Information for current archaeology students and staff

Experimental Archaeology Dissertations:

Guide to best practice

This document has been designed to guide University of Reading undergraduate and postgraduate (masters and doctoral research) Archaeology students who are considering incorporating archaeological experiments into either dissertations (undergraduate or masters) or doctoral theses (PhD).

The notes highlight the many benefits of experimental approaches and key issues in the design and implementation of archaeological experiments. These include the formulating of scientific research questions, designing and implementing appropriate experimental procedures for testing these questions, identifying the necessary resources (including personnel, facilities, equipment, consumables, and funding), risk assessment and health & safety issues, techniques for the effective analysis of experimental data-sets, and potential pitfalls.

We intend to modify and develop this document on a yearly basis, and would greatly appreciate feedback from students regarding its usefulness and any suggested changes or additions to the guide. Please send any comments to Dr Rob Hosfield.

Staff student committee

The Staff-Student Committee meets once every term. Your student representative (see below) will contact you before each meeting regarding any issues you wish to be raised. Minutes of the meetings are posted on the noticeboards and are available below.

Part 1: Mark Blagg-Newsome lau07msb@reading.ac.uk 

Part 2: Annika Burns lau06ab@reading.ac.uk

Part 3 (and Chair): Kirsty Bax lau05kb@reading.ac.uk

MAs: Emilio Rodriguez Alvarez rodriguezalvarez@rdg.ac.uk

MScs: Ingrid Brack lap07ib@reading.ac.uk

Staff members: Grenville Astill, Mary Lewis and Melvin Morbey (Library Liaison)

Staff Student Committee minutes Nov 07

Staff Student Committee minutes Jan08 Staff Student Committee minutes Jan08