Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of York,
Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr (FutureLearn)

Discover Star Carr, one of the world's most important archaeological sites, and learn what life was like over 10,000 years ago. Learn about the incredible discoveries at Star Carr. Star Carr is one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites. Because of extraordinary conditions of survival, we have uncovered the oldest known house in Britain, the earliest evidence of carpentry in Europe and the oldest complete bow in the world. These and other discoveries help us interpret what life might have been like over 10,000 years ago.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this course you will learn about the excavations of Star Carr, exploring what this site can tell us about where we came from, the origin of everyday things, and how much we have changed.

What topics will you cover?

  • The excavations at Star Carr: highlighting how the site was discovered, what has been found and how excavations are undertaken, in order to convey the excitement of discovery.
  • The use of stone: how hunter-gatherers used stone to create tools which were required for every aspect of their daily lives (their Swiss Army knife!)
  • The use of plants: plants were used for everything from making fires to building houses.
  • The use of animals: we explain what animals were in the landscape at that time and how people used them for food, skins for clothing and their bones for artefacts.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Identify and understand the methods used on an archaeological excavation
  • Evaluate how digital technology, scientific applications and experimental archaeology can be used to investigate the past
  • Apply a range of evidence in order to debate how different artefacts might have been used
  • Describe the site of Star Carr and the main discoveries made there
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology (edX)

Explore the archaeology, history, art, and hieroglyphs surrounding the famous Egyptian Pyramids at Giza. Learn about Old Kingdom pharaohs and elites, tombs, temples, the Sphinx, and how new technology is unlocking their secrets. Where is Giza? How were the Pyramids built? How did the cemeteries and hundreds of decorated tombs around them develop? What was Giza’s contribution to this first great age of ancient Egyptian civilization, the Old Kingdom?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
An Introduction to Japanese Subcultures (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Keio University

An Introduction to Japanese Subcultures (FutureLearn)

Explore Japanese subcultures and learn about their history from the 1970s to today. Subcultures have existed for a long time: the greasers of 1950s America, the mods and rockers of the 1960s and 70s in England, the grunge of the 1980s and 90s, to name a few. Each subculture sits within a broader ‘parent’ culture and can often give us an insight into cultural fears and hopes, especially in the youth of the population. On this course you will get an introduction to Japanese subcultures that have developed since the 1970s.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Strathclyde

Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree (FutureLearn)

Dive into your family ancestry and learn how to create a family tree on this online genealogy course. Discover the basics of genealogy and build your own family tree. Have you ever wondered about your family ancestry or wanted to create a family tree of your own? On this 6-week genealogy course for beginners, you’ll learn how to uncover the past and record your family history. The information on this course does not apply to just one country, so you can learn about your family lineage no matter where you’re from.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization: Archaeology of the City from the Levant to the West - 3rd-1st millennium BC (Coursera) Coursera
Sapienza University of Rome

At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization: Archaeology of the City from the Levant to the West - 3rd-1st millennium BC (Coursera)

Which are the deepest roots of that mix of cultures that we use to call ‘Mediterranean Civilization’? Which are comminglings and exchanges which produced its most complete fruit, i.e. the city, a place for landscape-modelling communities? And which elements did contribute to build up that baulk of customs, ideas, and innovations which compelled to confrontation and hybridizations different peoples for millennia? What did it made, from pottery to metallurgy, from gastronomy to architecture, from art to religion, of a sea a cradle of civilization? Archaeology may help in disentangling such questions, seeking unexpected answers , by tinkering what ancient Mediterranean peoples left buried in the ground.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Discover Palestine (An-Najah National University) Other Providers
An-Najah National University

Discover Palestine (An-Najah National University)

Discover Palestine is the first English language certified Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about Palestinian history, archaeology, culture, and heritage.
 Discover Palestine will explore the ancient land of Palestine. We will learn about the geographical and ecological makeup of the land, the different types of agriculture and water installations that have been adopted by various groups over the centuries, as well as trade and other relations between groups. We will also learn about the art, architecture and technology of the different periods covered by this course.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Biblical Archaeology: The archaeology of ancient Israel and Judah (edX) EdX
IsraelX

Biblical Archaeology: The archaeology of ancient Israel and Judah (edX)

Join me as I share with you my passion for archaeological discovery and learn about the exciting methods of modern archaeology. Explore how archaeology illuminates biblical Israel and Judah, and the archaeological finds relate to the bible. Join me for an introductory course on biblical archaeology of ancient Israel and Judah during the Iron Age (ca. 1200-586 BCE).

Nov 1st 2022
5-12 Weeks
Ancient topography, relief and technical analysis of ancient monuments (UNINETTUNO) UNINETTUNO OpenupEd
International Telematic University UNINETTUNO

Ancient topography, relief and technical analysis of ancient monuments (UNINETTUNO)

The course aims to define the goals and the systematic methodological research related to a discipline of historical and archaeological area, such as the Ancient Topography, Survey and technical analysis of ancient monuments, in order to reconstruct the shape and meaning of the ancient anthropic contexts, through the traces that remain in modern urban landscapes.

Self Paced Course - Start anytime
Self-Paced
Archaeology of Portus: Exploring the Lost Harbour of Ancient Rome (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Southampton

Archaeology of Portus: Exploring the Lost Harbour of Ancient Rome (FutureLearn)

Learn how ancient artefacts, written evidence, excavation and digital technologies are transforming understanding of this harbour. The Roman harbour city of Portus lay at the heart of an empire that extended from Scotland to Iraq. Established by Claudius and enlarged by the emperor Trajan with spoils of the Dacian wars, the port was the conduit for everything the city of Rome required from its Mediterranean provinces: the food and, particularly grain, that fed the largest urban population of the ancient world, as well as luxuries of all kinds, building materials, people and wild animals for the arena.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Rome: a Virtual Tour of the Ancient City (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Rome: a Virtual Tour of the Ancient City (FutureLearn)

Explore the architecture and history of Rome, walking around a 3D digital model of the ancient city, with this free online course. Explore ancient Rome through a unique, historically accurate 3D model. Take a guided tour around ancient Rome with expert Professor Matthew Nicholls, using his detailed and award-winning 3D digital model of the city.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (Coursera)

Would you like to know more about the new methods archaeologists are using to study African archaeology? And to learn directly from case studies with researchers working on the continent? Are you interested in knowing the role local communities have in the preservation and protection of heritage sites? By enrolling in this course, you will have the opportunity to learn and explore these and so many other subjects in African Archaeology and Heritage and discover the rich and diverse heritage of Africa.

Aug 3rd 2026
4 Weeks