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Semester 1

The Archaeology of Iron Age Europe: Hillforts, Burials and Landscapes (ARCA10093)

Subject

Archaeology

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed at least 3 Archaeology courses at grade B or above, including courses equivalent to Archaeology 2A and 2B. We will only consider University/College level courses. **Please see Additional Restrictions below**

Course Summary

This course will provide an overview on the archaeology of Iron Age Europe (c. 800 BC - AD 50), from Central Europe to Scotland in the north and Spain in the south. It will address topics such as the notions of 'Celts' and Celtic art, the development of fortified settlements (hillforts and oppida), the social interpretation of burial data, the identification of migrations, and the connections between temperate Europe and the Mediterranean.

Course Description

In many parts of Eurasia, the 1st millennium BC marked a fundamental turning point that was accompanied by the appearance of a whole range of phenomena that were to play an important part in shaping our world. Some of the key elements we might mention are early state formations, urbanisation, coinage, and intercontinental trade networks. In temperate Europe, this age of increasing mobility of people, ideas and goods saw the development of the first urban agglomerations, the appearance of sumptuous aristocratic burials, and close contacts with the Mediterranean world. This course provides an overview on the main developments that took place between c. 800 BC - AD 50, from the centralisation processes of the Hallstatt period (the so-called 'princely seats') to the development of Celtic art, the rise of the Late Iron Age oppida, and finally the Roman conquest. It also aims to critically analyse the concept of the 'Celts' and its use and misuse in political and societal discourses.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Restrictions

Unless you are nominated on an Archaeology or HCA exchange agreement, visiting students are only permitted to enrol in one 3rd year Archaeology course each, per semester, before the start of the relevant semester’s welcome period – and spaces on each course are limited so cannot be guaranteed for any student. Enrolment in a second course from this group will depend on whether there are still spaces available in the September Welcome Period, and cannot be guaranteed. It is NOT appropriate for students to contact staff within this subject area to ask for an exception to be made; all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. This is due to the extremely limited number of spaces available in this very popular subject area.

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