Archaeology: Prehistory of North-Western Europe

Prehistory of North-Western Europe focuses on the archaeology of prehistoric farming communities, especially on the ways in which people constructed their living environment in relation to other communities, their ancestors, the supernatural and of course the geographical landscape. To this end archaeological data are studied, ranging from the Neolithic to the Iron Age.
The programme focuses on a number of concepts using actual data, covering issues such as ancestral landscapes, burial analysis, exchange, world systems and the biography of the landscape. The courses are highly dependent on interaction with the students, who are challenged to develop their own informed opinion on these topics by writing papers, participating in discussions, and conducting research.
The programme consists of intensive courses, generally with guest lecturers. The courses focus on the discussion of data, their interpretations and theoretical backgrounds. You will learn to acknowledge that the nature of these data is often more complex than you assumed, and consequently all the more interesting. You will be stimulated to develop an independent, but well-argued opinion on current issues. The subjects of the courses revolve around ongoing research and are generally organised in close co-operation with PhD-students.

Staff
Prof. dr. H. (Harry) Fokkens
Dr. D.R. (David) Fontijn
Dr. M.H.G. (Maikel) Kuijpers