The Later Bronze Age in Britain marks a major transformation in the archaeological record. Patterns of ritual behaviour, burial, settlement and artefact use all begin to change. This single module explores these major transformations which see the establishment of settled life, agrarian landscapes and the consolidation of social differentiation, especially in southern Britain. These themes are investigated by individual case studies and related to the wider European context. .

By the end of the module students will have:

  a.    a detailed knowledge of the Later Bronze Age sequence, especially in southern Britain

   b.    a detailed knowledge of changes in settlement, landscape, and craft production and exchange

   c.    a broad understanding of the significance of these changes in relation to preceding and succeeding periods

METHODS OF TEACHING: 10 lectures; 1 museum practical; optional field trip.

Intellectual Skills:

1. the ability to evaluate evidence of varying quality and source

2. the ability to correlate information from lectures, seminars and independent reading

3. the ability to present their knowledge in a coherent manner in essay and exam conditions

 Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

The ability to demonstrate an understanding of archaeological evidence and its limitations

 Transferable Skills:

1.  the ability to write cogently and critically in an assessed essay and under examination conditions.

2. the ability to understand complex arguments and evaluate the evidence in support of them.

3. to work independently and produce work to deadlines.

The assessed essay, examination, and non-assessed seminars, require the student to demonstrate critical analysis of the archaeological evidence for the Late Bronze Age in Britain.

1 What is the Late Bronze Age

2 Chronologies and typologies

3, 4 The Deveral Rimbury phenomenon

5 Dividing the landscape

6 Climate change and the environment

7 Settlement in the uplands

8 Mineral resources and mining

9 Deposition

10 Hillforts and enclosures

11 The coming of iron

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