1. General information
Course:
PREHISTORY
Code:
44743
Type:
CORE COURSE
ECTS credits:
6
Degree:
381 - UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME IN HUMANITIES: CULTURAL HISTORY
Academic year:
2023-24
Center:
11 - FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES OF CUENCA
Group(s):
30
Year:
1
Duration:
C2
Main language:
Spanish
Second language:
English
Use of additional languages:
English Friendly:
Y
Web site:
Bilingual:
N
Lecturer:
JUAN FRANCISCO RUIZ LOPEZ
- Group(s):
30
Building/Office
Department
Phone number
Email
Office hours
Gil de Albornoz. Despacho 5.12
HISTORIA
Ext.4752
juanfrancisco.ruiz@uclm.es
It will be announced at the beginning of the course
2. Pre-Requisites
Not established
3. Justification in the curriculum, relation to other subjects and to the profession
The course introduces the student to the study and understanding of the most prehistoric human societies. During the enormous period of time, more than 6 million years, in which Prehistory develops, human beings and their direct ancestors evolved physically, culturally and technologically, giving rise to the appearance of ideology and belief systems, that is to say, the symbolic framework.
This knowledge is fundamental to achieve a better understanding of the evolution and Cultural History of Humanity, for the scientific analysis and valuation of archaeological heritage as the only evidence of the ways of life of our most remote ancestors, thus allowing us to connect this knowledge with that acquired in other disciplines.
What does this course provide?
This course provides students with knowledge regarding the definition of archaeological cultures with a multiconceptual interpretation of prehistoric societies and their ways of life, their artistic languages and symbolic manifestations, with an approach to social structures, technologies, economies, daily life and belief systems from the archaeological record (material culture) and archaeological anthropology (immaterial culture). The aim is to bring the student closer to the understanding of complex societies in their structure, of which numerous archaeological remains have been preserved, constituting the oldest "memory" of Humanity.
Four fundamental contributions of Prehistoric Archaeology can be identified:
- Archaeologists can recognize, on a temporal and spatial scale from the micro to the macro, from the individual to the cultural... Integrating these scales of united technical and social activity, any period and geographical area are objects of study to analyze the past of human life as much as the cultures in which it is framed.
- Social life is conceived both as a network of relationships and as a set of formal structures and institutions that need to be described. Archaeological theory turns its attention to questions of change and continuity within that complex evidence. It works on the immense archive that constitutes preserved material culture and from its analysis provides interpretations and a set of possibilities for understanding variation through comparison.
- As a result, archaeologists aim to place the finds within a broad context. When the scale is regional or global, it is desired to establish meaning within broad referents beyond the discipline itself. Prehistoric archaeology is, per se, an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary element of research.
- Theory in Prehistory is imbued with self-reflection: considering that material culture is its basis, the nature of the objects, the relationships they have with the people who make and use them, and their interpretation of cultural and social networks, lead to conceiving the past as something alive that cannot be trivialized.
How does it relate to other subjects in the Program of Studies?
It is clear that it will provide you with a knowledge and skills base to later understand the world of the Arabian societies, generated from the social, economic and cultural evolution of prehistoric communities in certain regions of the world. Therefore, it is essential to understand the origins of historical cultures and their cultural manifestations that you will have to analyze throughout the subject in which this subject is integrated.
Relationship with the professional field:
This subject will help you to appreciate the fragile and non-renewable nature of the archaeological record and the need to conserve it within a sustainable use as cultural heritage.
- Make oral presentations for different types of audiences.
- Prepare written communications for different types of readers.
- Evaluate the variety of approaches that can be taken to understanding, constructing and interpreting the past
- Apply and understand the most relevant archaeological concepts and methods in non-archaeological situations
- Integrate materials and information from a variety of different sources
- Perform a systematic and coherent analysis of factual information from all historical periods.
- Make a critical analysis of arguments relating to a given topic.
If at any time you have considered pursuing a professional career in the field of university or non-university teaching, this course will enable you to gain knowledge and skills in the cultural evolution of early human societies, in direct relation to the compulsory or elective subjects you will take later.
If you are interested in developing a professional career in the field of Dissemination and Interpretation of Cultural Heritage, the subject provides you with knowledge, but above all skills to analyze and interpret the entire cultural past of Humanity, what has happened in the field of human activity in its broadest sense, overcoming the usual disconnected references between the events that have taken place. It will also provide you with the basic training necessary to face a future professional development linked to the field of Prehistory and Archaeology.
4. Degree competences achieved in this course
| Course competences | |
|---|---|
| Code | Description |
| E01 | Knowing and analysing theories related to the concept of Culture and theories about human and social diversity |
| E03 | Analysing and interpret data from research, reports and works inherent to the different disciplines of the field of study (Anthropology, Art, History, Geography, Philosophy, Language, Literature and Cultural Heritage) |
| E04 | Understanding and using different sources of information: oral, source documents (bibliographies, records, etc.) and references from the Internet. |
| E05 | Understanding and analysing the diachronic structure of the past and its cultural manifestations |
| E06 | Combining the temporal and spatial dimensions of the explanation of socio-territorial processes. |
| E08 | Establishing links between the historical framework and the cultural manifestations of each stage and comparing the results |
| E09 | Drafting different types of texts in his/her own language (both specialised and informative) |
| E10 | Preparing, linking, summarising and representing information using graphs and maps. |
| E11 | Analysing and describing different types of data related to tangible and intangible culture and objectifying a record including its features and assessing the meanings thereof. |
| E12 | Discovering, identifying and interpreting the symbolic meaning of tangible culture and landscapes. |
| E17 | Identifying the cultural transfers and borrowings between societies, both in the past and in today's world. |
| E18 | Approaching the ways of life and religious concepts in the past and nowadays. |
| E21 | Knowing, understanding and interpreting the territory, interrelating the physical and environmental environment to the social and human sphere. |
| E22 | Valuing the importance of the heritage resources maintained as an evidence of safeguarded memories. |
| G02 | Knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) |
| G03 | Expressing correctly in oral and written forms in his/her own language |
| G04 | Ethical commitment and professional ethics |
| G05 | Analysis and synthesis capacity |
| G06 | Making assumptions to solve issued in his/her field of study |
| G07 | Applying critical, analytical and creative thinking and proving innovative capacities |
| G08 | Ability to work independently within a framework of individual responsibility |
| G09 | Ability to work collaboratively with shared responsibility regarding the group's tasks |
| G10 | Transmitting knowledge of the way of life of societies in a contextualised way |
| G11 | Communicating ideas, problems and solutions in public or in technical contexts efficiently |
| G13 | Sensitiveness to multiculturalism and gender-related issues |
| G16 | Understanding cultural heritage from a critical, multicultural and universalist perspective |
| G17 | Sensitiveness to environmental issues |
| G18 | Acquiring perceptive skills and awareness to appreciate and enjoy human creations |
5. Objectives or Learning Outcomes
| Course learning outcomes | |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| Linking economy and technology in a specific time of the periods analysed. | |
| Transmitting knowledge concerning the ways of life of medieval communities in a contextualised way. | |
| Analysing the chrono-cultural periods based on defined criteria. | |
| Transmitting the importance of the roots of the western society and culture. | |
| Assessing the importance of the heritage resources from prehistory and the end of ancient world. | |
| Understanding and explaining the change and evolution processes experienced by prehistoric societies. | |
| Understanding and explaining the change and evolution processes experienced by art to reflect the complexity and diversity of today¿s society. | |
| Analysing cultural tranfers and borrowings between prehistoric societies and societies of the ancient world to understand their evolution. | |
| Learning to situate the different periods of Prehistory and archeological cultures chronologically. | |
| Learning the chronology systems of the cultures and civilisations of the ancient world. | |
| Drafting and defending a report or story about an event, a historical event or a specific cultural manifestation of a specific time in the framework of a specific society. | |
| Additional outcomes | |
| Description | |
6. Units / Contents
-
Unit 1: Introduction to Prehistory and Archaeological Methodology
-
Unit 1.1: Notion of Prehistory and concept of evolution
-
Unit 1.2: Periodization of Prehistory and time scale
-
Unit 1.3: Prehistoric science. Origins of Prehistory
-
Unit 1.4: Evolution: a) Evolutionism and Creationism; b) Natural Selection; c) Sexual Selection
-
Unit 1.5: Climate change and human evolution
-
Unit 1.6: Archaeological Methodology: surveying
-
Unit 1.7: Archaeological Methodology: excavation
-
Unit 1.8: Archaeological Methodology: chronology and dating
-
-
Unit 2: Human evolution
-
Unit 2.1: The African origin of the human being. From Australopithecus to Homo Habilis
-
Unit 2.2: The process of hominization: What makes us humans?
