Postgraduate Course: Late Hunter-Gatherers in Europe (PGHC11069)
Course Outline
School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | The course provides an overview of the archaeological and other evidence relating to the hunting-and-gathering societies of Europe between 15,000 and 5,000 years ago. The main issues surrounding economic, technological and social developments during the Mesolithic period are explored by means of case studies drawn from three contrasting geographical regions: the British Isles, Southern Scandinavia and the Balkan Peninsula. |
Course description |
The aim of the course is to instil in students:
- a sound knowledge and understanding of the principal sources of evidence that can be used to reconstruct the behaviour of post-glacial hunter-gatherer societies in Europe;
- an appreciation of the difficulties involved in interpreting that evidence, and the major areas of controversy;
- an ability to critically assess current hypotheses of hunter-gatherer adaptations and the eventual transition to agriculture as applied in three geographically distinct regions of Europe: the British Isles, Southern Scandinavia, and the Balkan Peninsula;
- a critical awareness of how archaeological perceptions and approaches to research have historically influenced interpretations of the evidence.
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate, by way of coursework, command of the body of knowledge considered in the course
- demonstrate, by way of coursework, an ability to read, analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship
- demonstrate, by way of coursework, an ability to understand, evaluate and utilise a variety of primary source material
- demonstrate, by way of coursework, the ability to develop and sustain scholarly arguments in oral and written form, by formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence
- demonstrate independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers
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Reading List
Bailey, G. & Spikins, P. (eds) 2008. Mesolithic Europe. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press
Bell, M. & Walker, M.J.C. 2004. Late Quaternary Environmental Change. 2nd edition. London, Longman
Kelly, R.L. 1995. The Foraging Spectrum: Diversity in Hunter-gatherer Lifeways. Washington, Smithsonian Institution Press |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Keywords | late hunter gatherers europe |
Contacts
Course organiser | Prof Clive Bonsall
Tel: (0131 6)50 2375
Email: Clive.Bonsall@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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