Overview

Archaeology has long had a prominent, if often inaccurate, public image. It has also been put to a large variety of public purposes. This topic will track some of the perceptions, uses and abuses of archaeology and of interpretations of our cultural past. These range from stereotypes in film, through … For more content click the Read More button below.

Aims

This topic aims to:

  • Introduce students to the socio-political debates that surround the representation/interpretation of the past and the ethical issues of engaging with this as an archaeologist or cultural heritage interpreter
  • Make students aware of the ways in which archaeological interpretation infiltrate their everyday lives through a range of public media
  • Encourage students to apply critical thinking skills that enable them to evaluate the quality of archaeological interpretation as it appears in public media
  • Provide students with an opportunity to shape and direct the classroom learning process and collaborate creatively with their peers

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Recognise the many ways in which the human past can be reconstructed and link this knowledge to political and social issues in the past and present
2.
Critically evaluate the contents and ideas behind the process of archaeological and other reconstructions
3.
Identify constructive and creative ways for presenting material in class and directing classroom discussion
4.
Identify constructive and creative ways for presenting archaeological interpretations to the public in ethical and effective ways

Requisites information

Anti-requisites: