ARMHGT-Hunter-Gatherers in Transition

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Steve Mithen
Email: s.j.mithen@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module concerns the process of behavioural and cultural transition in modern human hunter-gatherers drawing on both archaeology and anthropology.  Hunting and gathering was the only human life-style from the emergence of Homo two million years ago and modern humans at 100,000 years ago up until the emergence of farming economies around 10,000 years ago.  It was, however, a constantly changing and geographically diverse lifestyle, as individuals and communities adapted to changing environments and innovated new technology, social relations and ideas. To explore the process of change, this module will initially examine global models for hunter-gatherer lifestyles, covering topics of social organisation, subsistence, population, technology and ideology. It will then explore two case studies of hunter-gatherers from the archaeological record: (1) later Pleistocene and early Holocene hunter-gatherers from southern Jordan who began experimenting with the cultivation of plants and sedentary lifestyles; (2) The Ainu people of Japan, following the changes in their lifestyle from the 17th century to the present day.

Aims:

• To explore the processes of change in hunter-gatherer societies of modern humans, examining the role of external drivers such climate change and state societies, and internal drivers such as population pressure and innovation


• To acquire specific knowledge about change in a sample of archaeologically and historically documented hunter-gatherers

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To demonstrate understanding of processes of change in hunter-gatherer societies


• To critically evaluate and interpret archaeological remains and underlying methodological approaches to infer the external and internal drivers of change in hunter-gatherer societies


• To develop deep, critically informed knowledge and understanding of hunter-gatherer societies through sustained engagement with archaeological and historic records.

Additional outcomes:

Your oral and communication skills will also be enhanced through the seminar discussions and your assessed seminar presentation. You will also develop your IT skills through preparing for the seminar presentation and researching textual and visual sources for your written coursework. Research and analytical skills will be developed through participation in the seminars and completion of the written coursework components.

Outline content:

The module has three units. The first will consider the ethnoarchaeological study of hunter-gatherers, looking at recent and historically documented societies to identify generic characteristics of these lifestyles and the diversity in mobility, subsistence and social organisation, with a view of developing theory and method for interpreting the archaeological record.  The second unit will consist of a case study of late Pleistocene and Early Holocene hunter-gatherers from SW Asia who began experimenting with the cultivation of plants and sedentary lifestyles. The third unit will be a case study of the Ainu of Japan, following the change in their society from the 17th century to the present day. Seminars will explore a series of cross-cutting themes at an advanced level, including:   creative thinking, innovation and invention, linguistic change, climate change, environmental change and population interaction.

Global context:

The module will draw on hunter-gatherer societies from across the world.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, group discussions, student presentations, directed reading, and assignments. It will involve examining artefact collection.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Seminars		10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		35
Wider reading (directed)		35
Other		20
Preparation for presentations		20
Preparation for seminars		20
Essay preparation		40
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	90
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One essay, 5000 words - 90%.

One power-point presentation to class and to lead discussion – 10% 

Formative assessment methods:

Through seminar discussion. 

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of course work by the end of August, but it cannot carry forward more than a pass mark.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022