AR2P14-Prehistoric Europe: the first million years

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Duncan Garrow
Email: d.j.garrow@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module covers Europe’s prehistory, from the earliest Palaeolithic through to the Middle Iron Age (c. 1,600,000–400 BC), from Turkey and the Balkans to Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia. We will address important research questions such as the contrasting behaviours and environmental tolerances of ‘modern’ humans (H. sapiens) and ‘archaic’ hominins (e.g. the Neanderthals and H. heidelbergensis) over the last 1 million years or more; the effects of climate and sea-level change on human lives; why farming initially spread across the continent; how and why burial rites changed through time; how the first use of metals came about; and the kinds of later prehistoric societies that developed before the Roman Empire. We will look at themes such as technology (lithic and organic) and dietary strategies, life histories and hominin cognitive abilities, settlement and burial archaeology, ritual practice, and comparative anthropology. The aim of the module is to provide an introduction to prehistoric archaeology across Europe, and to the types of archaeological evidence that are encountered when studying this period. We will also go on a behind the scenes field trip to a museum.Ìý

Aims:

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of:

• the European Palaeolithic’s key hominin species and their behaviours;


• the major social and economic changes that took place in Europe from c. 10,000–400 BC;


• the Pleistocene and Holocene climates and environments to which prehistoric Europeans were adapted;


• the methods used for analysing and interpreting the evidence from the archaeological record of prehistoric Europe.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Recognize and describe the particular character of the archaeological evidence for prehistoric Europe;


• Identify the major social and economic changes that occurred in prehistoric Europe;


• Critically evaluate different methodological approaches to, and theoretical interpretations of, these changes;


• Compare changes in different regions of Europe for thisperiod;


• Organise material and articulate arguments effectively in written coursework.

Additional outcomes:

Participation in seminars will enable you to develop and apply you communication and presentation skills through structured discussion sessions and presentations. Your research and analytical skills will be developed through participation in the seminars and completion of the written coursework components. You will also develop your IT skills through preparing your group project assignment, and through researching sources for the coursework essay.

Outline content:

This module covers prehistoric Europe, from the earliest Palaeolithic to the Middle Iron Age (c. 1,600,000–400 BC).

The sorts of topic covered include:

1. Climates and environments in prehistoric Europe


2. Hominins before humans


3. Hunter-gatherer diets and lifestyles


4. Hunter-gatherer technologies


5. The idea and spread of farming


6. Monumental architecture and the creation of place


7. Metals and the rise of ‘elites’


8. Ritual deposition


9. Death and burial in prehistoric Europe


10. Art in prehistoric Europe

Global context:

Europe

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This course is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, group discussions and debates, student presentations, directed reading, assignments, a knapping practical, and a field trip.

There will be 10 main teaching s