AS and A2 level Archaeology

AS and A2 level Archaeology

Have you have ever wondered about life, the universe and everything? Just what is Stonehenge? What was it for? Who built it and why? If the idea of finding out the truth about the past by examining the objects left behind appeals to you, then Archaeology is the course for you!

WHAT WILL I BE STUDYING ON THE COURSE?
The AS units are:

·The Archaeology of Religion and Ritual
- a
study of one of the key themes in world archaeology which focuses on belief systems and actual activities related to such beliefs. Who built Stonehenge and Avebury? What were they for and why did so many people want to be buried near them? What is their significance? All these questions and more about our ancient past will be discussed.

·Archaeological Skills and Methods
- i
ntroduces you to the basic skills and methods of practical archaeology such as air photo analysis, map reading, landscape reading and other desk top studies. This unit takes you through the various stages of archaeological site investigation, from the formation of sites through discovery, recording, excavation and dating to interpretation.

Each unit contributes 50% to the total AS level mark and is 25% of the total A level marks.

The A2 units are:

·World Archaeology
- i
n this unit, you study at least two of three set themes:People
and Society in the Past
,Sites and People in the Landscape,orEconomics and Material Culture.
There will also be a further study on contemporary issues in world archaeology such as Archaeology and Society, Cultural Resource Management and Archaeology and Archaeologists.

·Archaeological Investigation
- i
n this unit you will be required to submit a Personal Study based on fieldwork and research. The fieldwork may be based on surviving evidence from any period or area of the past. The study consists of between 3500-4000 words.

Each unit contributes 25% of the total A level marks.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING IN CLASS AND BEYOND?
You will be involved in a range of activities in Archaeology, through a wide variety of methods including illustrated lectures, practical work, field trips, group work, discussions, presentations, video and ICT work. You develop the written skills necessary to produce effective answers to essay questions and to shorter structured questions. Class work will be supplemented through field trips, visits to sites, museums and other places of interest.



HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
All units are assessed by examination and, at A2, practical research in the form of a Personal Study.

WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS CAN I DO WITH ARCHAEOLOGY?

Archaeology is a wide ranging subject that covers aspects of almost all of the major disciplines in both humanities and the sciences. As such it is an ideal companion subject, especially for those wanting a more practical insight into the ancient world.

AND AFTER THE COURSE?
As well as providing a foundation for a career in archaeology or an associated area such as Heritage Management, Archaeology will develop transferable skills in the following areas: research skills, ICT skills, map reading, note taking and essay writing. You will learn to interpret a wide range of data from different sources, understand specialist terms, and apply logic. A study of Archaeology includes the application of knowledge, appropriate selection of materials, and an evaluation of sources and arguments.