Admission requirements
None.
Description
The lecture series World Archaeology gives an outline of the human past from our early ancestors to large-scale and complex societies.
Part 1.1 concerns human origins: from the cradle of humankind in Africa to the dispersal to the rest of the world, and the evolution of our own species Homo Sapiens and modern human behaviour.
We will address basic questions about the evolution of bipedality, toolmaking, and brain size. You will study the archaeological evidence and discuss how early humans made a living. You will learn about key discoveries and important archaeological sites as well as the most important research topics.
Course set-up
Lectures;
Tutorials;
Weekly assignments.
Course objectives
After the course, students have basic knowledge of:
The chronology, climate and environment of human origins;
The most important fossil hominins;
Ca. 10 key sites;
The subdivision of the Paleolithic (Lower, Middle, Upper) and its characteristic artefacts;
The chronology and geography of human dispersal;
The archaeological traits of “modern human behaviour”.
Students are able to:
Analyse the basic arguments of an archaeological issue in the textbook;
Summarise key information from the textbook.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button.
Mode of instruction
Lectures;
Weekly assignments and tutorials, in which students study the literature with a teaching assistant.
You will take part in three 1-hour tutorial sessions, coordinated by Teaching Assistants (TAs). During these tutorials, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss various research topics.
Assessment method
- Multiple choice exam (100%).
A retake of the exam is only possible in case of a fail (in compliance with the teaching rules and regulations) and only when the requirements of attendance and assignments have been met.
Compensation between the grades of World Archaeology 1.1 and World Archaeology 1.2 is only possible if the individual grades are a 5.0 or higher.
Assessment deadlines
All assessment deadlines (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button. To view the assessment deadline(s), make sure to select the course with a code ending in T and/or R.
Reading list
Chapters 2 to 5 of Scarre, C. (ed.) 2018. The Human Past. World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies (Fourth edition) Thames and Hudson) ISBN 9780500294208.
Registration
The Administration Office will register all Archaeology BA1 students in uSis for their lectures, tutorials and exams in semester 1 and semester 2.
However for exams, confirmation through MyStudymap is mandatory.
No confirmation = no participation!
If you are not a BA1 student, but want to take this course, please contact the Administration Office.
General information about registration can be found on the Course and Exam Enrolment page.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
All information (costs, registration, entry requirements, etc.) for those who are interested in taking this course as a Contractstudent is on the Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpage (in Dutch).
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact dr. A. (Alexander) Verpoorte.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance during tutorials.;
This course can be taken as an optional course, Contract course, or Study Abroad/Exchange course, but only in combination with World Archaeology 1.2: Prehistory of West Asia.