ARMT02: Themes and Approaches in the Study of Mesopotamia

Module code: ARMT02

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Roger Matthews, email: r.j.matthews@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module we examine themes, issues and approaches in the archaeology of Iraq (Mesopotamia), with focus on the early urban societies of the region, ca. 4000-1500 BC. The aim is to provide you with a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current knowledge and issues in studies of changes in Mesopotamian during this period. The module also aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and methodological approaches to study of early urban settlement and society in this region. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Provide a critical assessment of the main characteristics of, and changes in, early urban settlement and society in Mesopotamia from c. 3200-1750 BC
2. Evaluate critically the nature and quality of archaeological data and the competing methodological and theoretical approaches to key complex issues associated with Mesopotamian settlement and society and to develop critiques of them
3. Locate, extract, and assemble data and information from varied sources, with initiative and minimal guidance
4. Take a creative approach to key issues and to develop independent interpretations of material through self-directed research
5. Synthesise wide-ranging material and to articulate arguments effectively and clearly in writing an assessed essay and orally in seminar debates and presentations

Module content

This module begins with a critical review of socio-cultural developments in Mesopotamia from the late 4th to the early 2nd millennium BC, and the history of archaeological research in the region. The module will then focus thematically on critical evaluation of key issues and case-studies in the study of early urban settlement and society. It will appraise competing approaches, theories and interpretations, and relate them to current debates in archaeology more widely. The issues examined include: human-environment inter-relationships and agricultural intensification; resources, trade and exchange; origins of writing; socio-politics and the nature of power, city-states and empire; ritual, death and burial, and gender and identity. The module will close with a session on the legacy of Mesopotamia and the heritage of Iraq. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Illustrated lectures, seminars and structured group discussion requiring intensive preparatory reading. You will write one assessed essay, which will be returned in individual tutorials, plus one object discussion piece, and will contribute to seminars and critical reviews. 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs