Archaeologists have an insatiable curiosity. They have uncovered art objects, bodies, weapons, inscriptions and remnants of buildings from earlier empires. As students of history we continue to be fascinated by treasured objects from the past. We preserve them and learn from them. Some of the vast structures from the past, especially those in Egypt, Italy and Greece, have become major tourist attractions for students, tourists, film makers and scientists. The treasures enhance our knowledge and understanding of our human heritage in all its many complexities. Some of the stories have been buried for millennia.
- Bahn, Paul, The Great Archaeologists, 2009, Anness Publishing, ISBN 13: 9781844765621
- Cline, Eric, Archaeology, Introduction to the Worlds Greatest Sites, Audible Audio, AISN B01FMS6W92
- Catling, Christopher, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Archaeology, The Key Sites and Who Discovered Them, 2022, Anness Publishing, ISBN 13: 9780754835639
- A selection of wonderful archaeological objects including the Lion Hunt Dagger from Mycenae 1250 BC, the Rosetta Stone 196 BC, Hammurabi Law Tablets 1750 BC Babylon and the Antikythera “Mechanism” 150 BC Greece
- Introduction to some famous archaeologists and their work including Flinders Petrie, Heinrich Schliemann, Jean-Francois Champollion and Mary and Louis Leakey.
- Some examples of hoaxes and fraudulent claims including Piltdown Man, Kensington Rune Stone and the Tiara of Sataphernes
- Objects which have defined translation and are yet to be deciphered including the Voynich Manuscript and Linear A tablets from Minoan Crete.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the relationship between science and archaeology and the wider relationship with human history
- Appreciate the value of a selection of key archaeological sites across the world and their contributions to our knowledge and understanding of human history
- Appreciate the work and achievements of some of the most famous archaeologists in the last 300 years
