories behind archaeological interpretation. It also introducesyou to the wider world of archaeology and the part it plays in current policies.

Cities and Civilisations: Art and Archaeology in ContextFocusing on Athens, Rome, York and Florence as case studies, archaeology and arthistory are used to explore the intriguing relationship between art and society, inparticular the relationship between the art of classical Greece and Rome and that ofthe Renaissance which it inspired.

Second yearArchaeology – Field Method ProcedureThis module is based around a three-week training excavation in the summervacation at the end of the first year. The training excavation introduces you to awide range of techniques such as excavation, geophysical survey, field walking andsurveying. You then write a report on your experiences and evaluate the methodsused.

The Archaeology of Roman BritainThis module examines evidence for Roman Britain through a study of the army,towns, the countryside, everyday life, crafts and industry, and religion and ritual. Itconsiders the degree to which Britain was Romanised and the various opinions ofarchaeologists about this and related areas of debate.

Britons, Angles, Saxons and Vikings: The Archaeology of Early MedievalEnglandOnce referred to as the Dark Ages, it is now more usual to refer to the era betweenthe end of Roman Britain and 1066 as the early medieval period. Archaeology hasshown this time to be far from ‘dark’ and has enabled us to flesh out a fascinatingstory provided by the sometimes problematic documentary sources. This moduleexamines the evidence for Anglo-Saxon and Viking occupation, largely drawn fromexcavated burials, settlements and other material remains.

Research Skills and GIS for ArchaeologistsThis module imparts a basic understanding of the use of GIS (geographicalinformation systems) in archaeology and helps you develop a research strategy forthe dissertation which you will undertake in the third year.

Mayans, Aztecs and Incas: Ritual, Sacrifice and Cities in Pre-ColumbianAmericaThis module explores the development of the great civilisations of the Americas,including the Aztecs, Maya and Incas. By examining the archaeological evidence,we assess the nature of settlement and ritual among these spectacular cultures.

The Earlier Prehistory of East YorkshireThe development of the region of East Yorkshire from the Palaeolithic to the end ofthe Bronze Age is examined, with reference to environment, settlement, industry,ritual, burial and material culture.

Archaeology10

Third yearWetland ArchaeologyThis module examines the different types of evidence and sites that are uncoveredin wetland areas with good preservation of archaeological materials, and thespecialist techniques that are needed to undertake excavation in these conditions.

Hunter-Gatherer to FarmerThis module examines the key issues relating to the shift from the exploitation of‘wild’ to the use of ‘domesticated’ resources. It studies the concepts relating toperceptions of hunting-gathering and farming, and how these change over a widegeographical area.

The Parisi: Iron Age and Roman East YorkshireThe Parisi were the people who, according to Ptolemy, occupied eastern Yorkshireduring the Roman period, and possibly in the Iron Age. We aim to explore thenature of these people through examination of the archaeological evidence forsettlements, territorial division, burial, and trade and industry.

The Archaeology of the CastleCastles are an icon of the medieval period. This module examines the developmentof the castle in England and Wales, examining the military and social aspects ofthese magnificent structures.

DissertationYou undertake a piece of original research on a topic of your own choice in the thirdyear. You are assigned a dissertation supervisor who offers advice on the choice oftopic and preparation of the dissertation.

Additional modulesAdditional modules are available in the form of free electives (see the inner backcover) and include

World ArchaeologyThis module provides an introduction to some of the world’s most famousarchaeological sites, looking at the development of the great civilisations of Egypt,Mesopotamia and, the Indus Valley as well as the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas.

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 11

In the second year,the Field Study andResearch Designmodule involves amajor overseas fieldcourse – currentvenues include Spain,Italy, France andTenerife.

Archaeology12

For many students, fieldwork is one of the highlights of their degree, and atHull we regard field teaching as a vital part of our courses. ‘The field’ is theultimate archaeological laboratory, and learning to work in it is crucial to yourdevelopment as an archaeologist. Fieldwork involves the use of techniques ofobservation, information recording and interpretation, and provides a deeperunderstanding of archaeological methods and remains.

