Guidelines for Handouts JM
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INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY THEMES IN PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY AND PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY Core Module for MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology (30 credits): ARCL0123 MODULE HANDBOOK 2020-21 Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania – I. de la Torre Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Garrard E-mail: [email protected] (Office IoA room 408. Telephone 020-7679-4764) Office hours: please email to make online appointment. 1 Potential changes in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Please note that information regarding teaching, learning and assessment in this module handbook endeavours to be as accurate as possible. However, in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the changeable nature of the situation and the possibility of updates in government guidance, there may need to be changes during the course of the year. UCL will keep current students updated of any changes to teaching, learning and assessment on the Students’ webpages. This also includes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which may help you with any queries that you may have. Please refer to the Institute of Archaeology Student Handbook https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/current-students/ioa-student-handbook and the Institute of Archaeology Study Skills Guide: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/current-students/ioa-study-skills-guide for instructions on coursework submission, IoA referencing guidelines, marking criteria, as well as UCL policies on penalties for late submission, etc MODULE OVERVIEW This is the handbook for the core module of the MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology which is taught through Terms 1 and 2. It is a compulsory component of the degree programme. AIMS This module will provide essential background on a range of topics necessary for graduate study in the fields of Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology. It will be taught by UCL’s leading specialists in the fields concerned. The topics will include: 1) the interpretive history of palaeoanthropology and palaeolithic archaeology. 2) aspects of primate behaviour, adaptation and evolution. 3) recent hunter-gatherer lifeways and the use of ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology. 4) environmental history, faunal communities and palaeoecology. 5) taphonomy and site formation processes. 6) the human fossil record and the evolution of human life history. 7) the role of genetic evidence in studying human evolution. 8) lithic technology, subsistence strategies and cognitive evolution. 9) case studies drawn from various time periods. OBJECTIVES On successful completion of this module, students will: 1) have a very strong foundation for graduate study in the fields of palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic archaeology. 2) be knowledgable about the methodological and analytical tools, and the theoretical models which have been used in reconstructing the human evolutionary past. 3) be able to review and critically appraise a wide range of primary and secondary sources and data relating to these fields. LEARNING OUTCOMES 1) a detailed knowledge of human biological and cultural evolution. 2) expansion of written and oral skills in communicating complex ideas and data-sets derived from these academic disciplines. 3) ability to critically evaluate evidence and arguments regarding issues in human evolution. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION TEACHING METHODS This 30 credit module will be taught weekly through the autumn and spring terms in 20 two hour sessions. Unless otherwise indicated, these will be held on Mondays at 11.00-13.00. Each session will be taught live online in Moodle using Blackboard Collaborate. Lecturers may vary in their presentation format, but each session is likely to involve a lecture interspersed with discussion. We also hope to hold two sessions in Term 2 at the British Museum and Natural History Museum in London (depending on pandemic). This handbook lists highly recommended readings which should be undertaken before the class each week, so you can follow and actively contribute to the discussion. A copy of the powerpoints and other relevant resources will be made available each week on the Moodle site for the course. ATTENDANCE A 70% minimum attendance at all scheduled sessions is required (excluding absences due to illness or other adverse circumstances, provided that these are supported by medical certificates or other documentation, as appropriate). If you are unable to attend a class, please notify the coordinator by email. Departments are required to report each student’s attendance to UCL Registry at intervals through each term. METHODS OF ASSESSMENT This