ARMSA: Reconstructing the past: Scientific Advances

Module code: ARMSA

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Peter Bray, email: p.j.bray@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module offers an overview of various scientific techniques commonly used in archaeology. It will be structured around the Department’s principal science research groups including: materials science, environmental archaeology and palaeoproteomics (the study of ancient proteins).

The module will provide you with an overview of the current debates in archaeological science; an introduction to key underlying concepts and processes; and an understanding of the contribution of our core techniques to reconstructing past human behaviour and environments.

Key themes that will be covered include:

• identifying environmental change;
• material consumption and recycling;
• identifying animal species management and evolution;
• understanding human concepts of place and time;
• innovation and adoption.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the discussed methods in archaeological science and critically evaluate their appropriateness for different research questions; 
2. Provide a critical reading of course materials and discuss their conclusions in class;
3. Integrate scientific perspectives in the interpretation of past human behaviour and environments;
4. Develop independent interpretations of archaeological science datasets through self-directed research.

Module content

The module will begin with an introduction to key aims, debates, and approaches in archaeological science.  There will then be three blocks of classes with lectures and practicals linked to key scientific research areas. The first block will be on materials science of metals, ceramics and glass and include applications of x-ray florescence and microwave plasma - atomic emission spectrometry. The second will be on environmental archaeology with a focus on paleoenvironmental, architectural and occupation sequences and micromorphological analyses. The last block will be on archaeological proteomics and investigation and analyses of ancient proteins and application of ZooMS. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught through a mixture of 3-hour lectures, discussion seminars, and laboratory visits including the handling of archaeological material. You will demonstrate your learning through two summative assessments: a ‘museum board’ and an essay.

Study hours

At least 36 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module. 

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Group feedback and discussion laboratory books in practical classes (alongside notes and examples, these books will include formative questions on session content).

Reassessment

Additional costs