Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT2015: The Deep Past, History and Humanity

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

This module will cover five overlapping debates concerning the natures of history, historical knowledge and humanity. The aim is to introduce you to anthropological, philosophical, archaeological and historiographical considerations of epistemology and method with the skills required to critically engage and reflect upon those considerations. In addition to theoretical knowledge and skills, you will also learn how to incorporate case studies into critical analysis. Some of the lectures will include input from practicing archaeologists, and there will likely be a field trip to tour a museum or a dig.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary debates about historical science and historical knowledge. 2. Critically engage with a case study from humanitys deep past.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate the capacity to ability to analyse and critique arguments and positions. 4. Synthesize theoretical and empirical information.
Personal and Key Skills	5. Critically integrate different disciplinary approaches. 6. Demonstrate clear, concise writing and analysis.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following questions:
1. Are the historical sciences sciences?
2. To what extent can we gain knowledge of human culture from material remains?
3. What is the nature of events in human history?
4. Can biological and cultural perspectives on human nature be integrated?
5. What is history for?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
21.5	128.5	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour lectures. Lectures cover more ground than is possible in tutorials, and are designed to establish a context in which to think about the themes and texts discussed in tutorials.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	5	5 x 1 Hour Fortnightly tutorials. A specific reading is assigned, and you are provided with a list of questions to be discussed.
Guided Independent Study	45	Preparation for lectures and tutorial participation including reading and planning.
Guided Independent Study	83.5	Independent research for assignments.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Turner, D. (2007). Making prehistory: Historical science and the scientific realism debate. Cambridge University Press.

Cleland, C. E. (2002). Methodological and epistemic differences between historical science and experimental science. Philosophy of Science, 69(3), 447-451.

Currie, A. (2018). Rock, Bone, and Ruin: An Optimist's Guide to the Historical Sciences. MIT Press.

Chapman, R., & Wylie, A. (2016). Evidential reasoning in archaeology. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Danto, A.C. (1965), Analytical Philosophy of History, London, Cambridge University Press.

Keller, E. F. (2016). Thinking about biology and culture: can the natural and human sciences be integrated?. The Sociological Review, 64(1_suppl), 26-41.

Collingwood, R. G. (1993). The idea of history. Oxford University Press