-
Unit 2.3: Homo Ergaster, H. Erectus and H. Georgicus. From Africa to the world
-
Unit 2.4: Homo Antecessor, Erectus, Heidelbergensis and Neanderthalensis. The European case. Other hominids. Neanderthal cultures
-
Unit 2.5: Homo sapiens. Origin and development of our species
-
Unit 2.6: Ways of life of the first hominins. Climatic changes and beginnings of the symbolic world
-
Unit 2.7: Technology. Lithic carving (Modes 1, 2 and 3) and the mastery of fire.
-
-
Unit 3: Homo Sapiens. The chosen species
-
Unit 3.1: Origin, and diffusion throughout the world
-
Unit 3.2: Neanderthal and sapiens: the encounter
-
Unit 3.3: Archaeological cultures of Homo Sapiens in Europe. Aurignacian, Gravetian, Solutrean, Magdalenian
-
Unit 3.4: Ways of life. Specialized hunters and the glacial megafauna. Cave habitats. The camps of Eastern Europe
-
Unit 3.5: Technology. Lithic (mode 4) and bone industries
-
Unit 3.6: Symbolic world and forms of graphic communication. Paleolithic parietal and movable art. Styles, chronology and meaning
-
-
Unit 4: Post-glacial times. Last hunter-gatherer societies
-
Unit 4.1: Climate change between the Tardiglacial and the Holocene. Marine transgressions and subductions. Extinction of megafauna and forest extension. Holocene climatic periods
-
Unit 4.2: New subsistence strategies on a global scale. The transition between predation and reproduction. Broad-spectrum hunter-gatherers in the Old World
-
Unit 4.3: Last hunter-gatherers in Europe. The Mesolithic in Western Europe
-
Unit 4.4: Graphic productions and symbolism of postglacial societies
-
-
Unit 5: The Neolithic world
-
Unit 5.1: Domestication processes
-
Unit 5.2: Göbekli-Tepe and the dawn of agriculture
-
Unit 5.3: The first horticulturists. The Natufian of Palestine
-
Unit 5.4: The Near Eastern Neolithic. Origin, definition and expansion
-
Unit 5.5: Neolithic technologies and their global expansion
-
Unit 5.6: The Ancient and Middle Neolithic in Europe. The case of the Iberian Peninsula
-
Unit 5.7: Neolithic graphic productions and the architecture of memory: megalithism
-
Unit 5.8: Final Neolithic and the origin of the Chalcolithic
-
-
Unit 6: Recent Prehistory: Metallurgical Cultures
-
Unit 6.1: Chalcolithic Cultures in Europe and the Near East
-
Unit 6.2: The birth of complex societies. Near East, Central Europe and Western Europe. Los Millares
-
Unit 6.3: The revolution of secondary products and the peasant way of life
-
Unit 6.4: The cultures of the chordate and bell beaker ceramics in Europe
-
Unit 6.5: Bronze Age in the Iberian Peninsula and the hierarchical societies
-
Unit 6.6: The Bronze Age in Europe
-
7. Activities, Units/Modules and Methodology
| Training Activity | Methodology | Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021) | ECTS | Hours | As | Com | Description | |
| Workshops or seminars [ON-SITE] | Workshops and Seminars | E01 E03 E04 E05 G02 G03 G04 G05 G16 | 0.1 | 2.5 | Y | N | Seminar on practical aspects of the course, mainly related to prehistoric technology. Recoverable | |
| Writing of reports or projects [OFF-SITE] | Reading and Analysis of Reviews and Articles | E01 E03 E04 E05 E11 E12 E17 E22 G02 G03 G04 G05 G06 G07 G08 G10 | 1 | 25 | Y | Y | Reading of a scientific article and a book. Both will be determined in the first week of the course. Recoverable | |
| Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE] | Self-study | E01 E03 E04 E05 | 1.8 | 45 | Y | Y | Self-study for the preparation of the various tests of continuous evaluation of the subject | |
| Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE] | Lectures | E01 E03 E04 E05 | 1.44 | 36 | N | N | Master classes | |
| Group tutoring sessions [ON-SITE] | Guided or supervised work | E01 E04 E05 | 0.5 | 12.5 | N | N | Group tutorials aimed at providing guidance on the subject and clarifying doubts about the content of each of the topics | |
