Ritual and Monumentality in North-West Europe: Mid-6th to Mid-3rd Millennium BC (VS1) (U03970)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-ARitual2V

The megalithic and ceremonial sites represent some of the most tangible prehistoric remains in North-West Europe and many interesting and contrasting views occupy much of the megalithic research agenda. In general the course aims to provide students with an in-depth exploration of a major pan-European prehistoric phenomenon which can be ascribed neither to one particular culture nor to a distinct chronological horizon.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U00217

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Archaeology, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Wednesday	11:10	13:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : NB: Timetable is arranged annually. The above time refers to 2007/08.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate, by means of coursework and examination:

- a knowledge of the theoretical approaches which, from the mid-19th century to the present, have underpinned the archaeological study of megaliths and other ceremonial sites;
- an appreciation of the archaeological evidence (on regional/cultural basis) of monuments in order to explore the relationships between function, architectural design, burial and other practices, art and other rituals;
- a knowledge of the various interpretations of the function of megaliths and other ceremonial sites within the natural and cultural landscapes of North-West Europe and to set these against the background of our own changing theoretical perspectives over the last century and a half;
- an appreciation of the dynamics of social and cultural change from the mid-6th to the 3rd mill BC as seen through the prism of ritual and monumentality.