ARA8184 : Bodies in Prehistoric Europe c. 6500-700 BC (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Chris Fowler
- Lecturer: Professor Andrea Dolfini, Professor Chantal Conneller
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
1. To provide a thematic and theoretical framework for investigating later prehistoric bodies.
2. To provide an advanced knowledge and understanding of bodies and embodied experience in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe.
3. To develop a critical understanding of ‘technologies of the body’, personhood, social organization and religious belief in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe.
4. To develop the ability to conduct independent learning and research into later prehistoric archaeology and/or the human body in archaeology.
Outline Of Syllabus
The classroom teaching for the module consists of a series of 2 hour sessions which begin with a 30 minute lecture and proceed to seminar discussion at which staff and students discuss key readings agreed in advance. In addition each student is expected to make appointments for around 2 hours of tutorial time with one of the three teaching staff to discuss preparation of their assignment. Each student will give a 20 minute presentation on their assignment topic and will receive verbal feedback on this formative assessment in preparation for their written summatively assessed assignment.
The syllabus runs as follows, subject to minor variations
1-What is the body? What constitutes evidence for prehistoric bodies?
2-Approaches to prehistoric bodies
3-Mesolithic Bodies in northern Europe: fragmented bodies, composite burials
4-Bodies at the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition: the Danube Gorges
5-Neolithic bodies in SE Europe: representation and the body
6-Oetzi 'the Iceman' in context: real and represented Chalcolithic bodies in southern Europe
7-LBK bodies in life and after death
8-Corded Ware and Bell Beaker bodies in continental Europe
9-Bodies in Neolithic Britain
10-Bodies in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain 1: putting single inhumation in context
11-Bodies in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain 2: Cremating bodies in the British EBA
12 – Bronze Age bodies in Continental Europe
13 -student presentations and feedback
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 119:00 | 119:00 | Preparation and completion of assessment (including short presentation by student) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Time for each student to consult with staff about their assessment (e.g.during office hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 13 | 4:00 | 52:00 | Students' preparation for seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Student presentation session (Can be online if needed) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 13 | 2:00 | 26:00 | Pip lecture/seminar sessions (can move online if needed but must be synchronous) |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
General themes, archaeological evidence and interpretation are introduced by lecture during the first 30 minutes of each 2-hour session. Students are asked to complete two or three readings in advance of each session and will be given a reading brief outlining topics to focus on. C. 1.5 hours of each session will consist of detailed discussion of the set readings. The final session will revolve around student presentations on their chosen assessment topic which will help develop oral communication skills, provide immediate feedback on progress, and develop the specific knowledge of source material required. Two one-to-one meetings between student and supervisor (one before and one after the presentation) will help the student prepare for the assessment.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | A | 100 | 3500 word essay on topic agreed with module leader |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | 15 minute presentation |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written assignment evaluates the student’s knowledge and critical understanding of the module subject, writing skills, and ability to undertake independent research on European prehistory. Formative student presentations on their chosen assessment topic will provide immediate feedback on progress, and develop the specific knowledge of source material required. Two one-to-one meetings between student and supervisor (one before and one after the presentation) will help the student prepare for the assessment and assist in the development of research skills.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
This module can be made available to Erasmus students only with the agreement of the Head of Subject and of the Module Leader. This option must be discussed in person at the beginning of your exchange period. No restrictions apply to study-abroad, exchange and Loyola students.
Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. Where an exam is present, an alternative form of assessment will be set and where coursework is present, an alternative deadline will be set. Details of the alternative assessment will be provided by the module leader.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ARA8184's Timetable