Assoc ProfessorMeriel McClatchie

MODULE COORDINATION
I coordinate two modules at UCD School of Archaeology.

1. Archaeological Science (ARCH20600)
Archaeology is a subject that uses techniques and approaches from many other disciplines. In recent years, developments in Science have opened up exciting possibilities and allowed us to approach questions that even a few years ago would have seemed impossible. As an archaeologist, understanding and applying these approaches is an increasingly important part of the discipline. Archaeological Science is a wide topic that would be impossible to cover in all of its details in a single 5-credit module. Consequently, the module provides a broad overview of approaches and a more detailed look at how some of these are applied through targeted case studies and themes. These are chosen to show the way in which scientific methods and thinking can add to our understanding of the past. Even if you have no scientific background, you will learn how to appreciate a scientific way of thinking and how it applies to archaeology. The module will also help you to confidently read and critique publications and media that rely on scientific research.

2. Archaeology of Food (ARCH30720)
What foods were people eating in the past, how were these foods prepared, and what does this tell us about daily lives, cultural values and social interactions? This module will investigate the archaeology, anthropology and history of food through a range of disciplinary perspectives around the world. Food waste recovered from archaeological excavations provides key evidence for changing resources at different times and locations. Biomolecular and osteoarchaeological analyses can enable insights into longer-term dietary choices and evolutionary patterns, while social anthropology studies highlight the importance of food in shaping social identities and behaviour. This module will consider strengths and drawbacks of each approach, and demonstrate how investigations of diet can contribute to wider archaeology research questions. The module will be taught through lectures, student-led seminars (interactive discussions based upon recommended reading) and practical sessions, enabling students to gain new insights into ancient foods.


MODULE CONTRIBUTION
I also contribute to teaching and assessment for other modules.

Undergraduate

Exploring Archaeology (ARCH10010)
Introduction to Anthropology (ARCH10150)

The Human Past (ARCH10160)
Archaeological Field Skills (ARCH10180)

Archaeology of Landscapes (ARCH20510)

Environmental Archaeology in Practice (ARCH30770)

Plants and People (HORT10020)

Postgraduate
Introduction to GIS in Archaeology (ARCH40870)
Experimental Archaeology (ARCH41180)
Themes in Archaeological Research (ARCH41190)
Archaeological Field Methods (ARCH41270)

Professionalisation (ARCH50300)