The city of Glasgow originated as a medieval ecclesiastical centre and trading town, became one of EuropeÕs most significant colonial mercantile centres and was subsequently transformed into a world-leading centre of industry. Situated in this rich historical environment, the Department of Archaeology has a strong tradition in historical archaeology and strengths in the historical archaeology of Scotland, Britain and the Mediterranean. This programme offers a detailed introduction to the thriving interdisciplinary field of historical archaeology. Focusing on the archaeology of the recent past (the period from c AD 1500) but with due attention given to the Middle Ages, the programme provides a grounding in the theory, practice and material of historical archaeology and explores individual world regions Ð including the UK and Ireland, the Mediterranean and Middle East, North America and the Caribbean, South Africa and Australia Ð and the historical and contemporary themes that connect these regions in global terms.
The core courses provide a grounding in the study of historical archaeology:
* Historical archaeology, theory and practice, introduces the sources, methods and theory of historical archaeology
* World historical archaeology introduces the historical archaeology of various world regions and, for these regions, explores in depth some of the general themes covered by the theory and practice core course.
Three optional courses are selected, representing specialist paths for exploring particular areas of study in more detail. They draw upon the particular interests and expertise of the contributing staff and the options available may therefore vary slightly depending on staff availability. They are also subject to a minimum number of students.
At least two options are selected from the following:
* The historical archaeology of the British Empire
* Gaelic Scotland from clanship to clearance and the creation of the Scottish Highland diaspora
* Landscapes of resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean
* Monuments in transition in medieval Scotland.
One of the following options may be selected:
* Thematic studies: any one of the thematic courses offered within other programmes, by agreement with the programme convener. These may include courses available via other Masters programmes within the faculty (eg in history or history of art) by arrangement
* Artefact studies: any one of the specialist courses offered in the Masters programme in Material Culture & Artefact Studies
* Professional skills: any one of the specialist courses offered in the Masters programme in Professional Archaeology
* Multimedia analysis and design or 2D digitisation, offered by the Humanities Advanced Technology & Information Institute.
The MLitt dissertation, undertaken between May and September, is a sustained piece of scholarly work on a topic to be agreed.