The Neolithic marks the beginning of one of the most significant transformations in human behaviour with the shift from small and transient hunter-gatherer populations to the emergence of settled and growing populations. This single module introduces students to the wealth of evidence for the Neolithic period in Europe. By means of selected case studies, it investigates both the initial spread and subsequent diverse development of Neolithic societies over a long time scale - the sort of study of human behaviour which is only possible through archaeology.

A wide-ranging, thematic introduction to the archaeology of the Neolithic period in central and western Europe (excluding Britain and Ireland), with the principal focus on recurrent aspects of Neolithic existence, from dwelling to mortuary practice. Attention is also given to selected regional case studies, and to regional research traditions.

• Understand the major features of European Neolithic existence
• Relate particular kinds of research to their intellectual tradition
• Know a series of regional case studies
• Evaluate evidence of varying quality and source
• Correlate evidence of different dimensions of Neolithic existence
• Synthesise evidence from different areas and phases
• Know particular classes of evidence reacting to the Neolithic
• Understand particular regional Neolithic case studies
• Understand particular regional Neolithic research traditions
• Write effectively about research problems
• Talk effectively about research problems
• Organise effective enquiry into questions and problems

The principal medium will be the illustrated lecture, with a minimum of two seminars (at least one per semester). Lectures will present primary material, investigate themes, introduce case studies, and provide a broad model of European Neolithic existence. Seminars will give students an opportunity to investigate particular sites, regions and problems for themselves, and to make effective oral and visual presentations on these.

Intellectual Skills:

• Evaluate evidence of varying quality and source
• Correlate evidence of different dimensions of Neolithic existence
• Synthesise evidence from different areas and phases

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

• Know particular classes of evidence
• Understand particular regional case studies
• Understand particular regional research traditions

Transferable Skills:

• Write effectively about research problems
• Talk effectively about research problems
• Organise effective enquiry into questions and problems

Type of Assessment      %Contribution                Title                     Approx date of assessment

Essay                                    50                      Assessed Essay (2,500 Words)       March 2016

Exam                                    50                      Assessed Exam (2hrs)                      July 2016

The opportunity for reassessment in this module - The requirement that students demonstrate an ability to carry out practical conversation tasks will limit the availability of alternative forms of assessment as an adjustment for disabled students.

Lectures

1-2 Introduction: themes and research traditions

3-5 The lifecourse, an archaeology of the body, and the routines of daily existence

6-8 Settlement: houses and dwelling

9-10 Making a living: issues of Neolithic subsistence

11-12 Living in material worlds: the habitus, material culture, and exchange

13-15 Matters of life and death: mortuary practices

16 The sequence on the Great Hungarian Plain

17 The LBK

18 The Alpine foreland

19 south Scandinavia

20 Brittany

Plus two seminars

Edmonds, M. and Richards, C. (eds) 1998. Understanding the Neolithic of north-west Europe. Glasgow: Cruithne Press.

Hodder, I. 1990. The domestication of Europe. Oxford: Blackwell.

Tilley, C. 1996. An ethnography of the Neolithic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Whittle, A. 1996. Europe in the Neolithic: the creation of new worlds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Whittle, A. 2003. The archaeology of people: dimensions of Neolithic life. London: Routledge.