PAPVB_03 Epipalaeolithic Hunter Gatherers in the Near East

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. emeritus Frank Hole, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. Inna Mateiciucová, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Měřínský, CSc.
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Zdenka Kosarová
Supplier department: Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 22. 3. 10:00–13:15 K22, Tue 23. 3. 10:00–13:15 K22, Wed 24. 3. 10:00–13:15 L32, Mon 29. 3. 10:00–13:15 K22, Tue 30. 3. 10:00–13:15 K22, Wed 31. 3. 10:00–13:15 L32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is organized by geographic region and by chronology. The Epipaleolithic occupies the time between the end of the Paleolithic and the Neolithic, and is roughly contemporary with the Mesolithic of Europe. The region to be discussed includes the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Southern Anatolia and Western Iran. For each region, the key sites will be described. A number of topics will be discussed both in general and specifically as they pertain to particular sites or regions. These include: environment, climate and natural resources; lithic and other technology; evidence for settlement and subsistence; ways of life, including social organization, burial practices, and ritual; relation of Near Eastern Epipaleolithic to North Africa and other regions.
Syllabus
  • A tentative outline of the course of lectures follows. 1. Introductory overview of the Epipaleolithic, and topics 2. History of discovery with short biographies of the pioneers and other archaeolotgists. 3-7 The Levant. As this is the most important region, there will be four lectures, as follows: 3. The coastal region including sites such s el Wad, Hayonim, Ksar Akil, etc 4. The Rift valley including Ohalo, Mallaha, etc 5. Inland oases and desert sites, including Azraq, El Kowm, Black Desert, Karaneh 6. Euphrates and North Jordan and Syria, including Mureybet, Abu Hureyra, Palmyra, Khabur 7. Sinai, Negev and Arabia 8. Southern Anatolia 9-10 Zagros Mountains, including Shanidar, Zarzi, Warwasi, Pa Sangar 11. Discussion of regional differences, cultural units, lithic sequences, etc. 12. Review, comparisons and lead into Neolithic
Literature
  • Akkermans, P.M.M.G. and Schwartz, G.M. 2003: The Archaeology of Syria. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies (ca. 16 000-300 BC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Bar-Yosef, O. and Valla, F. 1991: The Natufien Culture in the Levant. Ann Arbor, Michigan: International Monographs in Prehistory.
  • Matthews, R. 2000: The early prehistory of Mesopotamia 500,000 to 4,500 bc. Subartu V, Turnhout: Brepols Publishers.
  • Mithen, S. 2006: Konec doby ledové. Dějiny lidstva od r. 20 000 do r. 5000 př. Kr. Praha: Nakl. BB/art s.r.o.
  • Moore A.M.T. – Hillman, G.C. – Legge, A.J. 2000: Village on the Euphrates. From foraging to farming at Abu Hureyra. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion
Assessment methods
Teaching: block course week Assessment: colloquium, written test Requirements for the examination: a sound orientation in the issues of the Epipalaeolithic in the Near East; knowledge of the terminology and chronology of the individual groups of relics incl. the relevant literature. Å knowledge of the material culture sources of the studied period and territory.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
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