How much of the soil of the Earth carries traces of past human activity? Is much of our planet surface one huge archaeological site? How is it in 2010 we can find a new "second Stonehenge" at Stonehenge? How do I know if I have an archaeological site in a paddock, my backyard or in the footprint of a housing development? How can I most reliably find out ?

The 20th century saw a huge increase in the scale, complexity and effectiveness of procedures used by archaeologists to search for "unseen" archaeological sites and buried landscapes. Methods range from remote sensing from satellites and aircraft; through LIDAR and Radar, to ground-based remote sensing and geophysical methods (Time Team's "geofizz") to large scale archaeological investigations and testing of landscapes (often ahead of development) through excavation by machine, by hand and by drilling and coring.

This course provides a Masters level foundation for understanding the applications and limits of the scientific "tool-box" now available for detecting evidence of past human actions across the Earth's surface (as archaeological sites). It focuses on methods available for detecting archaeological sites; issues of assessing data quality and ethical considerations of how to deliberate and decide what to preserve and conserve, where and when, from a global comparative perspective driven by the need for affordable and sustainable outcomes. Case studies are used to illustrate successes, failures and consequences of subsurface evaluation processes and developments engaging sites "unseen".

Students will develop core skills in conceptualizing, planning and assessing research results from the process of archaeological site detection in landscape/soil contexts. The course provides a professional level foundation in critical thinking applied to assessing results from archaeological surface survey and subsurface investigations at a global comparative scale.

Critical annotated briefing notes for a selected site detection technique as merits/demerits/limitations (module 10 (20%); development of a research design proposal for investigating subsurface archaeological site occurrence in a selected geographic area, based on terrain categorisation as a desk-top study, as a 3,000 word scoping proposal (50%); individual plan for a group gaming simulation for a mapped areas (20%) and contributions to group role playing (10%)

 The workload will comprise 36 contact hours taught intensively in 3 blocks of 12 hours (each block of 12 hours spread over 2 days) with the expectation of a further 80 hours of independent study and preparation ahead of the intensive class teaching/workshops/practical simulation games.

Admission to the Masters degree in MArch Sci or MArchSci (Research). A background in archaeology, or cognate disciplines of earth science, spatial science, GIS or aspects of Heritage Studies pertaining to archaeology is assumed, either as a degree or equivalent professional qualification for the degree programs in which this course is offered as core course or as an offered elective. No courses are pre-requisites. ARCH6017 Landscape Archaeology is a useful, but not mandatory, background course to this more advanced Masters level course.  

Students developing ARCH 8029 projects or theme routes in MArchSci in the areas of Applied Arch Science & Heritage; Archaeology, Regolith and Soil Studies; Spatial Science in Archaeology, or progressing to MArchSci(Research) are advised that the following courses constitute useful complimentary electives to this core course in the cross-Collegiate MArchSci program:

ARCH8002; ARCH6051; ENVS6206, ENVS6015, ENVS6309; EMSC6026; HUMN8003 AND HUMN8006.

David, B. and Thomas, J. (eds) 2008 Handbook of Landscape Archaeology. Left Coast Press:Walnut Creek. 

Spoerry, P (ed.) 1992 Geoprospection in the Archaeological Landscape. Oxbow Monograph 18. Oxbow books:Oxford.

Wiseman, J. and El-Baz, F. (eds) 2007 Remote Sensing in Archaeology. Springer: New York.

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