Students are offered an integrated range of subjects dealing with past cultures of the mediterranean area and the source material that survives for their study. Proceeding with a major sequence in the area, students will learn how a site is excavated, how it and its contents are dated, and how the evidence from the ground can be deployed on a broad front towards interpretation.
Archaeology is defined in its broadest sense as the reconstruction of societies in every aspect on the basis of all surviving data. Consequently, material culture, social structure, religious beliefs and cultural philosophy are considered in conjunction. Where present, documentary evidence is stressed.
The cultures examined include those of Egypt, Minoan Crete, Mainland Greece, and Etruscan Italy. Archaeological theory and practice are studied through an analysis of the work of leading archaeologists, excavation reports, and the evolution of dating techniques.
Archaeology and anthropology are an ideal combination, and since archaeology plays a major role in the reconstruction of all but the most recent past it can be a valuable adjunct to a variety of historical and cultural studies.
First-year, minor and major sequences.
A first-year sequence in archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean comprises the compulsory unit ARY1020 and a further unit from AHY1030, AHY1040, CCV1050 and ANY1010 (Introduction to anthropology).
A minor sequence comprises a first-year sequence followed by second-year level subjects to the value of sixteen points.
A major sequence comprises a minor sequence followed by third-year level subjects to the value of sixteen points, plus eight points of work chosen from either second or third-year level units.
Inclusion of ARY2760/3760 in minor and major sequences is compulsory.
Subjects available for inclusion in minor and/or major sequences are the following:
* ARY2570/3570 Minoans and Myceneans
* ARY2760/3760 Dating in archaeology
* ARY2780/3780 Minoan problems
* ARY2970/3970 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 6000-1550 BC
* ARY2990/3990 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 1550-30 BC
* ARY3550 Coins, the archaeologist and the ancient historian
* ARY3930 Imperial Egypt and the Mediterranean world
* ARY3950 Greek and Roman Egypt
* AHY2770/3770 Ancient Greek reading course A
* AHY2790/3790 Ancient Greek reading course B
* AHY2810/3810 Language and sources of ancient history (Greek option)
* AHY2590/3590 Jerusalem, Alexandria and Rome
Honours
A fourth-year honours course is projected in 1995 for students whose major sequence grades conform to faculty admission requirements. First-year students who are considering the possiblity of proceeding to honours work in the subject should note that full access to the ancient past involves knowledge of the languages of evidential documents and texts. Much significant modern work in archaeology and related areas is in languages other than English and translations are not available. Given these realities, we suggest that prior to entering fourth year, students contemplating honours take a departmental unit in Ancient Greek (AHY2810/3810 or AHY2770/3770 plus AHY2790/3790) as part of their major sequence in archaeology, or an introductory unit of any of French, German, Italian and Modern Greek outside the sequence's framework. At fourth-year level, two special language units will be available either of which may be taken as a special subject. The first will be an introductory course on Middle Egyptian and the second a reading course in Ancient Greek.
Graduate work
The department may be able to provide or contribute supervision in certain areas. Interested students must consult one of the coordinators. For details, see the Arts graduate handbook for 1995.
First-year level
Coordinators: P J Bicknell and C A Hope
* ARY1020 Pioneers of Mediterranean archaeology
* AHY1030 The age of Athens
* AHY1040 Rome: from Etruscan satellite to world state
* CCV1050 Myth into culture
* ANY1010 Introduction to anthropology
If included within any anthropology sequence ANY1010 cannot, naturally, also count as part of an archaeology sequence; similarly, AHY1030 and AHY1040 and CCV1050 cannot be included in more than one sequence.
Second-year level
Coordinators: P J Bicknell and C A Hope
Prerequisite for second-year archaeology subjects: a first-year sequence in archaeology. Additional prerequisite for AHY2790: AHY2770.
* ARY2570 Minoans and Myceneans
* ARY2760 Dating in archaeology
* ARY2970 The archaeology and history of ancient Egypt: 6000-1550 BC
* ARY2990 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 1550-30 BC
* AHY2770 Ancient Greek reading course A
* AHY2790 Ancient Greek reading course B
* AHY2810 Language and sources of ancient history (Greek option)
* AHY2590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict
Third-year level
Coordinators: P J Bicknell and C A Hope
Prerequisite for third-year archaeology subjects: A minor sequence in archaeology.
Additional prerequisite for ARY3930: ARY2970 or ARY2990.
Additional prerequisite for AHY3790: AHY3770.
Compulsory unit within a major sequence: ARY2760/3760.
In the case of all options offered at both second and third-year levels the teaching hours and course syllabus are identical. Assessment at third-year level is more rigorous.
* ARY3550 Coins, the archaeologist and the ancient historian
* ARY3570 Minoans and Myceneans
* ARY3760 Dating in archaeology
* ARY3780 Minoan problems
* ARY3930 Imperial Egypt and the Mediterranean world
* ARY3970 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 6000-1550 BC
* ARY3990 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 1550-30 BC
* AHY3770 Ancient Greek reading course A
* AHY3790 Ancient Greek reading course B
* AHY3810 Language and sources of ancient history (Greek option)
* AHY3590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict