Key facts

Type	Weekly Classes
Location	Reading
Address	Room 113 Building 22 London Road Campus Reading
Dates	Thu 4 Oct to Thu 6 Dec 2012 Day: Thursday Time of meeting: 7.00-9.00pm Number of meetings: 10
Subject area(s)	Archaeology
CATS points	10
Fees	From £145.00
Application status	Course ended
Course code	R12P487AHW
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Overview

A sweeping introduction to the archaeology of the African continent, from the emergence of humans to the beginning of the colonial period.

Description

The archaeology of Africa is a rich and complex subject. It dissolves the myth of a ‘dark continent’ devoid of history, and reveals the diversity of the African experience. By exploring this largely unwritten past, we demonstrate Africa’s significant contribution to our human heritage, and better understand the challenges the continent faces in the 21st century.

From human origins to the rise of complex societies, African archaeology engages with a unique set of concepts and challenges through interdisciplinary methodologies including cultural anthropology, oral history and ethnography. We discover that, far from being isolated, Africa has long played an integral role in world cultural and economic systems.

This course offers a sweeping introduction to the archaeology of the African continent. Incorporating recent research, we primarily focus south of the Sahara to explore the development of African culture and societies from the emergence of modern humans to the beginnings of European colonisation.

Programme details

Week 1: Introducing Africa: An Archaeological Perspective Week 2: The Emergence of Humans Week 3: The Middle Stone Age Week 4: The Later Stone Age and the Archaeology of Hunter-Gatherers Week 5: The Development of Farming Week 6: Specialized Production and Processes of Urbanization Week 7: Complex Societies of West Africa Week 8: Complex Societies of East Africa Week 9: Complex Societies of Southern Africa Week 10: Archaeology of the Colonial Period Background reading: Phillipson, D: African Archaeology (Third Edition, 2005)

Staff

Course aims

Course aim:
This course aims to provide a broad introduction to the archaeology of the African continent south of the Sahara, incorporating the latest archaeological research. We illuminate this relatively little known and poorly understood field of study to nurture an appreciation for the important role Africa has played in the story of human civilisation.

Course objectives:
1. To provide an overview of African prehistory and the archaeological record of the continent;
2. To demonstrate the unique role that archaeology can play in the discovery of African cultural heritage and achievement;
3. To nurture an appreciation for African heritage, and an awareness of the integral role Africa has played in world history.

Assessment methods

Formal assessment will involve two short written assignments of c. 500 words each. Each assignment will give learners an opportunity to demonstrate one or a combination of the specified learning outcomes, and will generate detailed feedback.
Informal assessment will occur during group discussions throughout the course.

Teaching methods

Illustrated seminars and set readings, with class discussion of concepts and case studies.

Teaching outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of African prehistory and the archaeological record of the continent;
2. Identify some of the different peoples of Africa, and discuss how these identities are represented archaeologically;
3. Analyse and discuss some of the key theoretical and methodological issues in African archaeology.

Fee options

Programme Fee

EU Fee: £145.00

Non-EU Fee: £145.00

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