| Progress test [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | E01 E04 E05 E08 E09 G03 G05 G07 G10 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | Y | Test that demonstrates that the global knowledge and the ability to interrelate the different aspects covered in the course have been acquired. Recoverable | |
| Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE] | Creation of Mind Maps | E01 E03 E04 E05 G02 G03 G05 G08 G10 G11 | 0.8 | 20 | Y | Y | Creation of timelines focused on various aspects of the prehistoric world. Recoverable | |
| Field work [ON-SITE] | Combination of methods | E01 E06 E08 E09 E11 E12 E18 E21 E22 | 0.2 | 5 | Y | Y | Field trip to visit prehistoric sites in situ and analyze what was learned in class | |
| Final test [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | E01 E03 E06 E08 E09 E12 E17 E18 G03 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | Y | Global comprehension test | |
| Total: | 6 | 150 | ||||||
| Total credits of in-class work: 2.4 | Total class time hours: 60 | |||||||
| Total credits of out of class work: 3.6 | Total hours of out of class work: 90 | |||||||
As: Assessable training activity Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).
8. Evaluation criteria and Grading System
| Evaluation System | Continuous assessment | Non-continuous evaluation * | Description |
| Assessment of active participation | 10.00% | 0.00% | Active participation in the development of the course |
| Fieldwork assessment | 5.00% | 0.00% | Preparation of a report based on the field trip carried out during the course |
| Final test | 30.00% | 70.00% | Test of global comprehension of the subject consisting of development questions and a questionnaire with alternative answers |
| Assessment of problem solving and/or case studies | 10.00% | 10.00% | Elaboration of timelines |
| Progress Tests | 20.00% | 10.00% | Completion of questionnaires with alternative answers at the end of each topic |
| Theoretical papers assessment | 25.00% | 10.00% | Review of selected scientific articles and texts |
| Total: | 100.00% | 100.00% |
According to art. 4 of the UCLM Student Evaluation Regulations, it must be provided to students who cannot regularly attend face-to-face training activities the passing of the subject, having the right (art. 12.2) to be globally graded, in 2 annual calls per subject , an ordinary and an extraordinary one (evaluating 100% of the competences).
Evaluation criteria for the final exam:
-
Continuous assessment:All students must complete the mandatory activities, which will always be recoverable in the extraordinary call. Active participation in class will be valued.
In order to pass the course, the grade of the final exam must be a 4 or higher. Below 4.00 does not make average with the rest of the grades, and will suppose its repetition in the extraordinary call.
Students who have participated during the period of classes in evaluable activities that, as a whole, represent at least
that together account for at least 50% of the total evaluation of the subject will necessarily be evaluated by the continuous evaluation modality.
If this criterion is not met, the evaluation modality may be changed during the course. Likewise, the student will be able to agree with the professor, before April, the change of evaluation modality.
The COMPILATIO software acquired by the UCLM allows detecting lawful intertextualities, plagiarism (copied without citing source) taken from the Internet and copies between students. As a general rule, from 40% of similarity will mean the failure of the subject, and from 65% of similarity will mean the failure of the subject, and from 65% a file with a proposal for a higher penalty. The penalty, however, is the responsibility of the teacher, who will consider the severity according to other didactic factors.
