| Unit name | The Neolithic of North-Western Europe |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH30012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Alex Bentley |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Though often taken as synonymous with the "beginnings of agriculture", the Neolithic marks a point in prehistory where a range of major social, ideological and material transformations can be identified. This unit aims to explore key themes in the Neolithic of north-western Europe, comprising northern France, the Low Countries, Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia, and covering the period 5000 - 2000 BC. Beginning with a consideration of how "the Neolithic" has been defined in academic discourse, topics covered will include: the nature of the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition; regional traditions; debates about the status of agriculture and animal husbandry in the period; and the socially embedded nature of Neolithic economies; themes and diversity in ideology and ritual practice; and interpretive approaches to monumentality; settlement practices and material culture.
