90086 - Palaeolithic and Neolithic Archaeology

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide an introduction to the most ancient periods of Prehistory, from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic, with a particular interest in the Italian sites. At the end of the course, the student acquires skills regarding the methodologies for the study of the paleoenvironment and the interpretation of the settlement choices, the subsistence strategies, technological innovation and cultural manifestations of prehistoric man.

Course contents

The course is intended to give a survey of the archaeological evidences of human behavioral evolution from the Lower Paleolithic to the Neolithic in Africa and Eurasia

The following topics will be addressed: 

- History of the discipline

- Methods of analysis of prehistoric sites

- Introduction to the Quaternary

- Essentials of Human Evolution

- Culture remains, subsistence economy, environmental resources, settlement strategies from Palaeolithic to Neolithic

Readings/Bibliography

Martini F., Archeologia del Paleolitico, Carocci, 2nd edition, 2019

Pessina A., Tiné V., Archeologia del Neolitico, Carocci 2008

Wood B., Human Evolution. A very short introduction, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, 2019.

Teaching methods

The course is based on lectures dealing with the program topics.

Assessment methods

The evaluation consists of an oral exam on the course program. The student must show that he/she has acquired adequate general and systematic knowledge of the various topics and has mastered the scientific and methodological tools necessary for a reasoned analysis of the program subjects.

Gradation of the final grade

A very thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course program, together with high skills of critical analysis, ability to use specific archaeological terminology will be evaluated with the maximum score (30-30 cum laude).

A thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course program, together with good analytical and critical skills, proficiency of specific archeological terminology will be evaluated with good marks (27-29).

Relatively adequate preparation and sufficient analytical skills, even if not particularly articulated, expressed in correct language, will produce fair evaluations (23-26).

Sufficient preparation and analytical skills, expressed in barely formally correct language, will determine the sufficiency (18-22)

Teaching tools

Lectures will be illustrated with powerpoint presentations

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Picin