Admission requirements
- World Archaeology 2.1 obtained.
Description
What can the prehistory of the Netherlands contribute to fundamental debates in European archaeology, and how does our material relate to some of the major developments in European prehistory? How does the find of, for example, a single Neolithic burial or an Iron Age house contribute to our understanding of broad developments across the continent?
During the course you will cover important late prehistoric chronological periods and cultures in the Netherlands, from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age, and place them in their European context. You will discuss the major developments in prehistory – such as the adoption of farming, monumentality, funerary landscapes, mobility, and subsistence – and will learn to relate them to material discovered in the Netherlands.
At the same time you will become familiar with the most commonly found archaeological find categories in Dutch prehistory, and you will be able to place them in a chronological framework during the practical sessions.
The main goal of the course is for you to get an overview of the late prehistory and its related material culture of the Netherlands, and to be able to place your research within a larger European framework.
Course set-up
In class we will discuss a topic and the overarching theme or period. Afterwards, during the practical, students will work with material or carry out an activity related to the time period.
Course objectives
Insight into the chronology, material and cultures of late prehistory in North-Western Europe;
Insight into the major developments and the key issues and debates;
Ability to define and apply important theoretical concepts such as Neolithisation, mobility, social stratification, and identity;
Knowledge of and the ability to distinguish and identify the main types of material culture ranging from the Neolithic until the Iron Age;
Knowledge and skills necessary for analysing, describing and drawing archaeological finds, especially ceramics;
Ability to present one's results in class;
Ability to formulate arguments orally and in writing;
Ability to work in a team.
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
Seminar with active learning;
Practical sessions in groups of two or three students, with assignments;
In-class and take-home assignments to practise the skills assessed in the final assignment.
Assessment method
Group presentation (50%);
Group essay (50%).
A retake is only possible for the essay, if the presentation is graded with a 5.0 or higher, and if all other requirements are met.
The retake of the essay consists of rewriting the paper, for which a maximum grade of 6.0 will be given.
Assessment deadlines:
The dates of exams and retakes can be found in MyTimetable. The deadlines of papers, essays and assignments are communicated through Brightspace.
Reading list
Per class there will be one or two papers to read. The reading list will be distributed two weeks prior to the start of the class. Make sure you are registered for this course in uSis, so you can access the Brightspace module in time.
Registration
Registration start dates for the BA2 seminars differ from the registration dates of the regular courses.
Registration will take place with the use of forms. These will be e-mailed by the study advisers to all BA2 students at the beginning of January.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact Dr. N.Ø. (Nathalie) Brusgaard.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.