UCL - Prehistory and Evolutionary Physical Anthropology

[ARKA2510]

[30h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Nicolas Cauwe, Marie-Claire Van Dyck

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Advanced course for archaeologists specialising in European prehistory. The aim is to develop a critical sense and analytical methods of material culture and human remains in order to comprehend the methods of reconstruction that exist before writing came about, including theoretical and anthropological concepts (physical and cultural anthropology) used in archaeological interpretation.

Main themes

The course discusses problematic issues and specific problems of interpretation in relation with the reconstruction of ways of life and thinking of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic societies (from the beginning till the 3rd millennium BC). Moreover, various aspects of the human skeleton are treated and techniques of conservation, description, measurement and interpretation are acquired as are the anatomical particularities of larger groups that have been following each other in time and space; evolution of man from the beginning till the Homo sapiens sapiens and main questions of ethnogenesis

Content and teaching methods

Contents: The 'neolithisation' of Europe (emergence of agriculture and livestock breeding) forms the main topic during the year 2007-2008. This economic process, long-time regarded as a revolution, was less rapid than often assumed and not as homogeneous as expected. Peripheral hunter groups often exchanged goods with these early agricultural societies. It is these relations which pushed the last European hunters to adopt new economic practices without necessary abandoning their cultural heritage. In parallel with this ex-cathedra class, a seminar related specifically to physical anthropology will be organised.

Teaching Methods: a combination of ex-cathedra lessons by the teacher or invited speakers and seminars. The sessions are prepared by the students on the basis of one or more articles of which the list is given at the beginning of the year. The students are also invited to participate actively in certain sessions which may take the forms of seminars prepared by the students. Possibility to organise visits to sites or European museums of which the contents relates to the topic treated during the course.

Reading list:
CAUWE N., KOZLOWKI J.K., DOLUKHANOV P., VAN BERG P.-L., in press. Le Néolithique en Europe. Paris, Armand Colin (collection "U"), 380 p.
THOMA A., 1985. Éléments de paléoanthropologie. Louvain-la-Neuve, Institut Supérieur d'Archéologie et d'Histoire de l'Art, 230 p.
DUTOUR O., HUBLIN J.-J., VANDERMEERSCH B., 2005. Origine et évolution des populations humaines. Paris, Éditions du Comité des Travaux historiques et scientifiques (Orientations et méthodes n°8), 400 p.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites : The course FLTR Arts et Civilisations I or similar.
A course of Introduction à la pratique scientifique in the Humanities.
Accessible to students that have followed a minor in Archaeology and Art History and the course ARKE 1444 or similar. A good knowledge of the topography of the human skeleton is also necessary. This can be acquired by following the course GEOL 2401.
Evaluation : Oral exam at the end of term (10 points), continuous evaluation (seminars) (5 points) and personal paper (5 points).
Support : A summary and bibliography are available.