This seminar focuses on the ways in which archaeologists and scholars in other fields have used archaeological evidence to discuss ancient ethnicities and languages and their spread or extinction. Although direct equations between archaeological assemblages and people of a specific ethnicity or speaking a particular language have fallen out of favour since the 1930s in recent decades there has been a renewed interest in linking archaeology with ethnic groups and groups speaking a specific language. This trend has been strongly influenced by recent advances in DNA studies. In this seminar recent approaches will be critically evaluated and placed in their historical setting.
Ingangseisen
Basic knowledge of Near Eastern archaeology.
Leerdoelen
*Has knowledge of and insight in recent approaches towards using archaeological evidence in the reconstruction of ancient ethnicities and language groups; *Has knowledge of and insight in the main arguments put forward in the discussions; *Is able to critically assess the current research and opinions on this theme and voice one’s argued opinion; *Is able to apply recent approaches on a specific case study, find relevant literature and present this in a powerpoint presentation and is able to handle a stimulating discussion afterwards; *Is able to write a paper on his/her research topic, critically assess the literature and present one’s own argued opinion, making use of the feedback received following the presentation.
Onderwijsvorm
The seminar includes introductory lectures by the lecturers, followed by a series of presentations on particular case studies or influential books by the students. These presentations will constitute the basis for discussions amongst participants. Finally, student will bring their presentations and the discussions together in an essay (between 5000 and 7000 words in length).
Toetsing
The assessment will be based on the quality of the presentation given in the course; the participation in class discussions, in which the student participates in a critical and argumentative manner; and the quality of the essay which follows up on the presentation, this essay should address the issues that came up in the discussion subsequent to the presentation.
Literatuur
- Bellwood, P. 2005. First Farmers, The Origins of Agricultural Societies. Oxford: Blackwell, , chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. – Jones, S. 1997. The Archaeology of Ethnicity, Constructing Identities in the Past and Present. London: Routledge.