module is assessed by means of two essays of 4,000 words each: one in the field of Palaeoanthropology and the other relating to Palaeolithic Archaeology. Detailed information concerning topics and deadlines is given at the end of this handbook. LIBRARIES AND OTHER RESOURCES The essential reading for this course is available online through UCL’s e-library. However, further reading not available online will be found in the library of the Institute of Archaeology and UCL’s Science Library (particularly the Anthropology Section). Libraries outside of UCL which have relevant holdings include those at the University of London at Senate House and the British Library. WORKLOAD There will be 40 hours of lecture/discussion sessions in this module. Over the two terms, students will be expected to undertake around 160 hours of reading for the module, plus 100 hours preparing for and producing the assessed work. This adds up to a total workload of some 300 hours for the module. COMMUNICATION - If any changes need to be made to the module arrangements, these will normally be communicated by email. It is therefore essential that you consult your UCL e-mail account regularly. - For any questions or to make online appointments to discuss aspects of course please email the module coordinator. - The seminars will be held in Blackboard Collaborate in the Moodle site for the course.. - The Moodle site will also contain the handbook for the course and copies of powerpoints and other material presented in the weekly seminars. It can also be used as a forum for additional discussion.. FEEDBACK In trying to make this module as effective as possible, we welcome feedback from students. You will be asked to give your views on the module in an anonymous questionnaire which will be circulated at the end of the course. If students are concerned about any aspect of this module we hope they will feel able to talk to the Module Coordinator, but if they feel this is not appropriate, they should contact the Academic Administrator (Judy Medrington), or the Chair of Teaching Committee (Dr.Louise Martin). 3 COURSE SYLLABUS AND TIMETABLE: (Mondays 11.00-13.00 on MS Teams) LECTURERS: Aida Andres (Genetics) Louise Martin (Archaeology) Nick Ashton (British Museum) Annemieke Milks (Archaeology) Silvia Bello (Natural History Museum) Matt Pope (Archaeology) Dorian Fuller (Archaeology) Hazel Reade (Archaeology) Andrew Garrard (Archaeology) Ceri Shipton (Archaeology) Aida Gomez-Robles (Anthropology) Christophe Soligo (Anthropology) Garrett Hellenthal (Genetics) Rhiannon Stevens (Archaeology) Philip Hopley (Birkbeck College) Mark Thomas (Genetics) Sandra Martelli (Biosciences) Suzy White (Anthropology) SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS: TERM 1 1. (05 Oct) History of Palaeoanthropology & Palaeolithic Archaeology – A Garrard & S. White 2. (12 Oct) Primate Evolution and Behaviour – C.Soligo 3. (19 Oct) Adaptation, Phylogeny and Reconstruction of Behaviour – C.Soligo 4. (26 Oct) Human Fossil Record I: Stem hominins, australopiths and early Homo – A Gomez-Robles 5. (02 Nov) Human Fossil Record II: Later Members of Genus Homo – S. White Reading Week 09 Nov - 13 Nov. 6. (16 Nov) Plio-Pleistocene Environments – P Hopley 7. (23 Nov) Late Pleistocene Europe: Chronology, Environments, People – H Reade 8. (30 Nov) Stone tool technology and analysis I – C.Shipton 9. (07 Dec) Stone tool technology and analysis II – C.Shipton 10. (14 Dec) Anatomy & Evolution of Modern Human Speech – S Martelli Christmas Holiday 19 Dec – 10 Jan. TERM 2 11. (11 Jan) Experimental archaeology in Stone Age Research – A Milks 12 (18 Jan) Site formation studies in Palaeolithic Archaeology – M Pope 13 (25 Jan) Exploitation of faunal resources: Late Glacial Hunters of the Jordanian Steppe – L Martin 14 (01 Feb) Archaeobotany of hunter-gatherer and hominin diets – D Fuller 15 (08 Feb) Application of Isotope Studies to the Palaeolithic – R Stevens Reading Week 15 Feb – 19 Feb. 16 (Wed 24 Feb: 2-4) Genetics & Human Evolution I: Introduction – M Thomas 17 (Wed 03 Mar: 2-4) Genetics & Human Evolution II: Demographic History – G. Hellenthal 18 (Wed 10 Mar: 2-4) Genetics & Human Evolution III: Signatures of Selection – A. Andres 19 (15 Mar) From Natural History Museum – Human Behaviour under the Microscope - S. Bello 20 (22 Mar) From British Museum (Franks House) – Current Research on Lower & Middle Palaeolithic of UK - N. Ashton 4 SEMINAR DETAILS AND REFERENCE LIST The following pages give details of the seminars/lectures for the module and identifies high priority (•) and optional readings relevant to each session. Many of the texts are available online through UCL Library Services Explore, but information is provided as to where to find hard copies in UCL library if not online. The highly recommended readings are considered important for keeping up with the topics covered in the module sessions, and it is expected that students will have checked these prior to the session under which