Fieldwork plays an important part in each year of the courses. For Geography andArchaeology students, it begins soon after arrival when all new students attend aresidential field weekend, usually in Scarborough. This introduces the geographyand archaeology of the local area (especially the Yorkshire Wolds and the NorthYork Moors National Park) and themes, concepts and techniques which aredeveloped in the core skills module and tutorials. In the second year, the FieldStudy and Research Design module involves a major overseas field course – currentvenues include Spain, Italy, France and Tenerife.

Local fieldwork is integral to many modules in all three years. For History andArchaeology students fieldwork is incorporated into most modules, capitalising onthe region’s rich archaeological heritage and expanding upon what is learnt oncampus by providing hands-on experience.

All students are required to undertake fieldwork training during the summervacation in their first year (usually for a minimum of three weeks). You gain basicskills on one of the training excavations run by the University, or you can elect tojoin an approved training excavation elsewhere. Fieldwork skills are not directlyassessed thereafter, but you are expected to undertake a more active role and assessyour own development by continuing to improve your skills.

Fieldwork in the local areaDay excursions are linked to individual modules and to the wide and variedarchaeological heritage of Hull and its region. Extensive use is made of the Hull andEast Riding Museum in the city’s Museums Quarter, which has one of the bestarchaeological collections in the country: an extensive collection of Neolithic andBronze Age artefacts, the largest Iron Age boat in the country, one of the bestcollections of Roman mosaics, and new Anglo-Saxon and medieval galleries.

Archaeological sites of international importance in East Yorkshire include thefamous Mesolithic site at Star Carr; Britain’s tallest standing stone at Rudston,surrounded by a ritual landscape of burial mounds and cursus monuments; and thegreat abbeys and monasteries of North Yorkshire, such as Fountains and Rievaulx.At nearby York, you can examine the development of a settlement from the Romanperiod to the present, and the use of archaeology within the tourism industry.Current University projects include the Brodsworth Community ArchaeologyProject, which is investigating the landscape of eight parishes in South Yorkshire.Here excavations have revealed Iron Age and Roman farmsteads and complexlandscape changes around the local church. The project is jointly run with theDepartment of Archaeology at Sheffield University.

Fieldwork costsAll our field excursions are subsidised by the University. In Geography, there isusually no charge for day excursions, but you are asked to contribute approximatelyhalf of the costs of travel and accommodation for residential classes. Similarly,History asks students to contribute towards some of the fieldwork costs. Every effortis made to provide free places on University training excavations in the first year.

Fieldwork

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 13

The variedspecialisms of thedepartment’sacademic staff allowus to offer a diverserange of modules,including British,European, medieval,modern, economic,social, American andAsian history, alongwith art history andarchaeology.

Archaeology14

Andrew Ayton (History) specialises in the social and military history of latermedieval England.

John G Bernasconi (History) is a specialist in Italian Renaissance art andparticularly the art and civilisation of Venice.

Jane Bunting (Geography) is a palaeoecologist with interests in environmentalchange, prehistoric human impacts on the landscape and woodland history.

David Crouch (History) is Professor of Medieval History and has specialist interestsin 12th- and 13th-century British history.

Helen Fenwick (History) is a landscape archaeologist with specialist interests inmedieval landscape evolution and world archaeology, especially Egyptology.

Graham Ferrier (Geography) is a specialist in EOS (earth observation science)applications and environmental modelling.

Richard Gorski (History) specialises in medieval and modern maritime history.

Peter Halkon (History) is a specialist in landscape archaeology, particularly of theEast Yorkshire region, with emphasis on the Iron Age and Roman periods.

Julian Haseldine (History) specialises in the cultural and political history of Europein the Middle Ages.

Malcolm Lillie (Geography) is Programme Leader for Geography and Archaeology.He has specialist interests in wetlands and geoarchaeology, and in human–landscape interactions at the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in Eastern Europe.

