Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond
Get an introduction to studying archaeology, exploring exciting discoveries in the Vale of Pewsey, near to Stonehenge and Avebury.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond
Chart the progress of an archaeological excavation from dig to lab and beyond.
We’ll show you around our field school at the Vale of Pewsey, a relatively untouched site compared to its famous neighbour, Stonehenge.
An excavation is more than just digging with a trowel. You’ll investigate how and where to dig, collect, record and store precious finds and take a closer look at what you can learn from a discovery once you’ve found it.
One of the most intriguing finds of all is a burial site and you’ll examine the archaeological methods employed in the study of the dead. How can you recreate the life, health and occupation of an individual just from their skeletal remains?
Syllabus
Week 1
The Dig
Welcome to our virtual field school
Welcome to the course. Meet the course Educators and find out what will be covered over the next two weeks on Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond.
Preparing and planning a dig
How do we decide where to dig? Find out more about the planning processes behind a large scale excavation.
History of the Vale of Pewsey
Let's start by looking into the history of the Vale of Pewsey from the Mesolithic period up to the Post-medieval. Then we'll focus on 4000 BC, and ask what was life like in England during the Neolithic period?
Unearthing Marden and Wilsford Henge
Aerial mapping by Historic England uncovered previously unknown archaeological landscapes preserved between Stonehenge and Avebury. In this activity, you'll look at the work carried out so far at these newly identified sites.
The field school
What happens day-to-day on a large excavation such as the field school? Meet the people behind the scenes who ensure everything runs smoothly and find out why an excavation is not just about digging.
The discoveries
The Vale of Pewsey is an archaeological treasure chest and we've found a vast assortment of objects from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Roman periods. Here we look at three of these discoveries in more detail.
Week 2
The Lab
Welcome to week two
Last week, we explored a large archaeological excavation and what happens to the discoveries once dug up. But not all archaeological work is done in the field. This week, we'll focus on the lab.
The life of an apprentice
Watch how a skeleton can be analysed in order to identify the age and biological sex of the individual.
Health of the apprentice
What can the study of bones tell us about medieval life? Let's look at what stable isotope analysis is and how it can be used to identify migrants, such as apprentices, to medieval cities.
Museums
What happens to a discovery once it has been analysed in the lab? Let's discuss whether all objects can and should, be displayed for the general public to view.
Review and reflect
Thank you for joining us on Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond. As we reach the end of the course let's think about next steps.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
If you'd like to take part while our educators are leading the course, they'll be joining the discussions, in the comments, between these dates:
- 13 Jun 2022 - 26 Jun 2022
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain how an archaeological dig works, from the planning stages, through excavation, to the analysis and storage of artefacts
- Summarise the basic characteristics of all archaeological periods from the Mesolithic to the post-medieval period (c.8000 BC–AD 1900)
- Describe the main ways in which archaeologists analyse human skeletons
- Debate some of the key issues facing archaeology today
- Understand the transferable skills you will acquire from studying archaeology
Who is the course for?
No prior experience of archaeology is needed. This course is designed for anyone interested in studying an archaeology degree at university. However, anyone with an enthusiastic interest in archaeology is very welcome to join us too.
Who will you learn with?
Duncan Garrow teaches and researches later European prehistory (with a particular focus on Britain) and archaeological theory at the University of Reading.
I am a human bioarchaeologist (bone specialist) specialising in the recognition of disease in children and adolescents. I am a lecturer at Reading and run an MSc in Professional Human Osteoarchaeology
I am a field archaeologist who has worked on excavations of all periods, all over the world. I specialise in the teaching of archaeological field techniques, and organising large excavation projects.
Who developed the course?
University of Reading
The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.
| Recommended | |||
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe to Unlimited | Join with limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $59 One-off payment | $27.99/month Automatically renews | Free |
| Unlock your expertise | Access hundreds of courses | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 2 weeks |
| Access to ALL eligible courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Ways to learn
Subscribe to Unlimited to access this course and hundreds of other short courses or buy just this course for extra benefits. Or, join with limited access.
Subscribe to Unlimited
$27.99/month
Automatically renews
Access hundreds of courses
- Access to this course
- Access to ALL eligible short courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Buy this course
$59
One-off payment
Unlock your expertise
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Join with limited access
Free
Try before you buy
- Limited access to course content for 2 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.
Get a taste of this course
Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:
Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #FLdigtolab to talk about this course on social media.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in History
