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 Dept/School | School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, University of Manchester  | |||
| Duration | 12 months full time, 24 months part time | |||
| Entry Requirements | 2i in a relevant discipline | |||
| Course Fees | £3400 in 2009-10 | |||
| Course Contact | The Postgraduate Admissions Administrator | Study Options | Full-Time/Part-Time | |
| Start Month(s) | September | Taught/Research | Taught | |
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MA Archaeology (Complex Societies) |
| This new MA pathway capitalises on a unique combination of research and teaching expertise in Manchester, drawing on our outstanding strengths in the eastern Mediterranean, the Near East and northwest Europe to address themes of global relevance. Students will examine the concept of social complexity from archaeological and historical perspectives and explore theoretical and methodological approaches to societies with complex social and political institutions. Course units survey various cultural traditions, in particular drawing on our research strengths in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and northwest Europe. Special attention will be drawn to social and political inequality and the structures and institutions that perpetuate it. Alternative mechanisms of social integration are also considered, including aspects of ritual, identity and cosmology. The course will provide students with an introduction to the major theoretical frameworks archaeologists have constructed to explain the appearance of complex units. Current theoretical debates will be examined to illuminate the problems associated with existing systems of classification, schemes of social development and the epistemological foundations of the field. In addition to exploring historical and archaeological remains through focused case studies, key aspects of social complexity will be considered, such as the analysis of inter- and intra-site settlement patterns, households, trade and exchange, cultural identity, bureaucracy, architecture, burials, craft specialization, ritual and ceremonialism, political legitimacy, warfare and kinship. This MA pathway will be open to all students of archaeology, but may also be of particular interest to those with a background in ancient history or anthropology who wish to broaden their knowledge of current theoretical debates in relation to (pre)historic societies. It offers a range of opportunities for those who wish to extend and deepen their understanding and research experience into a wide range of societies. Thus, as well as opening up the wide range of career opportunities open to a graduate from an archaeology MA, this pathway also provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to pursue a PhD on a topic related to complex societies, their social structures and religious, political and economic institutions. MA in Archaeological Field Practice (To be launched September 2006, subject to approval by the University) The MA in Archaeological Field Practice is unique within the British university system, drawing as it does on the skills of the University of Manchester Archaeology Unit (which is an integral part of the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures) and a group of Archaeology academics who are explicitly concerned with a critical and evaluative approach to field archaeology. The MA programme is designed to address head-on the perceived gap between theory and practice in contemporary archaeology, by promoting an approach which is both theoretically informed and thoroughly grounded in the practical craft of the archaeologist. It is intended both for recent graduates who aim to undertake a career in field archaeology, but who may lack a depth of practical experience in the field, and as a means of career development for those who may already have extensive experience in the commercial sector. Consequentially, the programme presents a blend of classroom discussion, guest lectures from a variety of professionals, and hands-on experience in the field and the laboratory. The distinctive character of the MA lies in its focus on recent debates on the production of archaeological knowledge, which stress that fieldwork is never simply a routine collection of information, but always entails an interpretive dimension. Its objective is to work though the implications of these arguments for archaeology in the public and development spheres. It is intended to contribute to the emergence of a new breed of professional archaeologist. The programme will provide a combination of practical experience and critical awareness that is quite rare in the contemporary scene, and as a result the career prospects for graduates are expected to be very strong indeed, particularly in professional field units. However, the programme will also provide an unrivalled background for academic research on archaeological fieldwork. |
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