Alison Price-Moir (History) has interests in the history of art and specialises inmodern art.

Jane Reed (Geography) specialises in environmental change and the study of lakes.

Barbara Rumsby (Geography) has a particular interest in river response toenvironmental change.

David J Starkey (History) is a lecturer in maritime history with specialist interests inprivateering and modern maritime history.

John Walker (History) is a medieval and local historian whose interests range from12th- and 13th-century English political and religious history to the history of EastYorkshire in the Middle Ages and the early modern period.

Who’s who on theacademic staff

Archaeologywww.hull.ac.uk 15

All of ourarchaeology degreesprovide excellentopportunities foremployment aftergraduation, not leastbecause of thebreadth of subject-specific andtransferable skillsthat you will acquire.

Archaeology16

To help students plan their future after graduation, the University offers afirst-class Careers Service, whose success is manifested in the employmentsuccess rate of our graduates – the University of Hull is consistently near thetop of league tables in this important area.

All the archaeology degrees provide excellent opportunities for employment aftergraduation, not least because of the breadth of the skills that are acquired duringboth the subject-specific and the transferable skills modules. The choice of careersis wide-ranging, including some where the ‘archaeology’ is put to direct use, suchas archaeological site assistants, the museum profession and jobs with agenciessuch as English Heritage, but also many more where our graduates’ flexible skillsreap dividends in the wider job market – management, financial services,computing, marketing, public administration, transport, tourism, the media …

For some careers, further qualifications are important, and an increasing proportionof graduates go on to postgraduate study – pursuing, for example, MA, MSc andPhD degrees, the PGCE teaching certificate and various professional qualifications,especially in the financial services sector, business management, and town andcountry planning.

Careers forarchaeology graduates

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a unique experience. We aimto provide you with an education that offers both depth and breadth ofknowledge. To meet these ends the University has developed an optional FreeElective Scheme. This scheme enables the majority of undergraduate studentsto take one module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free elective module from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus. You can even take a module from anotherfaculty. The catalogue of free electives might include

• Critical Approaches (literature module)• Politics and International Studies• Space Science: Fact and Fiction• Anarchism and Contemporary Global Protest• The Middle Ages Go to the Movies• Women and Politics• The Politics of the European Union• Passport modules in foreign languages• Science and Society• Screening Europe’s Past• Introduction to Medieval Culture• The Idea of Europe• Field Studies in Marine Biology• Introduction to Psychology

What are the main reasons for participating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity to study a subject without having to

commit yourself to taking further modules in that subject area.• By taking a free elective you are able to follow up your interests as part of your

degree.• With a broader education you may acquire extra skills that will help you when

you enter the employment market.

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided

in this pamphlet is intended as a

general guide and cannot cover all

possibilities. Entry requirements

are generally stated in terms of A

level grades and/or UCAS points,

but we encourage applications

from people with a wide range of

other qualifications and/or

experience. Some further details of

the various entry routes are

included in our general prospectus.

Please contact the Admissions

Service (see below) with any

specific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intended

principally as a guide for

prospective students. The matters

covered by it – academic and

otherwise – are subject to change

from time to time, both before and

after students are admitted, and

the information contained in it

does not form part of any contract.

While every reasonable precaution

was taken in the production of this

brochure, the University does not

accept liability for any

inaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write

to

Admissions Service

University of Hull

Hull, HU6 7RX

T 01482 466100

F 01482 442290

E admissions@hull.ac.uk

Free Elective Scheme

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits

20 credits

Here you take modules from yourmain course of study.

Here you have the option to take afree elective or another module fromyour main course of study.

Unusually for the period,the Iron-Age tribes who occupiedEast Yorkshire interred their deadin graves. As a result, the burial

sites are uncommonly wellpreserved and some of the finest

Iron-Age artefacts in Europe havebeen unearthed in this region.

Change the way you think.

ww

w.hull.ac.uk