ARCH8151 History, Theory and Issues in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology GE

This topic provides students with a thorough understanding of the history, principles and theory in maritime and underwater archaeology. Students will read and critically evaluate key texts, including book chapters, journal articles and other relevant material. This will provide students with a solid knowledge base on the important figures and key thinking in maritime archaeology over the past century. The topic will provide a global theoretical and historical context in order to discuss and debate the most up-to-date problems and issues in the field.

This topic aims to:

• Introduce students to the fundamental history, theory and material aspects of maritime and underwater archaeology
• Provide foundational study in the discipline of maritime and underwater archaeology, and examine the field critically from an historical and theoretical perspective
• Contextualise the role of maritime archaeology within other fields of archaeology and archaeology, anthropology and earth sciences as a whole
• Provide a critical examination of some of the ways that humans have interacted with and exploited coastal regions as well as inland bodies of water using archaeological evidence
• Examine key themes within maritime and underwater archaeology such as seafaring, the earliest watercraft, prehistoric dwellings to historically significant shipwrecks of the recent past
• Provide a comprehensive examination of key issues in maritime and underwater archaeology relevant to the issues faced by professionals working in the discipline critically

1. Explain, thoroughly and critically, the history of the practice of underwater and coastal archaeology throughout the world
2. Articulate clearly the place and role of maritime archaeology in the interpretation of maritime sub-cultures and culture in the wider context, both written and verbally
3. Communicate, both verbally and in writing, archaeological research and knowledge, appropriately to range of audiences
4. Articulate critically the theoretical approaches to the discipline of maritime archaeology and archaeology under water