Unauthorized use of AI software will be considered the same as plagiarism. -
Non-continuous evaluation:Students who opt for non-continuous evaluation must prepare oral presentations/works that will account for 30% of the final grade and must also pass a final written test that will account for 70% of their final grade.
This modality is recommended for students who cannot regularly attend the classroom training activities of the course.
The COMPILATIO software acquired by the UCLM allows detecting lawful intertextualities, plagiarism (copied without citing source) taken from the Internet and copies between students. As a general rule, from 40% of similarity will mean the failure of the subject, and from 65% of similarity will mean the failure of the subject, and from 65% a file with a proposal for a higher penalty. The penalty, however, is the responsibility of the teacher, who will weigh the severity according to other didactic factors.
The unauthorized use of AI software will have the same consideration as plagiarism.
Specifications for the resit/retake exam:
Students who take the continuous evaluation and whose average grade is lower than 5.00 must submit the missing and/or failed assignments, and must take a final exam similar to that of the regular exam.
Students who waive the continuous evaluation and whose average grade is lower than 5.00 must prepare the missing and/or failed oral presentations/works, and they must also pass the final written exam, which represents 70% of their final grade.
The same criteria will be applied regarding plagiarism as in the ordinary exam.
Students who waive the continuous evaluation and whose average grade is lower than 5.00 must prepare the missing and/or failed oral presentations/works, and they must also pass the final written exam, which represents 70% of their final grade.
The same criteria will be applied regarding plagiarism as in the ordinary exam.
Specifications for the second resit / retake exam:
Students who opt for this call must prepare oral presentations/works that will account for 30% of the final grade and must also pass a final written test that will account for 70% of their final grade.
The same criteria will be applied regarding plagiarism as in the ordinary exam.
The same criteria will be applied regarding plagiarism as in the ordinary exam.
9. Assignments, course calendar and important dates
| Not related to the syllabus/contents | |
|---|---|
| Hours | hours |
| Progress test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
| Field work [PRESENCIAL][Combination of methods] | 5 |
| Final test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
| Unit 1 (de 6): Introduction to Prehistory and Archaeological Methodology | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 5 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
| Teaching period: 1st-2nd week | |
| Comment: Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances | |
| Unit 2 (de 6): Human evolution | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Workshops or seminars [PRESENCIAL][Workshops and Seminars] | 2.5 |
| Writing of reports or projects [AUTÓNOMA][Reading and Analysis of Reviews and Articles] | 10 |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 8 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6.5 |
| Group tutoring sessions [PRESENCIAL][Guided or supervised work] | 2.5 |
| Other off-site activity [AUTÓNOMA][Creation of Mind Maps] | 10 |
| Teaching period: 3rd-5th week | |
| Comment: Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances | |
| Unit 3 (de 6): Homo Sapiens. The chosen species | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 8 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6.5 |
| Group tutoring sessions [PRESENCIAL][Guided or supervised work] | 2.5 |
| Other off-site activity [AUTÓNOMA][Creation of Mind Maps] | 10 |
| Teaching period: 6th-8th week | |
| Comment: Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances | |
| Unit 4 (de 6): Post-glacial times. Last hunter-gatherer societies | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 8 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
| Group tutoring sessions [PRESENCIAL][Guided or supervised work] | 2.5 |
| Teaching period: 9th-11th | |
| Comment: Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances | |
| Unit 5 (de 6): The Neolithic world | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Writing of reports or projects [AUTÓNOMA][Reading and Analysis of Reviews and Articles] | 10 |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 8 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
| Group tutoring sessions [PRESENCIAL][Guided or supervised work] | 2.5 |
| Unit 6 (de 6): Recent Prehistory: Metallurgical Cultures | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Writing of reports or projects [AUTÓNOMA][Reading and Analysis of Reviews and Articles] | 5 |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 8 |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 5 |
| Group tutoring sessions [PRESENCIAL][Guided or supervised work] | 2.5 |
| Teaching period: 12nd-13th | |
| Comment: Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances | |
| Global activity | |
|---|---|
| Activities | hours |
| General comments about the planning: | Time planning could be modified due to unforeseen circumstances |
10. Bibliography and Sources